Ok I got a new motherboard and processor recently, I'll list the parts I'm using and then explain what's wrong.

AMD 3200+ XP Barton 512 Cache 400 FSB
Asrock K7VT6 Motherboard
512 MB PC3200 DDR
ATI Radeon 9600 256 MB
80 GB Maxtor 7200 IDE Hard Drive

Originally when I first put everything together and first powered up the computer it would stay on for about 15 seconds and then mysteriously power down.

Looking through the motherboard manual I noticed I had forgotten to switch the jumper settings for the FSB, I switched it to 400 and tried starting the computer again.. this time it would power down every time after about 5 seconds.

I dropped the FSB down to 200 and started the computer again and now it'll stay on.

The processor within the bios is clocking in at 1100 and the RAM seems to think it's running at 266 when the jumpers on the board set the fsb to 200.. but it wont stay on for more than a few seconds with them set higher it seems.

I've tried a different stick of RAM, just incase and that didn't help.

is the processor broken? or does anyone have any idea what I should be looking for that might be causing my problems?

I have done many searches on this problem and the only thing that even comes close to a possible answer is the following:

1.flash your mobo bios to the most current version

2.set your memory timings to SPD

3.set the dram ratio to 1:1 3:3 or 6:6

4. Update your chipset drivers

You can also try uping the ram voltage.

Other than that i'm sorry i couldn't help any more. hope it all goes well for you