Could a bad CAP be the cuplrit? Maybe (it's a long shot) our empegs got stuck with some poorly manufactured CAPS? (the article mentions that these typically are used to smooth out the power supply.

If you know where to look, check the capacitors for a slight buldge (maybe, the X is more defined) or brownish ooze.

Arcticles as reference:
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/resource/feb03/ncap.html
http://slashdot.org/articles/02/11/04/1751210.shtml?tid=137

I'm not trying to scare anyone and It's not even a 'hunch', just a odd-ball idea that somebody more talented than I could confrim or deny. Is there an easy way to test the CAP or outright elimitate it as being faulty?

I have seen only 1 example of a bad CAP (and it was on an IBM motherboard - mentioned in the article)...