"and yet, somehow other websites manage to host better forum software and still run acceptably fast" OK, a little late but... Not knocking the poster of this comment, but just pointing out: Those other sites. How many of them have a regular number of users in the realms of 2000-3000 on a daily basis. That's a lot for a database server to keep up with... (a quick look just showed me 2420 surfers ... a few mins ago it was 2800+..) It needs top-rate, up-to-the-minute software to cope with that sort of demand, and that doesn't come cheap. And 'rosity is free....... So, if you REALLY want better performance from 'rosity, go buy lots'n'lots from the marketplace. 'Cos that's the only way they make any money to afford upgrades..:-)) Just my 2p worth (that'll not hlp much tho) Cheers, Diolma