Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Finman, I agree that a VPS is not a bad option at all, but I like the freedom and flexibility of a dedicated. Sure it's more expensive, but I think it's a worthwhile expense when it's all said and done.
If I had just a few sites a VPS would be fine for me, but I have quite a few (not just forums), and am already "sharing" with myself. I just figure the more resources I have to myself the better.
I have solved my server problem and have now been able to upgrade conveniently to 3.6.0.
Thanks again for the replies!