8007002 is a kind of generic error. It has a problem with the extracted files when it is trying to install the update--missing/corrupt files...Windows is just having a brain cramp. The usual fix is to delete the download and try to re-download it, or manually get the update. Here's the MS generic article about it:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=910336
Sometimes it's just easier to go to the Microsoft Download Center and manaully download/install it. This happens a lot with .Net updates. Sometimes you are better off if you see those come up to just leave WinUpdate and get those manually from the downloads site and install them seperately, rebooting, then running Windows Update.
Make a note of what update is failing and then search for it. If you do end up installing it manually, might be worth it to go ahead and follow the MS instructions for manually removing the downloaded Winupdate files anyway, just to clean things up and hopefully prevent it from tripping up the automated process again later.
As for getting a PC to run FFXIV--there is a TON of hardware out there that can run it.
I've seen a lot of people running it on dual/quad core systems with Nvidia 260's and ATI 4870's. Seems to be a decent entry/midrange rig for those on a budget.
Pick a company you like, a price range you like, then make sure the models that interest you have the hardware that meets the requirements. Dell has gotten popular because of their site design--start with a base model and then tweak all the stuff on it. IBM's Lenovo systems are catching hold too with a similar process, but you have to watch them closely (they like to stick cheap CPU's or cheap Video options in them to start with). You want to get as many cores on the CPU as you can. TRUE Dual cores have enough horsepower, but you'll get a lot more out of a Quad Core or better CPU if you can afford it. DO NOT go with anything that has Intel Graphics--go with an ATI or nVidia solution--preferably one with an actual drop-in card.
You don't HAVE to have a powerhouse unless you really must have the highest resolution and all the bells and whistles. My old E8400 3GHz Core2Duo with 4GB PC1100 DDR2 RAM and an ATI 4850 512MB played the beta just fine on XP at 720p on a 23" LCD with all the standard graphics settings. It benched just a little above the mark that recommended lowering details at 1080p, so I didn't pull it up--it was plenty enough eye candy for me even at only 720p. If you are going with a laptop or PC with integrated graphics (on the motherboard) check the list here:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-GMA-4500M.20379.0.html
(there's a column near the middle of the page with cards broken down by Class 1, Class 2...)
If you see it listed, read the details on it. They should tell you what the comparable PC GPU core it is built off of, which is what you need to compare to the minimum requirements list. If you don't see it listed there, just google the specs for it and you should be able to get the info on it. For example, FF14 calls for at least a 2900 model from ATI. The ATI 3200 Graphics solution for laptops/PC motherboards is actually built around the 2400 GPU core, and is not compatible with FF14.
With all the varying versions of cards out there, it can get a bit intimidating. Each group of cards may have 5 different versions. Basically the first 2 digits represent the different core groupings, with the rest denoting the enthusiast options--basically the higher the second half, the more enthusiast features are added. Luckily, there is a site that can give you some side-by-side comparison of the specs of many common cards:
http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=632&card2=614
It should be noted that the quality of memory used has a MAJOR impact on FF14. This applies to both the video card and system memory. High fill rate is a MUST for this game. When you can choose, go for wider bandwidth (256bit over 128bit) and/or faster clocks (DDR5 > DDR3 > DDR2 and/or PC-1333 > PC-1066, etc.) where you can.
Raist
Edited, Oct 7th 2010 5:38pm by BDHERTZER