Hello: Since render problems are a hot topic, here's more render related data incase it cumulatively helps. 

I attached a text file of condensed notes I copied from the Macintosh Poser 8 Manual that may be helpful to newer Poser users (like myself). 

My computer has 16 processor threads. Poser was rendering using all 16 threads. I noticed poser's render was attempting to use 100% of my computer's CPU. I set Poser's access to 14 processor threads so my computer had enough headroom to perform other tasks. During high quality rendering Poser is still freezing. My computer should be rendering a lot faster. Poser 8 needs a render fix, but at least (from the trouble-shooting) I learned crucial lessons. M_L_R 

MacPro 2009, 2 x 2.93GHx 8-Core processors, 16GB of Ram (DDR3 1066 MHz), NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800 (1500MB 3D Graphics Card)

Yes indeed   Poser 8 does have a render problem..  iMac 2.16 Ghz with 2 Gig ram is My sturdy Beast.
When rendering,  Poser 8 seems to take over the entire CPU..  Safari and Firefox are totally useless while rendering..  A fix up please Smith Micro..

How do you determine processor threads. For me threads is an aspect of program design, seperate from number of processors although that relates into performance .

[ Note: I need to emphasize certain words. Because I just had a lot of crap claiming I was rude for utilizing capitalized words, I will emphasize words by underlining, instead. Please do not speak of my communicaton style as a problem, or I will have you killed. Thank you. However, I suspect you will not so easily see the words I emphasize. So be it. ]

Poser 8, unlike all other previous Posers, is not crippled. It can finally take advantage of your processor power. In fact, it can perfectly utilize 32 cores. No version of Poser has been this good before.

Some people believe this is a flaw, because it leaves no power to do anything else. Poser is using every bit of energy your computer has, and this is a good thing. However, I agree it makes your system a bit unresponsive when you want to interrupt it to do something important, like read this thread.

To solve this, change Poser's priority to below normal, and your system is as snappy as ever even during rendering. If you're not asking the computer to do anything, then Poser will still use 100%. If you need it to do something (via mouse or keyboard) Poser will give up in favor of the program you're trying to use.

There is a way to set this up so it happens automatically every time you start Poser. I don't remember what this is. Somebody told me and I forgot.

Enjoy.

Sounds like just the thing to fix ONE of My problems with poser 8...
Pity You can't remember...  Would You submit to a Vulcan Mind Meld..?  ;}

Quote - [ Note: I need to emphasize certain words. Because I just had a lot of crap claiming I was rude for utilizing capitalized words...

Yep, I do it too, and I get flack for it too ;o). Believe me, if I yell you can TELL! lol.

Laurie

Quote -

There is a way to set this up so it happens automatically every time you start Poser. I don't remember what this is. Somebody told me and I forgot.

Enjoy.

pjz99 said it in another thread: 

Quote -
Make a different shortcut with the command line switch to force lower priority, read the command line help for the "start" command.

Hey.. I'm GOOD at finding things!

oops.. I think I just shouted there... O.o

 Hm. WTF (and that's an abbreviation and not a shout btw) is wrong with my previous post? The quote tag is properly ended and all, yet it quotes everything also after my quote - and in white?! Bleh :(

Aaaah. Your sig - screaming FREEBIES at me. I demand you be banned.

PS - I've been drinking. Who wants a fight?

I know how to change priority in my old windows XP machine !

run taskmgr
make sure you are in the Processes tab
right click on Poser in the Image Name column
click the Change Priority option from the drop-down menu.

All i need is something for mac...

restriction of RAM allocation to the system (OS X) is a problem that the poser coders have been unwlling to deal with since day 1 (curious labs and cheetah).  IIRC it actually took 'em 1.5 yrs. of battling with apple, just to release P5X.  the main fix right now is to buy more RAM.  apps like CS4 have a pref pane like this: "allow app to use this much RAM".  is this gonna happen in poser?  only time will tell.  but these 3D apps tend to need alot more RAM than photoshop.

With a machine like that i use maya lol !

Unfortunately, I spent all my money on my computer (lol). Poser 8 was on sale. M_L_R

http://hubpages.com/hub/What-People-Think-When-You-Type-in-All-Caps

Woman fired for e-mails in all caps

Quote - Do not type in all caps. Typing in all caps is considered yelling, screaming or at the very least adding emphasis to the word you type. Various studies on the topic reflect that it is more difficult and takes longer to read text that is typed in all caps. And for those who question “What studies?” here is one example for your reading pleasure:

http://www.psych.utoronto.ca/~muter/pmuter1.htm

Searching for words is faster with uppercase characters, but reading of continuous text is slower (Vartabedian, 1971), perhaps because interline masking is greater with uppercase (Nes, 1986). In addition, lowercase enhances reading efficiency because word shape is helpful in word recognition (Rudnicky & Kolers, 1984).

