This does not happen with latest insider builds because they fixed the issues with Raven Ridge in them, official ISO's will become available next month, until then you need to update windows after install.

Always download the latest drivers, the CD is just a coaster you get for free 

Wondering if I should grab each driver manually from the site vs using their supplied CD to get the latest stuff.   I've already updated the BIOS to 4.45.

For the crashing, download the very latest installation media from MS and create a new install medium. 

Make sure you install with factory defaults in the UEFI (no XMP in particular)

Only have the OS drive installed during installation

Now we see what else is going on.

- I had already both Motherboards outside of the case for testing purposes as you described in your last response.  

- The latest board, I did as you recommended and couldn't get it to beep with zero ram, 1 stick of ram produced same result. 

- Went and did the same to the first motherboard.   It beeped with no ram.   Finally, something.

- Put on the basic connections and it started to work.

- The ONLY different thing I did between the 2 boards was on the original board that was suddenly now working, I had accidently left the reset CMOS jumper set overnight.  Previously I had left it for an hour with no luck.   

So it is good that it is now working.  But, no idea why it suddenly sprang to life and displayed the same symptoms across 2 new boards.  Now I've moved on to a continuously crashing windows 10 OS while trying to run the updates and any installs.  

Thanks for all the comments.   

OK, so here is what we know:

1) 2 Motherboards, same issue

2) 2 Kits of RAM tested, one of which is on the QVL

3) No PC Speaker activity (even with no RAM installed?)

Logically, the odds of 2 boards being dead or for some reason not what they claim to be is exceedingly low, particularly given the variance in serial numbers (not same batch).

It's time to go old school on this thing.

1) Set up one of the boards outside the case on it's product box

2) Install a single stick of RAM in the slot furthest from the CPU

3) Hook up your power supply being sure you have an 8pin CPU power lead hooked up to the board, not a PCIe 8pin.

4) Make sure your PC speaker is hooked up

Test

If there is no life then remove all RAM from the system. If there is a beep code let me know, if not then try the other board in the same way. If both boards provide no beep codes with no memory installed then you need to try another PSU. Regardless of BIOS version, if you have no RAM and there is a pin compatible CPU installed then you should get a beep code. Before the board even checks the CPU the RAM must be initiated so no RAM - beep code.

If you do remove the CPU, make sure you check for bent/missing pins. Missing pins will be obvious, a solder pad with a nub in the middle of it. Blank areas are just unused pins not missing ones. 

Let us know how that goes and please feel free to ask questions if you want clarification on any of the steps.