How much computer power needed for large Excel files?

[FarWestEng]

I have been handling spreadsheets with 30,000 to 40,000 data points that I need
to work with (manipulate and graph). I am routinely crashing my computer (a 2
year old Dell). As I contemplate a new computer, I am wondering if there are
any thoughts if a new Pentium 4 with 512 m of RAM could handle this size of
spreadsheet, or do I need one of the more expensive dual processor Precision
systems (cost twice as much). And how much RAM??

Is there an idea of required computer power to handle Excel files of this
size??

thanks, Roger

 

[Tom Ogilvy]

Excel isn't multithreaded, so I don't believe it will benefit from dual
processors.

I would go to the dealers with your data (or find friends who have the type
of computer you are looking at) and perform typical actions that crash your
current computer - see what works.