i certainly appreciate your responses and help!!

i understand we are on a dedicated server (does that share resources with the masses?). I do know, however, we share the resources with our forum and gallery.

Quote Originally Posted by Website Rob View Post
When you say "our Server loads" does this mean you have your own Server?

Yes - then more / better optimization needs to be done at the Server level

No - then probably time to get your own Server

A 500 MB database is HUGE and, if the above load stats are from a busy Shared Server and are continually at that level, your site will never get past the problems it has now.