I say stuff MUST work out of the box. If I can't get it to work with totally default settings, it's RMA time.
I agree 100%. However, at stock, of course, and once you OC, you do take some chances.
If you had "Extreme" set in memory options instead of "Turbo"(default) or "Standard"(compatibility setting), then that would cause all the issues you describe, however.
Windows install should always be done at stock, too, IMHO.
Same thing with BETA BIOSes.. I am pretty familiar with all these things, and I still won't run a BETA BIOS. I always update to most recent full release, and use that.
Once you step out of the "safe zone", you so take a fair bit of risk, and I do realize your more than aware of this, just kinda posting this for the benefit of others.
Having to install @ IDE mode is weird, for sure. No reason for that to happen.