For faster render times...

Tip #2: Don't use the Visible Object under Renders Options in the light lab with soft shadows. Fake a small sphere and use transparency for the light(or light bulb). Your soft shadows will look fine and your render times will be cut by 500% or more.

Tip #3: --->B5.5 only.  Run a small MP3 program or similiar small program active in the background while using Bryce. Most systems with little or no background programs running, will see their CPU usage go from 80% or so to 98% for Bryce (I used task manager and render tests to confirm), decreasing render times. Bryce 5.5 was setup with room in mind to allow other programs to run in background. And for OS reasons or Bryce code,... Bryce will get more CPU time(don't use the priority in task manager, it is not the same).