General advice on best configuration of new i7 based PC and SONAR setup

Hello everybody.
Sorry if this reads as a long winded post, but I found you don't get good advice unless the people you are asking it from know the details.
I'm new to the forums, but have been visiting them on and off for several years.
Always meant to get into home recording, but "life" happened along the way, so never have managed it....but I'm determined to do it now.
 
A few months ago I built a PC for Graphic processing [Photoshop/ Lightroom], but it hasn't been getting that much use, and is basically underutilized.
So, since I play guitar and other string instruments [No Uke], and the price point for a capable DAW and good control Interfaces are now NOT as astronomical as they used to be, I thought I might as well bight the bullet and duel purpose this PC.
 
The spec's pf this PC are i7 4790 [I could upgrade it to newer 'K' 'overclockable version' if deemed worthwhile- I somehow doubt it], Gigabyte H97 gaming 3 M/Board, 32 GB RAM, Nvidia GTX 970 GC, 2 X Samsung 850 Pro SSD's, 1 X WD Green 2TB HD.
 
I've got Win 8.1 [trying to stop MS installing Win 10, and will if I have my way ], and apart from Photoshop & Lightroom there is basically nothing else installed on this machine.
 
I want to purchase and run Sonar Platinum, as I figure the learning curve is going to be steep [Yet Again] anyway, pointless learning a slightly reduced version of Sonar [Last time I was at the nearly buy in stage, it was Sonar 6 , I even bought Sonar Power  and Cakewalk Synths books to learn them beforehand.... stuff happens ]
 
I'm building this home studio [apart from the PC] from scratch, so please consider any advice given as if you were to build from scratch yourself, with today's most current  gear
 
From pursuing the forum [ And Sound on Sound reviews ], a likely candidate for a suitable USB interface for my needs would be a Steinberg UR44.
I haven't decided on a controller keyboard [ I basically want to create soundtracks type music], and being a Guitarist first and foremost, really wouldn't know what would be suitable] Go For it, all advice welcome.
 
Plug-in's I'll want to run, well basically anything and all by Cinematique Instruments.

I figure I wouldn't need much else given what's included with S/Plat, as long as I choose wisely on which 3 A/Drums packages I choose.
 
Vocals & Acoustic guitar/ string instruments could be recorded from a separate room, so noise from the PC picked up by  microphones shouldn't be a issue.
I'll probably get a hardware controller to run Sonar.... after looking through the forum, and Sound On Sound forum/ reviews/ archives.... I was thinking of opting for the Behringer X-Touch [nice price - does the Job ?], but after watching these two videos.

 

I think I'll opt for the Mackie Control pro ... I'm nearing retirement age, I can't BB messing around mapping the X-Touch so it works NEARLY as well as the Mackie.[Having to disengage all but the one wanted track to zoom in on that specific track to edit it-see video 2 , was what turned me off]
I'd rather spend the $$ and not have to trouble shoot.
 
Having built HTPC's [well all my PC's] I know certain windows functions can cause gltiches in playback, so some windows functions are best turned off, likewise to save system resources.
I suspect the same is [still] true with recording.
 
So, how best to configure this PC for the applications ahead?
I guess NOT having the PC connected to the internet whilst recording would be one of the big ones, also turning auto update off for programs would be another.
If there is a specific recommend windows configuration thread that is up to date, could somebody please link ?
What functions/uses tend to cause noise problems [clicks/ pops etc] within Sonar when they are engaged? [Don't say none because I won't believe you ]
 
The questions I have below are on things I am unsure about, and basically don't know [things have changed in intervening years, from when I did know] .
I prefer to build my PC's with a separate OS drive, and if possible run all other programs off a separate internal drive used only for that purpose, this saves possible OS & registry corruption, and makes a clean install far less painful if it just has to be done.
 
Q1: Can Sonar be installed in this way?.... Any drawbacks to doing so? If not, what sized drive is recommended , with some sort of future proofing ?
 
