What are my best options considering the following?

Background: I’m relatively new to the HDV world (4 months basically), have an underpowered PC (4 figures to replace it) and use a version of Premiere Pro that’s 2 levels from being current (CS3.2). A software upgrade would tack on even more costs. I’m prevented from archiving my completed projects at or near their original quality direct to tape due (or even export the finished master project straight to an HD format without more compression) expressly due to the above. Since I have high quality .tiffs, source .mts footage and other HIQ graphics on the master timeline I want to retain that to the highest extent achievable in an archived and backed-up form.

I’m guessing that’s where the Export > Movie > Settings may contribute to at least partially solving my particular circumstances. Are there any other options that you’d care to pass along? Would you please recommend what should set the settings too for the best possible outcome?

Exporting to plain old .avi will degrade the footage.

Exporting to an MPEG further compresses the material.

How do you rate Cineform (NeoScene) as an intermediatory codec in terms of quality?

Is there a pecking order of such codecs that will work with PP CS3?

Please assume 1440 by 1080 60i material.

My goal is to export my projects and archive them for future use.

What would you do in my shoes?

I have Cineforms Neoscene as a starting point although there may be something better that my aging PC can handle successfully.

Thanks in advance.