So Im doing a double whammy!
 
Getting a new computer and upgrading to X3a. Thanks to my wife!
 Any comments on the setup below?
 
              HP ENVY Phoenix 810-170st Desktop PC

• Windows 8.1 64
• 3^rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-4930K processor hexa-core [3.4GHz, 12MB Shared Cache]
• 4GB Nvidia GeForce GT640 [DX11,DVI,DP,HDMI & VGA via adapter]
• 24GB DDR3-1600MHz [4 DIMMs]
• 3TB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
• 3TB 7200RPM SATA 2nd Hard Drive
• Blu-ray Reader & SuperMulti DVD burner
• 15-in-1 Multi-slot Media Card Reader, 4 USB Ports (Front/Top), Audio [Front 2USB2.0, Top 2USB3.0]
• HP WLAN 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth®(1x1)
• HP Pavilion 23tm 23-inch Diagonal Touch Monitor x2

 
I do know that I need a PCIe firewire card for external gear, or else its another $3k for audio interfaces/AD DA converters...

You're a couple steps ahead of me...but I'd rethink the audio card at $3k... ALSO the PCI...which your computer won't probably have and also I'd skip the firewire in favor of USB nowadays.
Your computer sure seems like it has the horsepower and realize you'll want to upgrade to the soon to be released X3d, but currently X3c.
 
If you're spending a chunk on your HP, you might consider a custom build from one of the guys around here... Ck the "computer" forum, down below.

Yeah, this PC has 2 mini PCIe x1 and 2 PCIe x16. Make sure to get the correct card.

Well dang..those HP Envy computers seem to pack a wallop, as compared to Dell...for the money.  How many USB3 ports I wonder.  Great prices it seems.  I'll be VERY interested in how it works out.

2 according to the HP site

Thanks so far for the input. This model has 2 USB 3.0 ports

Looks like a great computer.

For an interface, you shouldn't need to go above 500 to get something perfect for your system.
 
And you might want to consider getting an SSD for your OS & progs.
 
That will leave you with a MASSIVE 6Tb for projects & big sample libraries

I think you should consider upgrading your performance of your system.
 
What I mean is that if you remember to take her out to dinner and/or shopping, you will get better performance out of your new toys, by being allowed to use them at all.  :)
 
That sounds like a great setup.
 
I agree that the $500 mark should give you some pretty good interface choices.  I myself choose the USB connectivity route, rather than FireWire, but as long as you do your homework on your FireWire card and its chip set, you should still be OK.
 
Some folks have had horrific trouble with FireWire compatibility issues, so if you go that way make sure you get something that will work.
 
Bob Bone
 

Bob makes some good points
 
I use Firewire without issue on my system, but this is mainly because it uses a Texas Instruments (TI) chipset.
 
So if you do go for Firewire, make sure you do some research