I downloaded Boris Graffiti to try out the 3d text for titling. Using it within a FCS2 project (SD-DV project,), the render times seem exceedingly long to me.

I've created 12 titles of 5 seconds each. These are layered on top of interviewees, to introduce each individual. The base video has no special effects, just interview footage. The sequence now takes over 2 hours to render. What's up with that?

I'm running a dual 2.7Ghz G5, 4 GB RAM, nVidea GeForce 6800 Ultra. Media is on one drive, render files on another.

Any way to speed this up, short of getting a new machine? Or are there other 3D text apps in same price range as Boris that look as good and are faster?

I've used Graffiti and FX pretty extensively (although in AVID, not FCP). They are both notoriously slow apps when it comes to rendering. Not sure you'd get that much kick out of a faster machine. Wish I had a recommendation for you, but my titling needs are pretty simple so I can usually get things done using built-in title tools.