Cheapest

[Husk]

What is the cheapest way to get fast rendering (for 3d max 8)??

thanx

[Kage]

Get a better CPU, as this is all that renders the final image.
That is, unless you have an expensive raytrace card, but a CPU capable of more in terms of rendering performance is alot cheaper.

A dual core would do wonders, as I think Max 8 supports multiple cores in rendering, which will perform calculations alot quicker than 1 core would.

On the other hand, get many cheap computers and hook them up into a home network and use all these to render the same scene. 1GHZ machines would even be adequate and the like, since your collecting a load up to make a much bigger machine, and because they are working seperate elements, may work faster than they would standalone doing the same work.