I finished my PC! Works like a dream - my first couple of start-ups are averaging around 12 seconds from the windows load screen to a usable desktop (the windows logo doesn't even have time to form before it loads).



So it so happens that the motherboard was not the issue. In fact, nothing was. My dumb ass didn't realize that along with the 24-pin connector from the PSU that plugs into the mobo, I had an additional 8-pin connector that I had to connect to give it enough power. This coming after I RMA'ed my first mobo quickly after panicking. So lesson learned - be patient, troubleshoot well and thoroughly, also don't overreact. I jumped to the worst possible conclusion off the bat when it didn't start when something as simple as an unconnected cable could have had me playing on my baby 3 day ago. Good learning experience though!

Thanks for the help everyone gave me in building / troubleshooting. Much <3