RAM is important, especially working with 3D apps; even more so if you want to have more than 1 open at a time. I have 512 MB RAM, and I find that it is only OK for what I do. Other things to watch for is video card memory. That can have a big impact in the speed arena. If you are getting a new PC, most likely it will have a good sized HD already, on the order of 20 GB or bigger.