Ok, I'm using a PC, this is my comp stats:

Operating System:
                        Windows 2.5.2.3790 (Service Pack 2)        
                    CPU Type:
                        Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU    Q6600  @ 2.40GHz
                    CPU Speed (GHz):
                        2.42
                    System Memory (GB):
                        5.998
                    Video Card Model:
                        ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
                    Video Card Driver:
                        ati2dvag.dll
                    Desktop Resolution:
                        1600x1200
                    Hard Disk Size (GB):
                        465.646
                    Hard Disk Free Space (GB):
                        126.116

For some reason, whenever I open poser the last several months it goes extrordinarily slow, and I'm just talking about the meshes, not even the rendering speed.

My question is this.  What could be making it go slow, how di I fix it and should I get some money, what do I need to upgrade to make my computer a better 3D art machine?

What happens if you switch the preview render mode to SreeD?  There is also some "box pick" setting specific to ATI that seems to be a common problem (search forum for those keywords).

Your machine is more than adequate. What version of Poser?

If you have Poser 8 and it is slow starting up, untick the "Reopen Folders" box on the Library Options...

Yeah you're not lacking any computer power, my own processor is pretty similar to that, runs fine for me.

Anti-virus programs are sometimes at fault, turning a snappy computer into crap.

I found that AVG Resident Shield was pigging up any program that I ran that had to look at the disk for any reason, generating thousands of page faults. This wasn't just affecting Poser. My browser was slow, my flight simulator took forever to load a scene, my software development tools acted like it was 1985, etc.

When rendering anything wiht large textures, this was really obviously a problem. Poser likes to convert textures into multiple levels of detail for mip-mapping. These are large, rapidly produced files binary files, but the anti-virus was examining them very slowly and not letting Poser do I/O quickly.

Try disabling any real-time disk sniffing stuff.

Quote - Anti-virus programs are sometimes at fault, turning a snappy computer into crap.

I found that AVG Resident Shield was pigging up any program that I ran that had to look at the disk for any reason, generating thousands of page faults. This wasn't just affecting Poser. My browser was slow, my flight simulator took forever to load a scene, my software development tools acted like it was 1985, etc.

When rendering anything wiht large textures, this was really obviously a problem. Poser likes to convert textures into multiple levels of detail for mip-mapping. These are large, rapidly produced files binary files, but the anti-virus was examining them very slowly and not letting Poser do I/O quickly.

Try disabling any real-time disk sniffing stuff.

That could very well be the problem.  I installed Kasperski around the same time this started...  I'll try that first.

Quote - Your machine is more than adequate. What version of Poser?

If you have Poser 8 and it is slow starting up, untick the "Reopen Folders" box on the Library Options...

I have poser 7

Quote - What happens if you switch the preview render mode to SreeD?  There is also some "box pick" setting specific to ATI that seems to be a common problem (search forum for those keywords).

It's not the render mode so much as when I'm posing the figures before the render.

It starts off fine when it's just the first nude model, but once I get its clothes on it slows down significantly, if I had another, hoo boy...

Last time I attempted it I had a Volg fighting M3 in GRIM armor (From Sanctum Art) in one of Stonemason's backgrounds, by the time I had them all added it was taking 30-40 minutes to move a trigger finger...

Do you Hove Poser 7 SR3 installed?  It cures a multitude of ills....

poser.smithmicro.com/updates.html

Also, as pjz99 points out, the preview renderer is what generates your viewport as you are working, so try switching it to SreeD as he suggests...

Oh, I don't have that installed...  Thankyou! 

I can't wait ti try out these suggesstions...  right now I'm handling schoolwork so I can't get to it just yet.

Another thing that I've noticed cause some slowdown is the undo feature.

The default is 100 steps, try dropping it down to 10-20, and see if that helps.

Quote -
For some reason, whenever I open poser the last several months it goes extrordinarily slow, and I'm just talking about the meshes, not even the rendering speed.

My question is this.  What could be making it go slow, how di I fix it and should I get some money, what do I need to upgrade to make my computer a better 3D art machine?

Just...DON'T INSTALL any products (Daz/Poser/Renderosity and others) IN THE SAME "Runtime" folder where is all content installed by POSER.

Install any new product into NEW folders with you own names, eg. Clothes, Kids4 - and MANUALLY add these new collection to POSER library.

When you ended work in POSER and need close POSER - just choose standard library with standard content of POSER and close POSER.

When you again opened POSER only standard collection will be loaded - time opening is very short.

When you install any new product in the same folders where is POSER content opening time is very slow - program must loaded many, many files of all products which you installed.

This my methode is so-so user-friendly - you must always choose new collection in POSER collection when you need worked with many products but time of opening is very, very short.

* 

Adding to what Imaginatos is saying, you avoid reinstall nightmares if you handle your content with external runtimes, as reinstalling Poser means only reinstalling Poser, not all your added content too. Sure, you must add again the external runtimes, but that is a small price to pay, believe me. Backup/purchased files tend to hide away from view when you need them...

Another thing that really slows down one's computer is accumulated junk in your cache, temp, address, etc areas of your hard drive.  When was the last time you cleaned out everything (I do it at least once a day)?  Defraging should be automatic IF you have Vista or Windows 7.  However check and see when it was last defraged.  I do mine about once a week. Jan

With regards possible AV checking of files, most AV programs allow you to exclude folders from real time checking so may be a better option than disabling it across the board.

As with all the suggestions try each in turn , and see what happens. Once you have an idea of the cause you can try for a better solution than just turning stuff off . :)

This sounds a bit like a recent  thread which I believe was partially resolved with a driver update on the video card.