First Time, Audio Prodution Rig

[duncandonuts86]

I'm helping a friend build a computer next week, it's my first time. I convinced him to switch from Apple to PC so this has to be good, haha. His budget is $1500-$2000. It will be used for amateur audio production, gaming and some programming. He uses Pro Tools and Cubase for audio. Firewire is required because that's the only I/O that his audio interface has. He also requires WiFi and would like to install Linux on a drive, or as a dual boot. He will use two, maybe three 1080p monitors(just one while gaming). Here's what I came up with:

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/duncandonuts86/saved/FYPYJx

 

CPU: 7700k

Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 

Motherboard: Asus Strix Z270-E Gaming

Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32gb(2x16)

Storage OS: Samsung 850 Evo 500gb

Storage: 2x Seagate Barracuda 2tb 7200rpm

GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 1060 6gb Armor OCV1

Case: Fractal Define R4

PSU: EVGA Supernova G2 550w 80+ Gold

OS: Windows 10/Linux

FireWire: Vantec 3-Port FireWire 400 PCIe card(UGT-FW200)

Fans: 3x Noctua NF-F12 PWM

 

I think this list is pretty good, but I have a couple concerns:

 

Is the FireWire card a good one?

Will there be enough ram clearance for the cooler?

Would two front intake fans and one rear exhaust fan be enough?

Is 550 watts enough power?

 

Any other advice would be appreciated as well.

 

Thanks

[Viesulis]

I think the ram and cooler will be fine.

Also get FireWire 800 that's faster.

As long they aren't overclocking the PSU will be fine.

The fans are good but get a fan controller I suggest an NZXT AA-HUE30-01.

[NATO]

You could avoid getting a firewire card altogether with an adapter such as the one below.

Everything looks great you might want to get a 650w psu to take advantage of overclocking.

The ram clearance should be fine if it is a problem you can move the fan to higher position on the cooler via the integrated clips. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Electop-Male-FireWire-Female-Adapter/dp/B0144G3Z20/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1488566252&sr=8-3&keywords=firewire+adapter

[duncandonuts86]

Thanks guys! I may get a more powerful PSU, just in case

[brob]

You might consider going with an X99 build. (I would wait on considering an R7 cpu until peripheral and software compatibility has been established.)

 

The Syba card in this build has both IEEE 1394a (Firewire 400) & 1394b (Firewire 800) ports.

 

A small Linux partition can be placed on the 2TB ssd to allow for dual boot.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6800K 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor  ($408.38 @ OutletPC) 
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U14S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($76.13 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: Asus X99-A II ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard  ($229.99 @ B&H) 
Memory: G.Skill TridentZ Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  ($209.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Crucial MX300 2.0TB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($515.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB SC GAMING Video Card  ($239.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 w/Window (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G3 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ B&H) 
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home Full - USB 32/64-bit  ($106.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Other: SYBA Add-On Card Model SY-PEX30016  ($24.99 @ Newegg) 
Total: $1982.43
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-03-04 12:00 EST-0500