This should answer your upgrade question:

SETI@Home work unit time:

Windows ME: 25 hours
Windows XP: 18 hours

Mandrake Linux 9.0: 11 hours
Mandrake Linux 9.1: 5.5 hours

All of those on the exact same computer.

Note: On the Linux times, I didn't use the graphical setiathome monitor because it eats up resources and extended the time an hour or two. Using Ksetiwatch, which provides a sky map of where you're analyzing, records the top signal candidates you processed, and updates your progress every 15 seconds -- I found a BLAZING speed of 18% completion per CPU hour. That's on a AMD Thunderbird 1 Ghz with 512 MB SDRAM and inferior bus speed.

Oh god the power when I put Mandrake 9.1 on my new computer. :eek:

As for true "holy sh*t" power...

The Georgia Tech super computer lab completed a work unit in... oh.. say...

20 minutes! :eek:

I'm sold. Time to upgrade to 9.1