need advice to make new pc system

[Vladco]

I’m planning to use my pc audio more and need an advice.
I can use
1.atom d410 motherboard but it got a fan
2 nettop dell 1011
3 via epia motherboard
4 old squeezebox box classic
For use with motherboards I can use m2tech hiface and very good dac
Which way I should set up my system? Software, Windows 7, 8, XP or linux?
I understand what it could be several different ways to do it. Also every body got different preferences.
I prefer advice given this way : Dream system-> very good system-> reasonable system (you can live with) -> system what you’ll never use. Because technology advance really fast it’s difficult to keep up with.
Also any advice will be appreciated.
Vlad

 

[phofman]

The older version 1 of m2tech hiface has no linux drivers due to a proprietary USB protocol. The newer version hiface 2 uses regular usb audio class 2.

 

[wwenze]

I would choose XP over newer Windowses, just because of auto sampling rate switching.

 

[kevinkr]

I run Windows 7 64 bit home premium. I'll report back when I get my Stello U3, but running ASIO with a variety of M-Audio PCI sound cards they all switch sample rates automatically as a function of the sample rate of the source file.

I have heard of issues with asynchronous USB dacs and spdif receivers..

 

[wwenze]

Software changing sampling rate works with ASIO in Windows 6 and "7", it's WDM driver that is broken.

USB DACs based on the "standard ICs" don't have ASIO support.

 

[Vladco]

Thank you for the replays.
Vlad