Guess I'm late, but what's new!? I'm not a genius when it comes to PCs. But I work in the IT section for my region and handle just about every kind of work you would expect. Installation, repair, upgrade, LAN, cabling, configuration and testing. And as I do, I suspect everyone here even has a bit of bias in their opinions. I'm saying that upfront. My bias is toward Dells...never the fastest but always dependable. Having said that, I'll comment on the above. (1) Tho I am an Intel guy, everyone is right in the AMD vs Intel compare. The remark about requiring the genuine Intel processor is place there due to pressure from Intel. Who also threatens re-sellars to only sell Intel. I even own Intel stock, but they ride rough over their customers. (2) AMD machines generally outperform Intel machines tho the Intel processor is rated several hundred Mhz higher. As to the benchmark posted, AMD usually squashes Intel in the Terragen BM, too. (3) Someone said don't buy the machines you are looking at. I would agree, but none of us know your monetary situation. Before you plop $800 for the 1.2 you list, I just priced a 1.9 @ Dell with just about what you listed above for $1,058. Remember, it's new and that includes 1yr warranty. So think about that extra $250. It has only 256MB RAM...which brings me to next remark... (4) Memory, memory, MEMORY! My current systems has 256MB or RAM and by the time I load V2, hi-res eyes, texture, and hmann's hair, my poor hard drive cries as it makes room for memory swapping. I have downloaded an incredible freebie (Antares class ship) and I won't even load it and its textures and any figures because I know it would be too much (ohh, the agony!). So, as someone said...512 RAM minimum! (5) OS? I have used them all except XP (I feel like the other poster above...too much privacy invasion). I have seen Win 95, Win 98, and Win2K on our 200 PCs in my time. Win2K is most stable of all. Not sure how it does with Poser (I've thought about sneaking a copy from work, but I don't believe in "stealing" software...so I still use Win98 here). (6) I have been pricing one of the new hi-end Dells lately (current config costing about $2100). The processor is 2.4 GB, the bus speed is 533 Mhz, and 1 GB of 800 Mhz RDRAM. I plan to move my other 40GB HD to it for dual 40 spindles. I think it can equal or outdo and "stock" AMD machine right now, but AMD will best it soon (if it can't already). (7) One other bit of advice not mentioned above. A point I may be a bit biased on, so I admit it freely. A point me and my LAN manager debate routinely. DON'T load a bunch of crap in the system tray! DON'T test Microslop's ability to be as stable as a Mac. Don't load a bunch of accessories down there...when you start getting lockups, it's hell trying to figure out where the problem is coming from. Load what you need. I've seen people whose system tray runs from the right of the screen over halfway across to the left. UGH! Oh well, that's enough. Hehe. Good luck.