DAW #1
Case: Cooler Master Silencio 550
PSU: Corsair CX-600
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-HD3
CPU: i5 4690K (with Arctic Freezer 11-LP cooler)
RAM: Corsair Dominator XMS DDR3 1600MHz (2x 8GB)
GPU: Sapphire HD 7850 2GB (2x ASUS VH242H 24" LCD)
Operating System: Windows 8.1 x64
OS Disk: SSD Crucial MX100 256GB
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB (4 partitions: Sound Library, Software Archive, Audio Data, System Archive and backup)
Webcam / Capture: none
Add-on cards: none
Other: SanDisk Cruzer 32GB for licenses and installers backup, eLicenser (both on internal USB2 socket), Belkin USB Wi-Fi
DAW: Cubase 8.5.0 and 8.0.30, 64-bit
Other Audio Software (stand-alone): Overloud TH2, TH3 and Mark Studio 2, Studio Devil VGA II, AMP and VBA, Amplitube, Absynth 5, Massive, z3ta+ 2, Rhino 2
Other software: Paint Shop Pro X5
Audio Device: Steinberg UR (various), latest Yamaha Steinberg USB driver
Latency: 96 samples for tracking - 512 or 1024 for mixing
MIDI Devices: Nektar Panorama P6, latest install package
Other Peripherals: Steinberg CMC CH, TP and PD
BIOS: All C-States, Turbo Boost, Enhanced Halt and all CPU throttling features disabled (no HT option for the i5 4690K)
Power Options: High Performance, no sleep, no hybernation, no USB selective suspend, no HD disable, all advanced settings set to inactive power saving or maximum performance. Steinberg Power scheme disabled.
Most used VSTi: Superior Drummer 2, EZDrummer, Padshop Pro, Dark Planet, Absynth 5, Massive, Albino 3, Spectral, Rhino 2, z3ta+ (1 & 2)
Most used VST FX: RND Portico, Waves SSL, DMG Audio, Stillwell, PSP Audioware, Overloud, Voxengo, SPL, Elysia, Brainworx, FabFilter, Valhalla DSP, Studio Devil, TSE Audio, IK Multimedia, Nomad Factory, Ignite Amps, ToneBoosters, Audio Damage, u-he, Cubase plug-in set and more. All 64-bit.
Most common use-cases: Mixing / Composing / Tracking and overdubbing
Most common project type: Mid-size projects (60-80 total tracks), 5 to 10 VSTi instances, extensive insert FX use (120-150 instances, can go up to 200)
Remarks: The DAW system is powered via a UPS, APC RS 1000
All software is legally purchased and properly licensed.
Self-built system, mid 2015
DAW #2
[Edit: No longer in use as of May 2016]