This is basically a laundry list of what I use to do whatever it is I do. (I'll fix the top graphic when I get to it...)

Primitive/2D Creation:
      

• CorelDraw5.0 for .ai exports
• 3DSMax2 for .3ds imports/exports and intra-program primitives
• Lightwave 5.0 Modeler program
• Moray for Windows for POV-Ray .pov exports
• Win3D for converting all these things to other formats...

3D Rendering:

• Caligari trueSpace2.0
• Kinetix 3DMaxR2
• POV-Ray Raytracer 3.0
• Lightwave 5.0

The inevitable Touch-Up:

• Adobe Photoshop v4.01
• L-View Pro32

Hardware Involved:

• P5-100 computer
• 32MB RAM
• 3.1GB HD space
• ZIP drive for all those primitives and textures
• lots of coffee -- not strictly hardware, but if the operator is asleep, primitives just don't get made...