Yes, if you don't use a .dll with a .lib, then it's the same as using a huge .cpp file, and it takes ages to run through the linker, even if the compiling has been done some days earlier. This is what happens with LEO also, because its so huge, so a LEO.DLL would help also here. Precompiled headers won't help either, because there is no compiling involved, it's only linking slowness.