Windows 2003 and PE 2450 Install problems

System Config: Dual 933 PIII, 1gb RAM (2-512mb ECC), 3-36gb ultra 3 seagate Cheetahs, 64mb onboard raid cache.

Ok, I'm thoroughly frustrated with this whole process. My 2450 will not install windows 2003 server standard edition reliably. It either blue screens at around 39 minutes, or gets to 37 minutes "installing devices" and hangs for about 5 hours, then blue screens, then allows me to install the rest of the OS. Here's what I've done.

Installed the latest A09 bios, along with the latest Perc 3si firmware off Dells download site (per a dell tech on the forums here).

Checked the ESM firmware, it's up to date with the latest firmware download.

Initialized the drives (3-36gb seagate Ultra 3 drives) and created a container in Raid 5, scrubbed successfully after 2 hours.

Insert my windows 2003 CD, Press F6 after it runs to Specify additional devices, use the floppy I created from Dells downloads for the latest perc driver for windows 2003 server.

Create a 10gb partition and format NTFS, setup copies files and runs perfectly, then says to reboot.

Setup gets to 39 minutes and either blue screens with a physical memory dump, or IRQ not less than or equal error.

Next try:

I run setup and use microsofts driver for the perc3, and don't specify additional devices. Then setup goes through, copies files, reboots.

on reboot, it gets past the 39 minutes, gets to 37minutes installing devices and hangs. The little blinking LEDs in MS install stop, and the server stops making progress. The bar stays put about half way through, maybe a little more.

I let it sit for 5 hours, and it finally blue screens. Then I reboot, and it installs the rest of the OS just fine.

I get windows up and login, install dells perc driver and it works perfectly. The OS doesn't see to have any issues.

WHAT is going on? I have tried Shift F10/F11 during setup but when it's locked it wont bring any window up. I have tried installing with only 1 stick of memory, swapped sticks, moved slots. Same results.

I have no idea what to do, the server seems to run great, but I really don't trust it to put into production. Has anyone else had the same problems? Please advise.

ps: My windows CD is a partner edition windows 2003 server standard. It is just like a retail copy of 2003, it's not burned.