Hardware update (belated)

So, eventually, I did figure out what was wrong with my hardware.

It appears to have been nothing more than a horribly overheating processor, and thus, fixed by a simple application of some thermal paste. (65C = bad, generally)

On that note, I now have to decide what kind of upgrading I want to do, and whether or not I build a MythTV box (probably), but at least I can sit on it for a bit until prices drop as rumored in July.