My reply wasn't mean it was meant to clarify things so you can get help.
For example:"everything points to my cpu." What exactly is everything and how did you narrow it down to the cpu chip?
I've never seen a computer where you can "shut the cpu down" and it will still "give me connection".
With the replies given people are trying to help but again it helps to be specific and accurate so they can give good tips to help you.
in dogtown's case i believe the term "cpu" is in reference to the case which houses the main internal components of a personal computer, it's a common mistake in terminology for people who really do not understand computers. some people even refer to it as the "hard drive".
dogtown, what is being suspected to be the problem is the nic (network interface card) or lan (local area network) port. in the case of you system it's a built in module/chip on the motherboard of your computer rather than an expansion card like the one ebfd11 posted a pic of. i doubt that you were able to "wiggle" that little chip, more likely it was the network cable, the one that connects the computer to the cable modem, that you wiggled and heard click since it has a plastic connector with a clip on the end to lock it in place. and regardless of what you were told by whomever, network cards can operate sporadically just like any other electronic component. a bent/broken contact, corrosion, dust, loose/broken solder connection, etc... can cause issues.
you say the "cable guys" redid everything, did you or the "cable guys" replace the network cable? it's the cable that connects your pc to the modem... do you have a router between your computer and the modem? what have you been using to get on the internet and post here? do you have other computers in your house that are in use?
