New build with issues

No, don't do anything like using a screwdriver, the risk of damage is too great if you don't hit the right bit.

As to turning on you use the power button on the case, the board should be connected up just as it would in the case, it sounds like you have removed all the wires as well ?

This is why using the motherboard box is a great help at such a time, use that to sit the board on (straight on the cardboard), it allows you to hang an edge over the box lip, to allow the video card to sit in normally, and with the case right next to it you should have enough cable in the case to reach it, no need to worry about USB connection plugs (the multiple collection of wires should be all that's needed), we just need the system to fire up, or not, it will help figure out if we can take a leap of faith and say the board is faulty.

ok thanks, everything fires up fans whirr, but the DRAM_LED light remains lit just as it did when in the case.

I attached a internal speaker to the board and there are no beeps at all. I tried with and without RAM. Is it sounding like this is a dead mother board?

Thanks

Given the issues your having, and more importantly with the BIOS not saving, it's almost as though the board was stuck in clear CMOS mode all the time, so give one last look at that CMOS jumper, maybe try a quick test and swap it to it's oppposite position, see what happens then, if that makes no difference then I would say the board is highly suspect of being faulty.

So I would definately approach the supplier in the first instance, explain the situation and ask if they have seen such a thing happening, then if they have no other suggestion ask for an RMA given the results so far, if they accept it then with luck you will get a new one and it will fire straight up, hope you get a result from all this.

I tried the CMOS thing again but to no avail. So I've stripped it down put the components in the original packaging and I'll be sending the motherboard back under warranty. This has been very instructive, thanks very much for all the advice. I'll let you know the outcome of my communications with ASUS.

NP, fingers crossed all will be sorted now, the only reason for trying so many different things is to eliminate all that can be, to ensure when you say something is faulty, it's as sure a statement as one can make, more so with the motherboard, as there is no test or scan for that, all you can do is check everything else, then if all else fails, there is little left that could be the cause, so here's hoping.