So as an update to
this thread, I recently went ahead and purchased a new tower setup from HP. The specs are identical to the machine
here, though my machine has the 1 TB hard drive and the integrated wireless card. However, I've also been looking for a new dedicated graphics card, since the current setup doesn't have an HDMI port (I use this to configure my dual monitor setup) and because it might provide an overall performance boost.
I primarily use my PC for general computing and light gaming, but I also use Photoshop, Illustrator, and things like Max and Maya. I'm not expecting my PC to be a powerhouse, but what are the best steps I can take to maximize its performance at this point?