Multiple Issues with $500 Gaming Rig (From: Builder Marathon)

I recently built a computer very similar to the September $500 gaming rig from the builders marathon. The only difference is case,PSU, dvd-drive (Basic IDE) and HDD (Older SATA WDD Raptor). I thought I would be safe getting this PC, but I am having the following issues:

1. Computer will not sleep/hibernate. Running Windows 7 Ultimate with All drivers are up to date. I have gone through the adv. power options in windows and clicked everything to "allow computer to sleep". When I attempt to put the computer to sleep/hibernate, the monitor goes into standby and the computer continues to run (all fans running). Nothing happens when I try to wake it.

2a. When I shut down or restart I run into some issues. When trying to boot, It will start up (with CPU fan running at 100%) but no display on the monitor (no signal). There are no post-beeps or anything. I can only get it to correctly boot after I switch off the PSU for about 5 seconds and switch it back on. Then often I will run into another problem when trying to boot into windows...

2b. Often when attempting to boot into windows, it just flashes a "_" in the screen. After a restart, Windows gives an error says something like 'Was unable to boot from recovery, continue booting?'. I can get the exact message if needed.

3. [Minor Issue] My CPU fan runs at 100% no mater what unless I am running ASRocks OCTuner software. When I contacted them, they said Win7 does not support controlling the CPU fan and that the software is the only solution. Is there anything else I can do?

Are these issues my fault, or the systems fault? Are these things that I can fix myself or will I have to get a RMA? Thank you very much in advance.

Sounds like your motherboard may be a bit dodgy, the answer to question 3 especially is a bit stupid, that's a plain lie from ASRock by the sounds of it. To control your CPU fan you normally just go to the BIOS.

Did you use a clean reformat of windows?

Yeah issues with sleep/hibernate, POSTing and fan speeds all sound like mobo issues to me.

Also it depends on the motherboard but I have an ASRock board and it changes fan speed based on temperature. It gives you a target fan speed from 1-9 so say for example you set it to 4 it will always run at 4 unless it gets hot in which case it will speed up.

EDIT *You give it a target fan speed

I am not OCing, the system is how I bought it and as stock as possible. Seems everyone is pointing its the mobo, so I will attempt these fixes posted. If these fixes do not work - should I just return the board and get a different one or just get this one replaced with the same one? I am still within the thirty days and not on a super tight budget that I could get a slightly higher priced board.