"IT...is ALIVE!!
Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice!
Took the RAM down to 2Gb, Vista fell into the machine within 15 minutes and runs like a dream - though any attempt to reload the extra 6Gb of RAM is being met with a blue screen (white writing) of impending death - with a statement that windows is being shut down to prevent a critical error from damaging the computer.
The video however, remains the same. Video card in blue slot, full video, no problem. Vista really zings along.
Any attempt to plug anything into the black slot - instant shut down of all video outputs - exactly as it was with the previous (faulty?) motherboard. Exactly same symptoms.
A 1hr+ telephone call to ASUS tech support went through three levels of increasingly intelligent bunnies. Each level was convinced that video should fall out of the back of the card plugged into the black socket instantly.
End result was the decision that the second motherboard also has a defective black video slot. Returns have been set up - but will likely take some time (sigh).
Tried a programme or two - SecondLife gives me 38 frames per second, my old machine gave me 1.8 fps at best. Office 2007 Ultimate is loading as I type.
I'll let you know what happens when mobo3 arrives.