RME is noted for their low latency in drivers.  Lynx, as noted above, also was bragging recently about their PCI/Thunderbolt latency.

I have an EMU 1212m.. It cost a fraction of the price of big name audio interfaces and it is a kick ass audio interface with on board DSP that can be used as vst and has an internal zero latency mixer with reverb for tracking. It's big brother is the 1616m. Both PCI express based. The 1616m has a breakout box with qulity mic amps and muliple I/O, ASAT in and out along with monitoring knob and headphone output. It is funny how we rarely hear about the EMU series.. I had my 1212m for a number of years, it works flawlessly and sounds great 24 bit 192k... THis is not an add by the way, it is just good sense... It is just a kick ass system... 

Your audio interface will determine the lowest possible latency you can achieve.
From there... your machine has to be able to sustain the load (without data-flow hiccups).
 
There's no DAW related benefit to using Xeon CPUs.
You'll pay significantly more... for a significantly slower clock speed.  
Better to get a quality custom built machine... and spec quality components throughout (known to work well as a DAW).  Maximum performance, minimum noise, super low/consistent DPC Latency

The Emu cards were great when they were released.
I measured the 1820m's average noise-floor at -118dB
That's world-class territory... and extremely rare for a $500 unit.
Problem with getting one today is lack of up-to-date drivers.
Unfortunately, Creative let the product line die.
 
 

Yep on Jim's post on the EMU line.  It withered and died years ago now, as far as ANY drivers or even for any support of any kind.
 
Kind of a bummer, because I LOVED their X-Board midi controllers, and of course they had the LEGENDARY EMU-2 samplers back in the day.
 
I had a friend with an EMU audio interface, and while it worked in Windows 7, it always had a bit of radio sound picked up in its circuitry, for some reason, which we fixed with a direct box.  But the far bigger problem was that it simply did NOT work for Windows 8, let alone for Windows 10.
 
So, I never even consider any EMU products for anything other than fond memories of yesteryear, these days, and CERTAINLY would advise anyone against purchasing any of their products.
 
Bob Bone
 

IF you look at a laptop, I would REALLY encourage you to look for one with 2 hard drives, and hopefully have the primary drive SSD, though you could always upgrade that independently pretty cheaply.
 
I DO agree though that you get far more bang for the buck with a desktop computer, than a laptop.
 
I hope you have a lot of fun with your new adventures with a nice shiny new super powerful computer.  :)
 
Bob Bone
 
 

Thanks Everyone...
I think my issue is RAM.  MOTU Ethno & Symphonic take up way too much RAM.  I am thinking of getting a desktop with a good amount of RAM 32gb or so, and a decent internal sound card (PCIe one I am sure might be better than straight PCI?).
I'm not a Pro recordist, just someone at home looking to enjoy music and work with, lets say 7 VST tracks maximum.
I dont think I need a Pro system, just a decent processor, ram and pcie sound card.

Whatever Jim Roseberry says, listen!
I started out on a Dell and then bought one of Jim's systems a few years back and it has performed wonderfully.
It was like stepping up to the big leagues. Designed by a musician, for musicians.
I used an M-Audio FW410 and more recently the Roland Octacapture. Both performed exceptionally well with the system.
 
I can't say enough great things about Jim! 

I agree with Dean and Mark.  I also bought one of Jim's systems several years ago and it is the best musical purchase I have ever made.  Jim's support and advice are also reasons to purchase one of his DAWs.  He is great to work with.

+1 for anything Jim Roseberry says.  I had one of those 1212m cards that has no drivers now.
 
Aside: I've built all my own PCs for over 30 years, except one: an HP off the shelf of Best Buy.  Big mistake, as the power supply was undersized and there was no way to physically mount or connect additional hard drives (and it probably would have overloaded the power supply anyway).  Clearly they stripped down everything to the minimum cost for them and never expected anyone to open the case.  So, it was a good PC for my parents, but not for a DAW.  I don't know if the Dell that you are considering has such limitations, but please check it out.  If you build your own, it's going to be a lot easier to modify in the future.