XP64 3000 1Gb mem Nvid 7300 256Mb WinXP Pro SP2 <- new PC , nothing but Windows and Bryce running, installed a clean image to make sure nothing was left of the previous Bryce install. 

 Reinstalled Bryce 6 again, this time I denied the DAZStudio install, the same default opening scene now renders at 4 sec with default settings and in 1 min 04 secs with AA at premium. Wonder why DAZ adds that speedbump to Bryce.