I finally got my computer updated with a bunch of ram and a good video card, yet the colosseum level still runs extremely slow (i think the exact same fps as before)

is it possible that it's just too much data for the JK engine? cause I don't think it's my computer (or else I would have seen atleast SOME difference in performance with the upgrade)

Have you tried letting those of us with JK still installed / hidden away in a drawer beta test it for speed? I'm not one of them btw, but it seems a fairly straightforward way of starting to find the fault.

Hell, I'd do it. I only run a 1.5ghz.

i'm 2.8ghz with 2.5 gigs of ram

Clearly, you just built it wrong.

I've had framerate problems in JK - the engine can only do so much.

In addition to the fact that you built it wrong, JK sucks. I'm guessing you have a very high number of high-poly 3DOs in a very limited number of sectors.

JK's engine (and overall design) is an absolute disaster. I won't go into agonizing detail, but 3DOs were not designed correctly for 3D hardware and you'll get roughly the same performance no matter where you run your level. Cut down on the number of 3DOs and the number of textures your 3DOs are using, and increase the number of sectors so JK doesn't have to render so many of the things at once.

taking into concideration what I already have done of the level, that's not possible to do.