All the higher end 3d applicatrions will suck up whatever processing power you have. From what I've read, poser works best with dual core, and gains a lesser speed increased when you move up to quad core.

For price/performance though, you are always going to get a much better value with a Windows based pc, rather then a Mac, but if you are already running a mac, you've already gfot that comfort zone under your belt, and probably a lot of software as well.

Better video cards will give you much faster preview speeds, but you again are talking a poor price/performance ratio when you move up to cards over $300, or if you run 2 in tadem with sli tech. (Plus then you are also talkign about a more expensive power supply, better cooling solutions, and bigger power consumption.

If you've got money to burn, get a Mac, quad core, and dual video card solution.. if not, then go with a windows based dual core singe video card system. Tom's hardware (google it) always has the best price/performance values posted for hardware and it's updated every month. My ati x1950 pro is still listed as the best value video card under $350 even after a year's time, but it doesn't have DX10 built in, just dx9.

(Word on the street is that dx 10 will be getting a point update soon, and that it might be better to hold off until video card manufactures can built that dx10 point release into a newer crop of video cards.)

Way too many people take way too many things way too seriously.