Thanks for your comments.  Google "can computers fix themselves."

The Gateway  worked HORRIBLY  from the beginning..   It works a bit  better now, no longer taking forever to come on.    I have no idea why.  I did nothing to fix it.  Maybe threre is a little geek inside.  Outside repair is not cheap, especially if the software didn't come with the computer.  And it meant giving up my computer for several days.  

Eventually, I bought a laptop.  

I never said monitor size had anything to do with render speed!  And yes, I may connect another monitor to my laptop.  

I think my computer has reverse "bit rot."   

Thanks again to all of you for your comments and advice.  I won't bug you again unless I finally get Poser 8 to work.  I deleted Poser 9 today, to lessen usage.  They are pretty much the same, anyhow.