OK, so I am just a home user looking to enjoy creating music, not a pro.
I own MOTU Ethno and MOTU Symphonic and have some major limitations with my current laptop (spec in signature).
I think MOTU is a big resource hog and I'm getting dropout (if I add more that two MOTU tracks it starts to dropout).  I am not convinced that its my sound card.
 
Anyway, I am eyeing up some desktops and am looking for a good mid-range machine that I can max up the RAM.
I'm considering the Lenovo Thinkserver(1), or the Asus M32CD(2).
 
Is the processor speed a major factor?  The Lenovo is a core i3, the asus is an i5.  Or is is mosty RAM that is my issue?
 
Any advice appreciated...
 
 
 
 
1.Lenovo:
Processor 3.4 GHz Intel Core i3
RAM 16 GB
Hard Drive 1000 GB
Graphics Coprocessor Intel HD Graphics 4600
Card Description Intel HD Graphics 4400
Graphics Card Ram Size 1.7 GB
Number of USB 2.0 Ports 2
Number of USB 3.0 Ports 6
Other Technical Details
Brand Name Computer Upgrade King
Series Thinkserver
Item model number 70A4000HUX
Hardware Platform PC
Operating System None
Item Weight 23.5 pounds
Product Dimensions 20.7 x 19.7 x 12.3 inches
Processor Brand Intel
Processor Count 4
Hard Drive Rotational Speed 7200.00
Optical Drive Type DVD-ROM
Audio-out Ports (#) 1
 
2. Asus
Processor 3.3 GHz Intel Core i5
RAM 8 GB DDR3
Memory Speed 1600 MHz
Hard Drive 1 TB SATA
Card Description integrated
Number of USB 2.0 Ports 2
Number of USB 3.0 Ports 4
Other Technical Details
Brand Name Asus
Series ASUS M32CD
Item model number M32CD-US003T
Operating System Windows 10
Item Weight 18.3 pounds
Product Dimensions 6.9 x 15 x 16 inches
Item Dimensions L x W x H 6.9 x 15 x 16 inches
Processor Brand Intel
Processor Count 4
Hard Drive Rotational Speed 7200 RPM

I'd be looking for an i5 quad-core or, better, an i7. The i3 is OK for general not too demanding internet browsing, a bit of word processing etc. but the i5 and i7 ranges handle multi-tasking far better and audio production involves a lot of multi-tasking behind the scenes. My wife's current work-supplied laptop is an i3 with 8GB RAM. It's fine for what it's intended to do (database, internet, document processing) but I'd hate to try a DAW on it, especially of soft-synths or lots of plugins are used. Sometimes it gets out of breath handling large Excel spreadsheets.

For RAM it really depends on whether or not you use large sample libraries that get loaded into RAM (I don't). I've yet to notice more than 8GB being used by just Windows and Sonar, but that doesn't mean it isn't and I just haven't been monitoring resources at the right time. Intel HD graphics will also be using the system RAM as video RAM so will eat into the total RAM and reduce it by however much RAM the graphics chipset sets aside.

tlw
I'd be looking for an i5 quad-core or, better, an i7. The i3 is OK for general not too demanding internet browsing, a bit of word processing etc. but the i5 and i7 ranges handle multi-tasking far better and audio production involves a lot of multi-tasking behind the scenes. My wife's current work-supplied laptop is an i3 with 8GB RAM. It's fine for what it's intended to do (database, internet, document processing) but I'd hate to try a DAW on it, especially of soft-synths or lots of plugins are used. Sometimes it gets out of breath handling large Excel spreadsheets.

Actually what you said makes sense.  I've been doing some extra reading and apparently audio work for the CPU is in some cases more intense than high end graphics stuff.  At least with graphics, the CPU can push some of the work onto the graphics card.  But audio processing is more intense than I realised.
I am now looking at spending an extra $150 and getting the Thinkserver TS140 i7.

Not sure what you're looking for budget wise but I'd recommend either building your own or if you don't feel comfortable doing that, have someone build one for you such as Jim at StudioCat. There are a few major issues with buying prefabs like these:
 
1) They come with a TON of bloat which will have some major effects on your audio work. They tend to use a lot of resources and are more of a pain in the ass to get rid of than they are worth.
 
2) You're going to end up with higher quality components and be able to have more control over what goes into the machine and pay less for things you don't need.
 
3) If you get a machine by someone who builds them specifically for audio, it will be optimized for said work when you receive it to provide you the best performance possible.