When I open just a map in 2D with just ESRI basemap service it takes 10 seconds, fast enough for me. 30 seconds for the same map in 3D mode. I have update my graphics card, and it is a good card with plenty of memory. 25 seconds with a simple ArcGIS layer loaded into my default map, 3D Mode. 9 seconds with 2D mode selected. So it must be something with the way AGX loads a 3D map that slows the system down. KML's load faster as well in 2D mode, although the NOAA kml file I listed in an earlier post still crashed it in 2D mode.
So it appears the way AGX is processing 3D data is what is slowing my system down. Compared to Google Earth, GE runs 3d much more smoothly, so ESRI may need to go back to the drawing board on the 3D engine of AGX to make it process faster. I think AGX still has some problems processing certain kml files. Maybe a dump to check KML files that work in GE would be helpful for programmers to check for problems parsing in AGX (ie, system crash).
Any other tips would be appreciated, otherwise I would encourage ESRI to continue improving the way AGX works to compete with the folks at Google. I like AGX and wish I knew more about programming than I do so I could be a part of that development team. It has come a long way, but needs to improve more.
Thanks