Computer stuff

My computer is dying fast. Windows has been coming up with major system errors that Microsoft apparently doesn't know how to fix. The CD drive fails more often than it works. The mouse has been spontaneously disconnecting and reconnecting every few minutes (and I've checked, the plug is firmly in place). Sometimes the cursor disappears completely. Strange system warnings have been appearing.

I've updated all my security software, but it didn't make a difference.

So I need more advice from computer-savvy people out there.

First: I am NOT insisting on any particular brand. All I want is a reliable system running Windows XP (any kind) that I can use for the usual computer stuff, plus running modern games like Guild Wars and Oblivion (but not necessarily the latest first-person shooters). I also want to be able to convert LPs to CDs and old VHS tapes into DVDs.

I'd like the vendor to be in business for a few years, so that if I have a problem they can fix it. Other than that, I don't care.

My understanding is that I'll need a TV card, probably a Hauppage. I'll also need a decent video card; unfortunately I don't know a lot about those.

As far as I know, I should get at least 2 GB of RAM.

Oh, and my budget is probably under $1,000.

Some questions:

What's a good CPU? Will a Dual-Core Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz 1333FSB 4MB Cache suffice?

For a video card, will a MSI nVidia GeForce 8400GS 512MB DDR2 PCI Express (1xDVI 1xVGA) be good enough? I really don't know much about video cards.

Is it worthwhile to get a card reader? They're pretty cheap, but I don't know what I'd use one for!

What's RAID? Should I get it?

Is there a meaningful difference between a Hauppauge Win TV-PVR-150 MCE (PCI), a Hauppauge Win TV-HVR-1600 MC (PCI), and a Hauppauge Win TV-HVR-1800 MC (PCI-Express)? I'm not planning on watching TV on my computer - or not much, anyway. I just want to be able to convert old videos!

Windows XP. Home? Professional? Professional 64-bit?

Computer stuff

My computer is dying fast. Windows has been coming up with major system errors that Microsoft apparently doesn't know how to fix. The CD drive fails more often than it works. The mouse has been spontaneously disconnecting and reconnecting every few minutes (and I've checked, the plug is firmly in place). Sometimes the cursor disappears completely. Strange system warnings have been appearing.

I've updated all my security software, but it didn't make a difference.

So I need more advice from computer-savvy people out there.

First: I am NOT insisting on any particular brand. All I want is a reliable system running Windows XP (any kind) that I can use for the usual computer stuff, plus running modern games like Guild Wars and Oblivion (but not necessarily the latest first-person shooters). I also want to be able to convert LPs to CDs and old VHS tapes into DVDs.

I'd like the vendor to be in business for a few years, so that if I have a problem they can fix it. Other than that, I don't care.

My understanding is that I'll need a TV card, probably a Hauppage. I'll also need a decent video card; unfortunately I don't know a lot about those.

As far as I know, I should get at least 2 GB of RAM.

Oh, and my budget is probably under $1,000.

Some questions:

What's a good CPU? Will a Dual-Core Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz 1333FSB 4MB Cache suffice?

For a video card, will a MSI nVidia GeForce 8400GS 512MB DDR2 PCI Express (1xDVI 1xVGA) be good enough? I really don't know much about video cards.

Is it worthwhile to get a card reader? They're pretty cheap, but I don't know what I'd use one for!

What's RAID? Should I get it?

Is there a meaningful difference between a Hauppauge Win TV-PVR-150 MCE (PCI), a Hauppauge Win TV-HVR-1600 MC (PCI), and a Hauppauge Win TV-HVR-1800 MC (PCI-Express)? I'm not planning on watching TV on my computer - or not much, anyway. I just want to be able to convert old videos!

Windows XP. Home? Professional? Professional 64-bit?