[BaconXBits]

So I booted my computer today, only to be greeted by a black screen, taunting me with a blinking underscore (_). The computer manages to get through all of the usual BIOS messages just fine, but then hangs at the aforementioned screen. I tried Windows startup repair, which told me that everything was fine on my HDD. I tried resetting my BIOS via removing the lithium battery; no dice. I tried booting with one stick of RAM (of 4); no dice. I'm thinking my CPU is the problem, since it's been acting up lately. Still, I would like the insight of the TPU computer masterminds before I drive over to Fry's and blow like $500 on a new CPU/mobo.

If the CPU is indeed the problem, I'd also like some insight as to what CPU/mobo to replace it with (I would like to play Battlefield 3 on high settings when it comes out, if that helps gague what I'm looking for).