G5 outdated firmware cause app's to crash?

I had Norton anti virus in the system until I reinstalled everything and did not reinstall it thinking it might be part of the problem.

I reinstalled the OS, updates and some of the software not because Norton did something to the system. The more current reinstall I did, did not include Norton because of firewall issues. A lot of the problems I am having now are carry overs from the last install (and this is without Norton or any other anti virus being in the computer). Before reinstalling everything I did uninstall Norton using their removal tool. It resolved nothing with the crashes and other issue of getting online. The OS freezing wasn't a issue, Kernel panics happened only when hooking up certain external devices like a hard drive, or card reader.My problems with the computer isn't just software related, there is a hardware element that is going to be a ***** to pin down. Software didn't run, didn't run right, or crashed constantly when I taxed the system. I used other anti viruses like Indigo, Cybersystems over the years they caused more problems then Norton ever did..

To clarify what I said before "Norton anti-virus wasn't the problem with the way the computer worked because a lot of the issues I had before the redo are slowly coming back to bite me, after redoing the computer." I redid the computer beginning of July 2013. Over the years I have used different 3rd party firewalls that caused more headaches then they were worth. They blocked websites, caused my printers or scanners not work or be seen. I stop using these utilities years ago. Norton is included in this list.

Well last night and this morning was absolutely FUN!!!! Well if a computer could have a psychotic break, mine did last night. Fortunately the computer didn't crash outright but decided to argue and fight with me on doing anything and everything. I had to turn the power off at the surge protector to be able to restart the computer, to run the diagnostics on it......AGAIN!!!! I ran Disk warrior, techtool pro, Drive Genius, system cleaning utilities (Internet and system cache,etc.......) yes I fixed the permissions. This is occurring again after a complete reinstall of the OS, updates and handful of the software I use; I did this 6 weeks ago. Yes I do realize that the hard drives could also be a contributing issue and no I don't want to spend the money to find out. Drive Genuis and techtool pro couldn't find any issues with either drives. Does anyone have a catapult I can borrow, I am at my wits end. Well the choice has been made, its time for new computer. I want to thank everyone for their help.

Forgot to menition when booting to all the different diagnostic disks the fans start roarings like the computer is trying to take off. This is new like in the last week new. This also happened the last couple of times when I booted up the computer normally. I recently found a notice online from Apple that I never saw before, that certain Power Macs were having problems with the power supplies failing. My serial number was part of that "notice." Apple extended the warranty for this problem through 2009 (Apple only replaced the power supplies that actually failed). My power supply never failed but I am starting to wonder........ Its probably nothing...............but?!?!?!?!?!?

Update got the new computer. Talked to few local tech's about the outdated firmware being a problem and the consensus is that yes the outdated firmware in the computer could be contributing to the stability issues I am having. The explanation is this,"the outdated firmware in the computer is having problems communicating properly the newer hardware I put into the computer (hard drive, DVD drive, etc.....) which in turn is causing stability issues." Yes I am aware that the memory might still be an issue but I am still not spending the money on it; a hard drive and a DVD drive I was willing to take a chance on only because I could repurposed it at some later date.

I officially retired the computer today. To many things are going wrong. I believe the graphics card is on the list "things that are starting to fail or failing," and I no longer can handle dealing with this computer in trying to keep it running. Thank you everyone for your help.

Sorry to beat a dead horse but can anyone explain this one to me. Please look at the message below that I recieved after a memory test on this computer. I was using TechTool Pro 5. I'm doing this only because a buddy wants to "borrow," the computer for something.

everything I wrote to this point is a moot point the computer is dead.