update - tried running a live CD (Mepis) and it works great. This to me rules out the graphics card as being the problem
Also, if attempting to get into safe mode it gives the STOP 0x0000007E error.
Maybe I should just RMA every piece in this computer. :p
After a fatal error in shutdown, your computer will restart automatically - it's a setting. Lemme do a google and see if I can find where to display the error instead of auto-restarting. :)
I should note that I don't have another 939 chip or a PCI express card to test with. I'm ordering some today to upgrade my own system (and possibly diagnose this thing). But I'm wary about waiting too long to RMA as I know they're real strict about CPUs. :)
I'm building a system for some friends back home in the Houston area and started yesterday. If you don't like stories - you may want to skip ahead or hit the back button. Here goes:
Specs:
chip: AMD Athlon X2 3800
mb: DIF NF4-DAGF
ram: 2 Geil 512MB PC3200
vid: eVGA Geforce 6800 GS...