Is the mobo the problem?

[afortiori]

Specs:

Gigabyte GAP31-DS3L
Core 2 Duo e8400
2gb ocz silver RAM
Powercolor HD4870 1gb
160gb HDD 4800rpm
320gb HDD 4800rpm

Upon sparking up the computer, a single beep can be heard, followed by a freeze at the mobo splash screen. All options are unavailable, including boot menu etc.
I have tested for any difference when removing the RAMs, both HDD's and removing cmos battery, allowing to discharge and replacing with new battery. None of these changes have had any effect. I am forced to conclude that the mobo is completey knackered (probably through age). Does anyone agree, before I splash out on a new one?

 

[Totempole]

Have you tried other RAM in the machine? Another thing you could try is booting the PC in recovery mode. Check the manual to see if your board has a recovery mode jumper. Often Removing the CMOS battery resets the clock, but not the other settings.

I just recently had an issue where I enabled Limit CPUID in the BIOS and it froze at POST. Removing the battery didn't help, I had to reset the BIOS in recovery mode.

Hope this was helpful.