Traditionally a PC will run faster if it has a higher power CPU (central processing unit), and lots of RAM (main memory).  CPU hit the ceiling about 5 years ago when the frequency reached 4GHz (gigahertz).  Since then, we get CPU up to 3.8GHz only and some people over-clocked the frequency at their own risk.  Dual core CPU appeared.  Now we have 4 and 6 cores, and will see 12 and 16 cores before the end of this year 2011.  These cores provide for parallel computing- several applications or several threads of one application computing at the same time.  By the end of last year, we were able to buy graphics cards with up to 512 cores.  Why not use these graphics cores for computing use?  This comment makes a lot of sense.  It has happened, and we are now seeing very powerful workstations using graphics cores to do work that were previously done by the CPU.  Compucon has researched into this area and will release 2 models of powerful workstations based on Quadro graphics card for computer aided design use very soon.  This is a newfound treasure.    See some discoveries here:  http://www.compucon.co.nz/content/view/794/253/