I have SSD and 2TB HHD like you and I cannot see any significant difference although speed test would probably show some. Unlike x86 where the RAM is split between the kernel and su so each would get 2 GB, for 64 bit SU can use all of 4 GB. Some M boards have some BIOS option you can set that may help; look for some thing like"use max memory" and turn off( prevents the kerenel for hogging memory), look for " use shared memory and turn on".
You best bet is to reduce the rendering load when you are modeling like use layers, monochrome, scenes and use textures for show and tell. Previously I have found turning transparency off helped a lots but have not checked for a long time.

After being technical manger of some contracts with cost up to 3/4 billion dollars I have concluded anyone working on a contract should have some minimal training on what the spec is , the contract type ( cost, time and material, cost plus with share line etc. etc) and who has the authority to issue scope direction. I have had cases where I denied cost because the supplier did out of scope work with out proper direction and have had to default some for failure to perform which is not fun for both sides.
Government contracts are some of the worst but small can get you in a heap of trouble really fast also.
If you don't know a little contract law you should?
Ryan, I am not sure you can put a fixed cost on an echange order for a major project. As you know there are non recurring cost, recurring cost, materials and facility cost, training etc, etc. The best approach is to have good agreement on scope of new effort including schedules and then a method to rack and stack the cost so one does not miss a number of items. It seems to me the recurring cost can quickly be the driver.
Just some thoughts.

Thanks for your input.
The solid inspector consistently flagged the fat area of the fin to body interface. The ones noted in your post had been fixed and both the body and fin would report solid when they were treated as separate components as shown by the model in the link I attached to this post. In that post it was noted by some the small model would report soild until scaled up. My attached model does not do that but shows solid at 1x, 1Ox, 100x
I think I know why but to do regression test is more effort than I want to expend now.

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!mydiscussions/sketchup/X_2n2pb_C0E.
The above ref model was made solid by removing all softening.
My contention is smoothing and softening distorts the model surface formation a small amount across the whole surface and is small enough to prevent solid formation but not large enough to be found by normal trouble shooting approaches. The main issue was at the interface at the fin base and rest of model wherein the solid inspector continually reported non-solid even though when the fin and model base were made stand alone components they were easily made components. After removing all smoothing and softening it was possible to make the whole model solid.
Please comment

FYI => just some thoughts;

1. Typically windows explorer does not support file tree printing but you can down a small app from MS that allows to do that and avoids typing in long path. There is also a tree command but you get a lots of paper then;
2. windows XP , vista, w7 and w8 do not by default show the administrator logon at the welcome screen so I doubt you are logged on as admin and normally do not want to be. You have to separately activate it and that activation is different vs version of the OS see this http://www.raymond.cc/blog/display-administrator-account-on-windows-xp-welcome-screen/;
3. Initially when the SU2013 released the plugin folder "Plugin" would not show in the menu bar. It required both su_examples dir and assocated rb file or a plugin that activated. Those are not in your file tree maybe not needed now. https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!mydiscussions/sketchup/wgHev0V84Gg
4. Are the two PCs exactly the same;
5. Compare file tree of both since one works and other does not;

Gm
Have you looked at the follow me tool that is part of the SU tool sets. There are also several plugins: pipe along path: tube along path ,or follow me and keep also but follow me should do the job unless you what a rect cross section. It has a tendency to rotate ,so if that is case use follow me and keep.
I,ve attached a tutorial Gully (I think) did several years ago that may help you make a decisionpipe_layout.skp

The space shuttle SSRMT is a side looking synthetic radar operating at c/x band I think, been long time since I read its specs. That is what is used for elevation data in Google Earth.
Here is a link with perhaps useful info for you. I did not see date on it however
http://biodiversityinformatics.amnh.org/index.php?section_id=31%26amp;content_id=119.
If you do a search on Google Erath resolution you can find a link that list most of the sat data they use and the scale and resolution specs. It is my understanding both the PRO and free versions have the same resolution.

Display resolution does not help to improve collected resolution. If there is enough redundancy in the data collected then one could do some signal processing to help

two recent up dates Jan 2014 , latest here http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2014/01/new-google-earth-imagery-january-22-2014.html but your area of interest not updated;
If you want to get the best you will have to subscribe to one of the providers and even then the US controls the impulse response of data taken over CONOUS and I guess about the best you will do is in the 10 meter range.
I assume you have this http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2009/03/about_google_earth_imagery_1.html

You did not note angle but for that you will have to worry kinking ?
Flexible track?

You can model almost anything in SU but question is what do you get physically when you are done. You are taking the metal in the bar to yield when it is bent so out side is longer than inside plus there will be spring back at the end of the bending process. IMHO you have to build the form different for a small dia. bar vs large. So question is what do you want the final product to be??
Suggest you do quick internet search and you will see the issues you will need to solve.
Quick check of local machine shops may save you cost in long run.

Sundad;
If you have reason to invest in the Pro version other than the issue herein then by all means , but it seems the version you are using now should allow a better result.
Suggest you post your model as requested before.
Curious your comment about fonts bad on different machine. Does that mean the one you used for drawing creation OK?

What exporter are you using, TIG's states by default all faces are triangulated, although it almost look like what you have is some auto folding. Do you have fix problems selected?
Can you post model here?

Two plugins come to mind, unfold and flattery. I do not know how they would respond if you try to flatten a thick wall and if they would account for a case of where you need to make a miter cut etc., you'll have to try and see( matte board and wall thickness different anyway). You can use model to get angels and allowances for cuts however)) My guess it is 2d centric.

The native move toll will do that also. If you start move and then input [x,y,z] it will move absolute, <x,y,z> is locale relative move, [,,z] you keep x,y same and move in z , etc

I bought a power spec few months ago, specs look close was ~$1500. Has a 2TB disk, the ssd is used for operating system and disk for rest of stuff, w7 and W8 both 64 bit. Set up for wfi hot spot so kids can use when they come over. Took HD out of old PC, put it in USB enclosure and will use it for backup plus it is bootable so could also bring back my XP if necessary. ATX form factor, runs nice and cool

Note the yellow did not detect at all. If this was redone in black and white the results would be much better??. Will try again tomorrow.logo_mns2.dxf

Attached are two items:1 jpeg of the logo wherein GIMP was used to do a edge detection; 2) a dxf file where in a raster to vector conversion was done and saved as a dxf. It looks like it can be used after some hand drawing to make a actual SU 3 d model, that process is usually not real good unless one has some $$ software which I do not.
May some one with the pro version will save this a SU model for you. I do not have the dxf SU importer since I have the free versionlogo_mns.dxf

Box;
That is good to know but you have not indicated what your OP system other than widows?

Wo3dan
I think the OP question is some what different, I think. The Op's machine is set up such that when that when the Su application is stared it always opens in Su 2013 whereas the OP wants it set up such that it opens in SU 8. Su 8 will not open a SU2013 file so I hope that is understood as a fact of normal SU operation!
Windows 7 64 bit does not use file association to open an application like many of use are use too. It uses symbolic link file to do that. For W7 64, if you do a right click on the SU 2013 exe file and the select file properties and then the details tab you will see ref pic 1
That symbolic link needs to be changed such that Su8 is opened or better yet would be to have the capability to open either SU 8 or 2013 since SU8 is not downward compatible.
My machine is set to open either version depending on which ICON I select as some folks have noted above.
After re-reading my first post it needs to be re-done to clarify.