um, how intense of CGI are you talking? If you're talking about model rendering for cinematic quality game scenes and/or movie CGI, then I'd DEFINATLY be more interested in looking at a proper pro graphics card. Warning, they ARE NOT CHEAP. They are also not good for games, unless you get the latest and greatest that has better support for D3D, but that'll cost you around $2500. For the card, not the system. Look at Oxygen and WildCat cards. Also memory is a big must for any sort of intense graphics design, as well and 3rd would be processor. Telling you, hope money REALLY isn't an object, because you're looking at an expensive machine for professional high end graphics design.