Power Mac ONLY boots in safe mode

1,1 Power mac. running os 10.6.8. i use it for my pro tools system. Ran fine for years. Then one day screen flickered, computer froze, and I've yet to be able to restart it EXCEPT in safe mode. Did all the basics, including target disc mode where i ran diagnostics and it tells me the drives are fine. Brought it to a tech who said they too could only get it to boot in safe mode using their startup disc. So at this point we are assuming something in the processor is shot. Any thoughts? If this is true I'll just buy a later version of a power mac and swap in the drives and cards. I don't think this should pose any issue up to mid 2010 computers, but any insight appreciated.

Or can I send this out to get it upgraded?