P4 D (2.8 GHz) OR (P4 3.4 GHz) with HT

The only app you mentioned that needs any CPU power is your stock market stuff. You imply you'll have a few of those apps running at once, which is a good case for the dual core. But.., the HT in the 3.4g may negate the advantage and the 20% speed difference may be worth more than the dual core effect.

Hmmm... flip a coin? If you weren't ordering from Dell, I'd say find something with an A64 X2 3800+. Its head & shoulders above the 2.8 dual, and almost as fast individually as the 3.4g.

If you could get the 830D (3.0ghz) I'd definitely say get that one, but in a couple years the 820D will just be sooooo slow that I'd be more inclined to get the single core.

WAAAAH! Dell should sell AMD!

That video card will be ok - don't try to play games on it (which it doesn't sound like you are). If you can save a couple bucks and get a 128MB version of it, do that - for what you do the extra VRAM does no good.

Mike.