If you are using a 32bit computer, rendering as a separate process uses a separate executable (FFRender) to render, while your scene setup is handled in the Poser executable. A 32bit computer is limited to 4GB -total- for the Video card onboard memory (VRAM) and system memory (RAM). Any one process can at most use 2GB (you can set that to 3GB if you know how). If you render within Poser, then Poser and Firefly -totaled, together- are allotted 2GB. By running Firefly (FFRender) as a separate process, Firefly can use a full 2GB for rendering.

I see from JWarndt's Speccy screenshot that his machine has 2GB; He could increase that to 4GB (by getting two more 1GB sticks of DDR2 memory) and that would give him more rendering capacity.

@JWarndt: Yes! Get two more more 1GB DDR2 memory sticks! Also, have the computer technician set the high address aware switch so that you can allot 3GB to any one process. My apologies; I didn't notice previously that you had posted.

For future computer purchases intended for 3D use, don't even consider any 32bit machine; they simply don't have enough memory capacity. For 3D use, get a 64bit computer and at least 12GB-16GB RAM (12GB if triple channel, 16GB if dual channel). And use 4GB or 8GB memory sticks instead of filling all of the slots with smaller capacity sticks; that way, as you learn Poser more deeply and begin making complex scenes, you can fill those empty RAM slots to add to your capacity.

Another crucial issue for a 3D computer is to get a processor with a lot of cores -preferably HyperThreaded- and fairly fast clock speed. A HyperThreaded hex-core would be good.

The best bang for the buck is to buy a used professional workstation which has ~two~ multi-core processors. These things were frighteningly expensive new, but they sell used for a mere fraction of their original price. And being commercial grade equipment, I've never yet had a Xeon processor or a server/workstation motherboard die on me.

In 64bit, separate process is still useful; it allows to get a render going (in separate process), and then you can work in Poser on the next shot/scene. If you render internally, then once you begin a render you cannot work in Poser until that render finishes.

Poser 12, in feet.  

OSes:  Win7Prox64, Win7Ultx64

Silo Pro 2.5.6 64bit, Vue Infinite 2014.7, Genetica 4.0 Studio, UV Mapper Pro, UV Layout Pro, PhotoImpact X3, GIF Animator 5