Above 256 MB compiler performance seems to top out, but the box takes ages to reboot. But don t neglect rotation speed or seek times -you need a fast disk too. Large display -preferably 1280x1024 or better. A fast CD-ROM drive for speedier document access, or perhaps DVD for the latest MSDN stuff. Having a backup solution and process is also considered pretty important.
Network servers are best of all -the work is delegated to someone else.
NT server or a Linux box with Samba both fit in here. Either way, this should really be a separate system from any server you are testing code on. The issue of a development PC is covered in more depth in a separate article. Any environment which can link to the Win32 API libraries to execute code you have written can be used to develop Win32 programs. Many of the RAD tools simplify programming by hiding the API, making it rather tortuous to perform some relatively simple tasks.