APIC Lockups upon bootup

I am attempting to install RedHat 8.0 onto an Athlon XP1600 system (Amptron/PCChips motherboard K7-825LM 8/12/2002 BIOS) but I consistently die at bootup at "ESR value before enabling vector: 00000002". I have tried using 'noapic' and 'nosmp' to no avail. In looking at the code, I must be dying just a few lines after it gives me the above output:

       if (APIC_INTEGRATED(ver) && !esr_disable) {             /* 

!82489DX */
maxlvt = get_maxlvt();
if (maxlvt > 3) /* Due to the Pentium erratum
3AP. */

                       apic_write(APIC_ESR, 0);
               value = apic_read(APIC_ESR);
               printk("ESR value before enabling vector: %08lx\n", value);

===== I die somewhere in this code ?!?!?! ================

               value = ERROR_APIC_VECTOR;      // enables sending errors
               apic_write_around(APIC_LVTERR, value);
               /*
                * spec says clear errors after enabling vector.
                */
               if (maxlvt > 3)
                       apic_write(APIC_ESR, 0);
               value = apic_read(APIC_ESR);
               printk("ESR value after enabling vector: %08lx\n", value);

Anyone have any ideas? I've never seen anything like this anywhere. Google searches have turned up empty as well.