Queries = bandwidth?

[Logician]

So this include I'm using....??

Your script produces [B]1 + (2 x $num_active) queries.

Considering the fact that $num_active varible is set to 4, your query load is 9 each time it's called. Multiple this by 2 as you have the code twice, your query load ends up at 18.. No offence to its author but it's not well-optimized..

I'm on a dedicated server...with moderate traffic: 5,000 uniques a day, 2 million page views a month. My vb has over 21,000 members and usually we average 100-125 users on the vb at one time (topped out at 165)

I suggest you installing Teck's microstats hack. Then you can monitor your server load variables and decide if your server is under pressure or not according its average values. This will help you decide if you need optimization in the near future..