With regards to your PC, try doing like myself, and playing, fullscreen, 800x600 16bit resolution, with Space Detail turned off, as well as everything in the checkboxes except the 16bit dither.
That should solve it if your screen lags too much, but if it's the processor and RAM, don't mind this.
As for your faction questions, try PanGal or OSC, or even Universal Shipping, though there's no official faction for Universal.
Also, feel free to try to be a flatfoot in the BPA. I heard you're not allowed guns. XD Pretty much like in Britain, where the police only use clubs.