dumb computer question

[245am]

Got a simple graphics question for the computer nerds out there:
What hardware is most responsible for loading thumbnail images? RAM? Processor? Graphics card? Is that mostly for 3D and won't help with 2D Windows imaging?

I do a lot of digital photography and have many folders with 50+ images. When I open these folders windows craaaaawls loading each very slowly one at a time. I'm running an older system, but it handles newer games and photo editing fine. I'll be buying a new computer soon and wondering what I should be looking for to handle browsing so many picutres.

Any suggestions/ideas?

[coreyrc]

I'd recommend getting both a decent amount of RAM (at least 2gb, if not more) and a good processor if you can afford it... the standard graphics cards should be good enough though, unless you're running graphics-heavy games or 3d modeling/imaging software. It's odd though that you pc handles games fine but is slow about loading a photo album...

[camper]

Coreyrc speaks truth. Good show.
If you just need to peruse through a bunch pf pix, all I do is highlight the file and let the Details window do a preview for me. Super simple, built-in function in Windows. Always helps me search for client matter and when at home finding and loading pix apps for my wife on her MySpace. Esp'ly when she is sitting there saying, "No, not that one, that one, and tha' one, eww delete that you have too many chins, ...".