I run either 10 or 15 as my max fps on the background windows currently, keyclone is magic.

CCleaner is one of the sort of thing I was talking about, I haven't gone hunting for a registry cleaner or the like in a long time. Windows XP made me lazy, it used to be when you updated motherboards or the like you had to wipe and start fresh, I think this XP install is on it's third motherboard and processor (I was amazed the first time I made major system changes and XP handled them without complaint).

Are there any utilities that can scan your processes that load on startup and give you a summary of what they all do? I know I can google each one independently and give it thumbs up or down based on that, but that's a lot more time than I often have.

The 8600 GT is unlikely to be upgradeable for a while, domestic aggro unless ridiculous cheap. I had considered getting another one and going SLi before finding WoW hates it. Though I am wondering if getting to a 512 MB card would make a major difference. Doesn't help that I drastically prefer BFGTech or XFX products based on past warranty experience.

Dust is an issue, the case I'm using has a dust screen on the intake vents (Antec Sonata) I'm due to clean it again, but in general my house and the office especially is a high dust area. I'd have better luck avoiding wife aggro buying a dust eater of some sort for that room than spending more on puter parts.

And true irony is I might be able to buy her a new comp shortly after her old basic system is showing signs of physical decline. Goin' pre-built on her new one, I've had bad luck with Gremlins every time me or my buddy touch her computer.

Thanks.