haven't tried taking out all gfx cards... but I have switched it out to no avail.  Do you think that it might be the card slot or something?

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haven't tried taking out all gfx cards... but I have switched it out to no avail.  Do you think that it might be the card slot or something?

when diagnosing computer problems -- the technique is remove and swap everything you possibly can.  you want to eliminate possibilities.  so if there are cards you can remove, remove 'em!

I prefer starting from an absolutely base system and working forward from there (assuming onboard gfx):
1) CPU + MB                      = beep codes
2) CPU + MB + RAM            = BIOS
3) CPU + MB + RAM + ODD  = run a LiveCD
etc...etc

Gfx card would be the last thing I plug in since this system doesn't need it.

The less components you start with the better, AFAIAC, since I never trust what I swap in unless it came from a known working system.  It also progressively loads up the PSU, (I know you've already swapped it), who knows, it might be that plugging in the gfx card or a HDD causes an unacceptable voltage fluctuation on the supply rails.

If it fails at just CPU+MB+RAM, there's only really two things I'd try: reseating the CPU and/or reflashing the BIOS

BTW, I know you've said it hangs with either RAM stick but who is to say they both aren't bad?

Unless you can test them in another system, (or plug known working RAM in), you'll never know.

It all comes down to how much time/money you want to spend on it.

But CPU+MB won't do anything.  Which is why I'm going with what Stoic said.  I sort of knew it... but I was hoping I was wrong.  There's no codes at all for the no ram.

Sorry, missed your reply about the battery replacement 

Well, more information.  I let it sit for a few hours, then started again.  When I did, I went into the BIOS instead of letting it boot to Windows.  Temp looked fine (25C MB/25C Proc) and fan speed looked fine.  after a few minutes, it failed.  So I'm leaning towards RAM, and crossing my fingers.  Thanks for the suggestions, and I'll let you know!

If it failed while you were in BIOS, then the problem is probably PSU or motherboard.  The most complex component is the CPU but it is also the least likely to fail.  Unfortunately, there is no easy way to test for motherboard failure other than replacing it.

I haven't actually spent three days... more like 3 hours at the most.  And considering what my wife uses it for (photoshop, lightroom, other photographic stuff), I can't just get any computer, unfortunately.  The 5 fans are including the two on the CPU heat sink, two in the box and the one on the video card, so it's not as many as it seems.  One draws air in from the back, across the heat sink, then out of the other side.  The airflow then goes through the video card and back out the back through the last fan.  I upgraded that prior to this when the CPU was having heating problems, and they brought it right down to spec.

But thanks for the input.