I got a new board(Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H) and I cannot get into the BIOS setup. In fact, on POST it will not detect the correct amount or speed of the RAM and I've tried two different types. It gets the same result both times. It'll find the SATA HDD and SATA DVD drive, but no amount of key pressing will get me to the BIOS setup. I always get to a blank screen with a blinking cursor. It'll say it's going to the setup, but then the blinking cursor is all I get. If I reset the CMOS I can get to a screen where it'll tell me there's a checksum error and it gives me the normal OPTIONS: load defaults, last known good, ETC....still same result no matter what...the blinking cursor. What is the problem here? I've swapped this board out once after my last one died after a whole two days and now this. I'm almost ready to give up.Maybe, my setup WOULD help.

Motherboard: GA-MA78GM-S2H
CPU: AMD BE 5000+
RAM: 2x1 GB Corsair DDR2 800 6400C4 (on the list of approved RAM)
HDD: SATA 500 GB Western Digital
Optical Drive: SATA Samsung Lightscribe 18x (not sure the model number)

Thanks!Maybe this will help you....

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/Manual_DownloadFile.aspx?FileType=Manual&FileID=18432

Yes, I have read the manual already. I've read it back and forth and upside down as well, but there's nothing in there about a blinking cursor that is plaguing me no matter what changes I make to the setup. I've taken the board out of the case just in case it was shorting in there and now have it sitting on a carboard box...no change. What are the chances of a second bad board in a row?The factory may have had a bunch of bad chips put into the boards. You may have just gotten 2 in a row.

I would get a RMA and send it back.
Turns out the problem was a stick of RAM failing spontaneously. I thought I had checked the individual sticks, but apparently not. Tech support at the retailer located the problem and once the stick is removed then all is as it should be. No more blinking cursor after POST and Vista loads normally, though minus a GIG of RAM. Just wanted to update this thread in case it helps someone else.Depending on the manuf. you may be able to RMA that RAM...
Glad you figured it out and Good Luck.