When I was still only working with Poser (sssssssss..) and photoshop, I bought a new system to handle it. I wanted the right video card to get the best assembly room response and enough processor power to do complicated renders. I had no idea what to buy.
There are people out there who use benchmarks like these to test every computer component available. By comparing them, I found the right components for the least $.
A local computer shop assembled my list of components, for the same price that an in-store gaming computer would cost.
The $ I saved have gone to Renderosity and Daz. : )