Time to upgrade from Laptop to Desktop and need Suggestions

  So thanks to Sonar X1 Pro and Toontrack's Superior Drummer 2.0 with The Metal Foundry SDX, I really need to upgrade my computer.

I'm currently using a Dell Vostro 1700 Laptop and have had no issues except for the fact I am now running out of memory and CPU power. My current setup is pretty simple b/c I wanted to make my work flow and writing easier and not have to be as technical as I used to be. I just plug into my Line 6 UX2, open POD Farm w/ one of my presets, Open Sonar X1 w/ one of my Templates, set the tempo and Time signature, Hit record and let my creativity flow! When I'm done capturing my ideas and recording a rough demo, I re-record everything and make a high quality recording.

I want to build a Desktop that will be used for Recording Audio, Soft Synths and maybe a little video editing. I haven't built a desktop DAW since 2003 when I used ABIT motherboards and there wasn't such a large selection of Manufacturers and Models to choose from, so it's a little overwhelming.

Below is my current setup:

• Dell Vostro 1700 Laptop 2.2GHz Core2Duo, 2GB Memory
  
• Windows XP Pro SP3
  
• Windows 7 Enterprise SP1
  
• Line 6 UX2 USB 2.0 Sound Card
  
• Line 6 GearBox, POD farm 2.5
  
• MOTU Midi Express XT USB
  
• Roland TD-20 Electronic Drum kit
  
• Western USB Digital My Book Mirror Edition WDH2U20000N running RAID 1
  
• External SATA HD case w/ USB 2 and eSATA
  
• Cakewalk Sonar 8.5, X1 Pro and Dimension Pro
  
• Toontrack Superior Drummer 2.0, The Metal Foundry SDX, EZdrummer, Metalheads EZX, DFH EZX, Twisted Kit EZX, Claustrophobic EZX, Nashville EZX, Vintage Rock EZX
  
• Izotope Ozone 4
  
• Waves - Trying not to use anymore b/c they are just too ridiculously high priced and can't afford to upgrade.
  
• Samson C-Control
  
• M-Audio BX8
  
• KRK Rockit 10s
  
• Pioneer Home Stereo
  
• Pioneer 6”x9” 3-way car speakers
  
• Pioneer 3-way home Stereo speakers
  

Below is what I'm thinking about building (Suggestions are very welcomed):

I want to be able to record and playback at least 32 solid audio tracks, 8 MIDI tracks, Soft Synths and all the software I currently use listed above.

• Case: Mid Tower, Power supply on bottom, supply and exhaust fan
  
• CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K
  
• CPU Cooler Fan: Do I need better than the stock if not overclocking?
  
• DVD Burner: Suggestions?
  
• Firewire: Only need to capture video from Digital Video camcorder, Not sure if I should get on board or how to tell if it has TI Chipset. Suggestions?
  
• Floppy: Don't need
  
• Keyboard: USB
  
• Memory: DDR3 2x2GB or 2x4GB, Speed 1333 or 1600? Cas Latency/timing 9-9-9-24? Brand/Model?
  
• Monitor 1: 42” LCD TV HDMI 60Hz 1080p
  
• Monitor 2, 3, 4: I'm thinking about getting a 3 or 4 monitor setup.
  
• Motherboard: I was thinking about getting a GIGABYTE but read they all keep rebooting. Are Intel good? I think the specs I should look for are: Socket: 1155, Chipset: P67, SATA: II+III, USB: 2+3, Memory: DDR3@1333x4, Dual Channel, RAID 1, eSATA
  
• Mouse: USB
  
• NIC: on board
  
• OS: Windows 7 SP1 - 32-bit or 64-bit?
  
• Power Supply: Note sure how much power I need but was looking at Cool Master, Antec
  
• Printer: HP 2600n Laser – already have
  
• SATA HD Cooler: I used in the past and have only had 1 hard disk fail but it was 12 years old
  
• SATA HD Mobile Rack w/ Fan: Used these in the past to change OS drives from DAW to Internet and for my backup drives.
  
• SATA HD1: OS and Apps – Brand and Model Suggestions?
  
• SATA HD2: Data
  
• SATA HD3 and 4: Backup RAID 1
  
• SATA III Cables: Any specs I should look for?
  
• Sound Card: Line 6 UX2 and disable on board
  
• TV Tuner: Don't need
  
• USB Cables: Any specs I should look for?
  
• Video Capture: Firewire or RCA to capture old VHS/Analog Camcorder tapes?
  
• Video Card 1: AMD/ATI or nVidia? Chipset? Fanless? Brand? Model?
  
• Video Card 2: Not sure if I need 2 to run 3 or 4 monitors?
  
• Wi-Fi: Don't need
  

GotMetalBoy



Below is what I'm thinking about building (Suggestions are very welcomed):

• Sound Card: Line 6 UX2 and disable on board

The weakest link.

There are a lot of discussions about this topic already in here. Did you look around? I just don't feel like hacking out the same stuff again. Maybe others feel the same.
John

John,
 
I did a search on here but most of the info is more than a month old and things change so fast in the computer world, I just want to make sure I'm selecting the correct  parts.
 
I'm just really stuck on what is needed for Intel Quick Sync and if I really need it.

IK Obi


You should try a barebones kit and build off of it.
 
I don't mean to hijack anybody's thread but, ...
Is this a good idea?Has anybody built a daw pc out of a barebones kit and not had any problems? I'm thinking about building a daw pc and looked at a few barebones kits,its all kind of confusing.