Jovial's info on the 2GB limit is correct. Windows XP can address a maximum of 3GB unless specific steps are taken to change settings -- then the theoretical limit of 4GB can be reached. RAM helps by allowing your computer to do more at once at a given moment without having to wait for information from the page file (the stuff stored on the hard disk). Bobbie's info on the sweet spot is also correct -- but it is a huge variable based on the entirety of your system, inclusive of all the prgorams and applications installed on it. System's which are primed to work best for "games" will not work best for Poser -- and the reverse is also true. Computers function best when you build them -- both hardware and software wise -- to suit a particular type of task. Processor speed will have the greatest overall impact on render speed. Since the propack rendering engine is fairly quick already, however, unless you essentially double your current processor speed and RAM, you are unlikely to see much improvement. Poser does not wait for windows to resize virtual memory caches (swapfiles). For that reason, I and others often recommend setting your VM up to support the maximum for the application and a little more for overhead of windows and stuff like your music player. That comes out to around 3GB. Outside of the processor speed, memory amount, and hard disk space available, anything else hardware related is hogwash for the hardware junkies. Hardware is only half the story, as well. The environment in which you operate software wise must be "clean" and efficient. That is, don't install a bunch of junk, and when you do install, do it in a manner that gets the most performance out of the system. Among things to do are: 1- install windows to it's own partition of about 8Gb and keep it sacred 2 - on a separate physical drive from windows, create a partition large enough for your temp files and swap files -- and then point them there (this is not default). That includes your browser, photoshop, system swapfile, the works. 3 - install your programs which don't flood your system (such as poser and games and other large, comples programs with gigs of data) to a third partition. Do not install them to the windows partition. 4 - never install fonts directly into your windows partition. Set up a separate folder to store them in, and then when installing, make sure the checkmark for "copy fonts to folder" is NOT checked -- that way only shortcuts are done. 5 - Set up poser by itself on a separate partition somewhere where it will have plenty of room. If you are using Poser 5, then you will want your extra runtimes there as well. 6 - set up other programs that require copious space like poser does in their own partitions as well. 7 - reduce the amount of system overhead by shutting down services in windows 2k and xp that are not necessary. Since indidivual netowrk and system configurations will vary considerably, there is no really good example of this -- though many will say there is. It is best solved on a case by case basis. 8 - Use only proven and reliable drivers for your hardware. This doesn't always mean the latest one. It means the one proven to work best AND be the most stable. Those are essentially the main ingredients to amking sure your computer can work smoothly with poser -- and much of it is applicable beyond poser, as well. But, hey, who gives a damn what some crazy ole gal in the middle of the desert thinks. ;)

thou and I, my friend, can, in the most flunkey world, make, each of us, one non-flunkey, one hero, if we like: that will be two heroes to begin with. (Carlyle)