Switching back to flash on this apple is WICKED slow

This isn’t an AS issue, but this forum is so smart i am sure someone can help.

I am assisting on a big (massive) flash project. We are working on a number of Apple machines. the primary one i am working on is a Apple Tower, dual core, g5, 3 gigs of RAM. A VERY plucky machine by all accounts. EXCEPT for when i switch between another program that is running (say this browser window) and i try to go BACK to flash - which is already open - there is a good 20 seconds of looking at the beach ball of lag.

It is Flash 8.

Switching into the rest of the macromedia suite is instant.

Switching between all other programs is fine.

What gives?

This is REALLY slowing down our workflow.