Success.

Finally, after much time working with this comp, I have finally resolved the following issues:

• USB Hub failure
• Crysis SLI incapable
• Sound card crackling/jittering
• HL2 installation failure
• COD2 installation failure

And have not resolved the long beep at power-on....which I now believe to be a test that it has failed in hardware. But, recently I have experienced a spontaneous dimming of my screen at certain moments when I bring up IE7.

But, I can now come to the conclusion that SLI technology is great when the programs are optimized for it. booyah.