Hi Yellaboi
Here you can find good tips on how to increase Opera's performances
Remember to use "native" (simple) skins, less (special effects) = more (speed, better performances)
Disabling Javascript in Opera (if you don't use it) can help also
In Opera 9 (in bèta at this time) there's an option to make "pipelininf" as in FF possible
FF: about:config in adressbar
Opera 9: Opera:config in adressbar
Enjoy