Hey everyone.  I currently run a Win10 Pc with Intel i7 950, 12GB ram.  I know it's pretty old but it's been a workhorse for sure, however I am topping out on every mix with maybe 30+ plugins.  Running the VS700 drivers at 4096 samples just to keep going without having to bounce tracks to keep mixing.  So, I'm guessing it's time for an upgrade?  It's been a very long time since I had to put together a PC, so any advice/recommendations?  My budget is $2000
 
Here's what I need to do with my system:
- Record up to 10 audio inputs simultaneously
- Record with plugins realtime (interface notwithstanding)
- Record 10-20 tracks midi from synth plugins
- Playback 50-100 audio tracks
- Run instances of plugins on every track, plus 8-10 busses with plugs
- High speed USB for the (current) interface, midi keyboard, and a USB hub
- At least 6 additional usb for stuff
- Burn CDs
- Run 3 monitors 
- Oh, and run Cakewalk!
 
I'm probably forgetting some things, but i think this is a good start?  I'm not as familiar with hardware/components so go easy on me.  My rig would sit under my desk.  Noise is not a huge concern right now but should be kept as low as possible, of course.  Something that would last another 5+ years.
 
thanks in advance...
Dave

With that budget, I would contact Jim Roseberry at StudoCat.  He can build you a great DAW system, tailored to what you need, for that price.  Don't mess with the brand name's as they won't satisfactorily do the job.  I've been working with a guy on the Dell forum that bought a high end Dell Alienware model, to use with a high end AVID C24 console that connects via Ethernet and he can't get it working.  Even Sweetwater can't get his interface going.
 
http://www.studiocat.com/opencart2/

+1 for Jim

Actually that was the first place I looked, then some similar, but can't afford any of those builds right now, let alone the build I want.  That budget is my limit and I want something that will last another 5+ years.  Someone else mentioned cyperpowerPC, I've been trying to build a spec there but I'm lost on a few things.  I think I want the 8700k processor, but i'm not sure which motherboard to go with it, liquid cooling, or which fans to get for cooling that won't sound like a vacuum.  Definitely not going with Dell or anything like that.

Liquid cooling can actually get pretty loud. I recommend traditional, but large fans and run them slowly. Don't get a case with a see-thru window as those act as baffles and can amplify internal vibration. I couldn't find anything on cyberpowerPC that would interest me. I'd start with Jim or ADK.

The Corsair liquid coolers have loud fans (I had one and complained to Corsair and was told users were installing after market fans).  
I have a DeepCool Captain 120EX Liquid Cooler on my i7 6700K and it idles around 30 deg C.  Rare that it hits 50 deg C.
The fan with this model is "dead quiet".  The case is a BeQuiet 600 with a double pane type side panel and that baffles any noise. 

@fireberd, Do you overclock on your build?

In my new DAW PC, built last September, I fitted a BeQuiet Silent Loop 280mm cooler. It has 2 fans but I only fitted one of them and that's probably sufficient. The fan doesn't even come on until the PC has been on for a while and doesn't ever speed up and become audible unless the CPU is doing some heavy work. When it does become audible, all you hear is the sound of airflow, not the fan itself.
 
I posted some details about my recent PC build here:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/m3720829.aspx

I recently upgraded my system.  I went with an Intel Core i7-8700 (not the K version), ASUS Prime Z370-P motherboard, 16Gb RAM (will upgrade to 32Gb later), a Samsung 500Gb SSD for the C drive, Windows 10 Pro 64-bit.  Since I run four monitors and do some video work, I also added a Gigabyte GeForce NVidia 1050Ti 4Gb graphics card.  I replaced the stock CPU fan with a CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Evo from my old system.  It's very quiet and more than adequate for the i7.  The stock fan might have worked, but I've had overheating issues in the past so felt more comfortable replacing it.  I put all the guts in a Corsair Carbide Series 100R Silent Edition Case.

This system is smokin' fast and reasonably quiet.  The only time I hear the CPU fans really kick in is when I'm rendering video.  Otherwise, the processor barely ticks over.  The Corsair case isn't truly silent, but it's definitely quieter than your average gaming case.  Everything fits inside nicely.  The fans are decent and the sides have noise-reducing baffles.  On the outside, it's just a big black box, which is exactly what I want.  I don't need a carnival light show under my desk (I've got more than enough of that in my studio).  I needed more USB ports, so I added an 8-port front panel hub, and two back-panel inserts.  

One "gotcha" to watch out for with this motherboard/processor combo is the C-State setting in the BIOS.  It must be disabled, or your processor will think, "Gee, if nobody's going to challenge me I'll just take a little nap."  It's supposedly a power-saving feature, but it makes your DAW run like crap.  Once disabled, everything runs like an champ.  

I managed to get most of the components on sale.  Windows 10 was free (I signed up back when Microsoft offered it), and I used most of my old hard drives, monitors, mouse, keyboard, etc.  So the basic system came in under $1,000.   Of course, that's not counting a new audio interface, fourth monitor, Slate Raven, and other odds and ends.  Add all that up, and...well, I don't even want to go there.  But the core system was pretty reasonable.  If you don't need such a beefy video card, you could build a fantastic system for under $800.

I could have gotten the i7 8700K for a little more, but I don't feel overclocking is necessary.  It just uses more power, requires more cooling (thus more noise) and potentially shortens the life of the processor, all for a negligible performance gain.  The standard i7 8700 is lightning fast and plenty powerful without overclocking.  I do look forward to upgrading the RAM to 32Gb though.  

Im fixin to upgrade to a new computer completely and had a question. Was probably going with a i7 8700k computer from portatech site but you dont have to over clock it correct? So like you said, less power and fan noise but if i wanted to or needed to i could overclock it at a later date? ? Im coming from taking a long break being with family (played music nonstop for 15yrs) and upgrading from sonar 7 and windows xp (lol) so im new at learning all of this. Thanks!