I'm talking Windows here by the way.

I figured, as much. I custom compile my own linux kernels to work with the specific hardware config for each machine. I custom compile a lot of the software packages I use, too, to get rid of features I'll never use.

I'd buy more RAM, but I figure there's no point in sinking more money into obsolete equipment (heck, it was obsolete when I got it 2+ years ago).