Now that I'm back home, and have the time to spend on things, I think it's time to see what I can do with it. I'm installing all (or, at least most) of my graphics apps today, and will post some images once they become available. The two I'm most interested in testing are Bryce 7 and Mandelbulber.

Have fun 

  hope all goes well.

Well, this looks promising:

http://www.datahopa.co.uk/forum/gallery/wallpapers-1920-x-1080/old-render-on-a-new-box/211

What took around 4 hours (I think) on the old box took only ~38 minutes on the new computer.

I've another, completely new, render to upload, this one a deceptively complex render that the old box would have choked on. I'll post a link once it's up.

http://www.datahopa.co.uk/forum/gallery/wallpapers-1920-x-1080/bronze-ring-with-2-mirrors/212

This is a render that took around 45 minutes, that the old box just wasn't up to the task of doing at all. It's complexity lies in the fact that it's only one torus that's reflected multiple times in a "hall of mirrors" setting. The render settings are maxed out, and the total number of reflections was set to 32, instead of the default 6. Using the default reflection setting produced an image in less than 4 minutes, but with a larger blue circle in the center.

looking at that image buggs my tiered eyes out. Glad your able to accomplish bigger and faster renders

A very nice speed improvement there 

I tried installing and using Mandelbulber again, but I still have issues with it crashing and locking up, so that bit was a bust. However, I found another 3D fractal generator, called Mandelbulb 3D, which not only seems to work on my box, it also looks like it does a better job, is easier to use, and runs scads faster than the other program. I'm still looking for a good example fractal to render (it's a case of "too many choices"), but once I find one I like, I'll post it to the gallery.

Now bear in mind that this is just a "first attempt", so please be gentle.

http://www.datahopa.co.uk/forum/gallery/wallpapers-1920-x-1080/menger-trees/213

Gentle or not, feedback is gratefully accepted.

I can't criticise that, I love it, weird but I love it.   

Top draw that Dave, nice work. 

Looks cool. Link to program please.

nicely done, looks amazing   
second bolt to left goes up to high throws off perspective of the bolts depth. That is all I can nitpick about, for it looks absolutely fabulous.