Optimal Hardware for Increased Calculation Speed

I am using a workbook containing 18 worksheets which is 100MB in total. Although the file size isn't huge the worksheets contain many complex formulas which are heavily linked to other worksheets within the workbook making processing speed very slow. For example inserting a new column takes excel 14 minutes to process. External links have been removed to speed up the process.

I loaded this workbook on a more powerful PC which approx halved the calculation times. I am currently using a Mac Pro on Bootcamp which isn't ideal. Below are the specifications of my machine:

Processor: 6 core Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU W3680 @ 3.33GHz 3.46 GHz
RAM: 32.GB (16GB usable)
System type: 64-bit Operating System

I am aware that the workbook could be designed more efficiently and am working on this in the short term but intend to buy a new high power PC in the near future and wondered which specifications are most important for optimal excel 2010 use? Working with databases rather than spreadsheets is also a longer term consideration. My preference would be to buy a pre-built new PC because my limited hardware knowledge but if I would greatly benefit from a custom built machine I would consider this. Price is of course important but would happily to stretch to a high end machine if this would make a significant difference.

I look forward to hearing any advise or viewing links to recommended PCs,

Matt

Thanks for the reply Pauleyb, apologies for the confusion.

I will observer the disk driver activity during these calculations like you referred to in the other thread & add to the 16GB of usable RAM.

Cheers,
Matt

also, while you are working on the sheet (ie. inserting columns) you can turn calculations to manual, then when you are done formatting, you can manually force Excel to calculate with the calculate now button (highlighted in yellow in the attached pic)

otherwise, when you make any changes to cell positions, excel has to change all the cell references affected by the change made, for example if you insert a new A Column that shifts all cells to the right, so your formula in B2, changes from =C3+D3 to =D3+E3 and so on down the line, just imagine a formula with multiple cell references across 18 sheets, where some formulas refer to other sheets

calc.png

Also worth converting your workbook to xlsb if you haven't already

A very useful tip, this has already improved productivity!

Thanks scott.s.fower

Kyle123 I have now converted my workbook to xlsb and have noticed the increased processing speed.

Thanks for the advise.