Q2: Where should one install sample libraries? On a separate drive? ...best practice? What drive size is recommended for samples? How fast access do the sample drives need to be [what is the slowest you can get away with is more the question? ]
 
Q3: Photoshop & Lightroom both can have a 'Scratch Drive' assigned to them for them to do the work on [one of my Samsung 850 pro's are assigned as such] does Sonar work in the same way? can it be configured to use a scratch drive as a work space?
Can the VRAM of my Graphics card be utilized by Sonar, like it can be by PS/LR? [expecting NO ]
 
Q4: Any  [ 'Best practice] pointers regarding delegating system resources for specific tasks or to reduce possible system noise?
 
Q5: Any [ Best Practice ] on using multiple screens to run Sonar and soft synths [My GC can run 3 monitors...should I even bother considering it? ] Would you, if you could, run as many monitors as possible, or is too much INFO decremental to productivity? [Sort of ends up like a too involved in the garage with the engine , rather than ever driving the car situation]
 
If anybody has actually got to the bottom of this post and is actually reading this. well thank you for your perseverance, or lack of something else to do 
Double thanks if any forum members can link me to forum posts that can help me out, if not answer the questions asked directly.
 
Cheers
 
 
 
 

My, that was a long first post. So many questions, but all good ones. Pardon my less-verbose replies, in no particular order...
 
1. That PC will make a fine DAW
2. Windows 10 is superior to 8.1
3. Yes, some third-party plugins (e.g. FabFilter, Meldaproduction) do make use of your GPU, but most do not. 
4. Multiple video displays are VERY helpful and highly recommended. However, keep in mind that you do not want them to impinge on the line-of-sight to your speakers, so that will limit the size of your monitors.
5. SSDs don't really do a lot for DAW performance, with one notable exception: sample libraries. If you're wondering where to get the best bang:buck ratio for SSD space, put your sample-based virtual instruments there. Sample libraries are big; some are over 30 GB, and even a bunch of smaller ones add up fast. Figure on at least 500 GB to start.
6. There is no problem installing SONAR and your other music software somewhere other than C:, and keeping the O/S drive pristine. Ideally, you'll want to keep audio files and sample libraries on separate disks for best disk efficiency. Where you install SONAR is less-important, but you may find the path of least resistance is to put it, and add-on plugins, on the C: drive. That's where they want to install themselves anyway, and they don't take up much space.
7. Most of us don't have luxury of separate tracking and control rooms, and many actually prefer to do everything in one room. But you're right about computer noise being a potential problem. Some cases are quieter than others, but since you're not building the DAW PC from scratch you'll have to work with what you've got. The good news it's not that hard to do, as long as your room isn't too small. 
8. Audio interfaces are generally very high quality these days, so choose yours primarily on features, e.g. number of channels and vendor reputation. If money is no object, RME represents the high end of the consumer range. You can spend more but it's not necessary, and you can spend less without making any serious compromises.
 

Just read the post by fireberd

http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3399147

This supports Windows 10

I concur with most of the other posts. Mostly you don't need to do any customizing, especially since your system is already pretty streamlined. I have never had any problem with my RME UCX which runs on USB. I've also hooked up a Madiface USB to my laptop at a gig and had no problem recording 48 tracks at 48KHz 24 bit from a DigiCo SD7 mixing desk. I suppose if you're planning to stream lots of samples over disks connected to USB it might be an issue.
 
EDIT:
Oh one thing I'd recommend if you're planning to do a considerable amount of vocal recording is to upgrade to the full Editor version (or even Studio version) of Melodyne, if they offer you a deal. The integration with Sonar is excellent and you can do some great things with it.

Firewire is a bad choice because it's on its way out. It will work fine on this OS if you get a good PCI/FW card. But there's no telling about the future. Not to mention if you'd ever want to use the interface on location with a laptop. For maximum compatibility, USB is the way to go. The problems that used to plague the first generation of USB interfaces are gone. If the Madiface USB can stream 64 tracks of audio simultaneously over USB reliably, I have no further questions. 

It's worth pointing out, true, but I don't think in 99 percent of case this is realistically a problem. Meanwhile, there are several big advantages to USB based interfaces.

You should call Jim Roseberry before you commit to any PC. He's got the experience and answers to really help you.
http://www.studiocat.com/