One is free, at their convenience, to review the entire document above which goes into detail about how eyes react to what they have to read based on how the content is presented.

NOTE: It should go without saying, however, since I was chastised for not saying so, this rule certainly doesn’t apply to the vision impaired or to those who are disabled or handicapped and cannot use the shift key. However, since typing in all caps is considered yelling online, it would behoove those who do so because of these reasons to take the time to include a brief note why they are typing in caps so that their emails and intent are not misinterpreted.

Just a few things to consider when you're communicating online.

AQnd what has the last input have to do with rendering?

Hi NoelCan: 

You wrote ... "And what has the last input have to do with rendering?" 

I don't know. I'm ignoring it. :) 
Earlier you wrote ... "All i need is something for mac..." 
I'm new to poser so I can't offer more information. 

I'm just going to get use to Poser and wait for their up-comming software fix. 

I have ordered Apple's new OS "Snow-Leopard".
I'm not going to install it for a month because rumor has it, Poser or Apple may need to fix compatibility problems (I'll see how other Poser/Snow-Leopard users are doing). 

My point being, in the future (one month) I feel the rendering issue will be improved.
On the 2nd post of this thread I attached condensed notes I copied from the Macintosh Poser 8 Manual that may be helpful.
I learned a lot from the reading process.
I previously moved render sliders that were greatly hindering my render.
At the time I did not understand the major affect of a small change.
It also mentions setting your number of Process Threads (if you haven't experimented with that). 
This may be off your topic so I'll stop now. Good-luck 
M_L_R

What part of "I will have you killed" was not communicated clearly. Should I have spelled it in all caps? LOL

Heheh.

I've changed my mind about killing my enemies. I'm thinking of mollycoddling instead.

C:WindowsSystem32cmd.exe /c start "runbelownormal" /belownormal "H:Poser8Poser.exe"

Obviously your Poser install may be somewhere different.
See attached image where to put it. Basically put everything before my "H:Poser8....." in front of your P8 location in the properties screen.

Right click the icon, click properties. That gives you this window.
Afterward, when you doubleclick the icon, Poser will start up with the process already set to below normal, and you shouldn't have trouble using other programs while rendering.

Quote -  Hm. WTF (and that's an abbreviation and not a shout btw) is wrong with my previous post? The quote tag is properly ended and all, yet it quotes everything also after my quote - and in white?! Bleh :(

You copied and pasted it from a thread right?  And, you're using Chrome?  That's the reason.  I don't know how to fix it.  I just...ignore it.  I don't know why Chrome changes everything, and it never ends up in the HTML.

M_L_R: I've been running Snow Leopard with P8 since it's release with no problem so far. IDL runs smoothly and opening Poser files as old as P4 do so and render without a hitch. P8 DOES (oops, sorry, Bagginsbill) does feast on my Core 2 Duo processor when rendering with IDL, but I wouldn't open a browser during a P8 (or Bryce for that matter) render--as I wouldn't do so while burning a DVD--if I want either to be problem free.

I do have a issue with Bryce 6.1 freezing while trying to load textures from an imported P8 obj under Snow Leopard, but that a whole 'nother forum.

Attached Link: Poser 8 Library problems ( Mac 10.6 )

P.S. - Here is the threads I receive the Leopard/Poser compatibility issues. 
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?message_id=3519285&ebot_calc_page#message_3519285

There is an issue with the P8 library and importing external runtimes which is already being addressed in the soon-to-be-released SR1. But for me, the program is stable as hell under 10.6 and hasn't quit or crashed on me yet.

Hi DgerzeeBoy: Excellent. Thanks. M_L_R

If I render in P8 under OS 10.6 My CPU is taken over by P8 and I can't do anything until the render is complete..   Any news regarding SR1 for P8 will be good..   What were SM's Beta testers doing???

Hi NoelCan: I don't have OS 10.6 yet.
Other than the upcoming SR1 update (release expected within Sept), have you experimented with OS 10.6's new "Grand Central Station" application and Poser's accessibility to processor threads (in Poser 8's Preferences >Render Tab) ?
As well as the "Separate Process" option in the same tab.
I'm not an experienced Poser user yet, but I think render settings need to be individualize according to the complexity of each of your Poser 8 projects.
I find rendering in Poser (probably most 3D software) more complex than the 2D software I am familiar with. 
I apologize if I'm mentioning things you are already aware of. 
Maybe DgerzeeBoy (three Posts above) can help you or you could start a new forum string which will be more visible.
Good luck, M_L_R

NoelCan: We Have the same machines. iMac  2.16 Ghz Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM. Have you tried increasing the number of render threads? If not go to Preferences>Render and increase the number of threads to 4. See if gives you more render speed and more spare CPU power. Additionally, If you check ”separate process“ it can help accelerate complex scene renders.

I have tried all of the thins you suggest..  But I am refusing to even look at poser 8 until SR1 is installed..  I have gone back to Poser Pro,  
Thanks