My laptop's dying, what's the best option for something under $800 that I can upgrade later?

[st ef you]

Basically the hard drive on my laptop repeatedly freezes about every 5-10 minutes and from what I can tell, it's days are probably numbered. What I need is a new PC that doesn't necessarily have to handle top-end graphics, but rather it has to handle processing. For example, rendering an HD video in a quicker time than 6+ hours, which is the very quickest my little laptop can manage right now. I also need a setup that I can upgrade later on when I have more money for it without having to waste parts that I already paid for. For instance if I had to buy a new CPU, replacing the old one and probably wasting $100+ dollars is not what I want to do. I'm inexperienced with PC building, so I may have screwed up some of my explanations already, but if I don't know something I should be able to figure it out.
Also, if it is a liable option in the first place, some tips on buying something that's already built to fit my needs will be appreciated as well, since doing so might be overall easier.

[Taipan]

[QUOTE=st ef you;36922600]Basically the hard drive on my laptop repeatedly freezes about every 5-10 minutes and from what I can tell, it's days are probably numbered. What I need is a new PC that doesn't necessarily have to handle top-end graphics, but rather it has to handle processing. For example, rendering an HD video in a quicker time than 6+ hours, which is the very quickest my little laptop can manage right now. I also need a setup that I can upgrade later on when I have more money for it without having to waste parts that I already paid for. For instance if I had to buy a new CPU, replacing the old one and probably wasting $100+ dollars is not what I want to do. I'm inexperienced with PC building, so I may have screwed up some of my explanations already, but if I don't know something I should be able to figure it out.
Also, if it is a liable option in the first place, some tips on buying something that's already built to fit my needs will be appreciated as well, since doing so might be overall easier.[/QUOTE]

Well, you can build your own pc with a new generation i7 which will pretty much be the best option for rendering HD videos right now. Its 300$ for the cpu alone though.

You can leave out a gpu and add it later if you like.

Do you need any peripherals or os? (Screen, keyboard etc)

[st ef you]

Literally all I've got in terms of peripherals (if I do get what you mean) is a mouse. Any by os, I'm assuming you mean buying a new copy of Windows, since that's what I'm using?
So, things may be a little pricey but if needed I will be getting more money soon.

Aside from RAM, because of how cheap it has become, if I'm going to be buying something with an i7, how much more would have to be done for it to easily run games as well, or is most of the investment already going to be made?

[Taipan]

just add a GPU.

What games do you want to play and do you want them maxxed out?

[st ef you]

Specifically, when I do get a GPU, I will mostly be running Source Filmmaker. Otherwise, I rarely play games. I would actually say that a GPU may be unnecessary, but SFM has to run a copy of Team Fortress 2 inside of it.
Although, with a computer that could run it, I'd probably play Skyrim a lot but other than that, I wouldn't be playing any modern-day games. And by probably, I mean it would be cool, but I don't need it.