Thanks for all the advice folks - it's a fascinating discussion. I hadn't considered the option of putting together a cheap render farm. Interesting idea. I guess at the end of the day I'd prefer my solution in a more powerful single box because this will also benefit the applications I might want to run that won't be "farmable" e.g. post processing apps (Photoshop) or even games. Although fast rendering is my main motive for buying a new machine, it isn't the only one. But what this does make me think is that it could be worth hanging on to my old machine and keeping it for possible use in a farm... Then again, if there is a disparity between the performance of the controlling machine and the subordinate farmed machine is the software that controls the farming smart enough to parcel out the work in proportion? (or does every machine on a farm get an even slice of work and you have to wait for the slowest?)