http://www.tcmagazine.info/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=127 I was about to post that PCIe is much higher bandwidth specs, and came across this.
Edit, latest version: Early start on the textures (custom dDo preset pass + quick wood base). Need to add some markings to the normals, too. LP with normals (~12k tris) High poly:
On a somewhat related note (US economy and all), I found this to be an interesting, and somewhat enraging, read: http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/smallbusiness/1203/gallery.employees/?iid=Lead
125 views and no replies :| Looking at this with fresh eyes today, the colours are very comic-booky, I'm going to take this onto the computer and try some more realistic colouring.
Wow 1048 samples is insane, I usually use 128-256 samples. Have you checked to make sure there are no overlapping uv's or double faces in your geometry?