Looking to purchase audio production desktop... but which chip?

I'm looking to purchase my first pcspecialist audio production pc to replace my nine year old (cough) Scan 3xs pc.
My dilemma is, do I spend another £300 (approx £2087) on an Intel Skylake 8 core processor and a higher end Asus mother board or for around 300 less, go for a Coffee lake 8700k spec build?
Would I see much difference in speed?
I don't intend to OC.
Both systems, bar the processor, gpu and mother board would be identical.
32 gig 2666
Noctua cooler,
Corsair 500d case
Extra fans
1tb and 500g Samsung Evo SSD
512gb Samsung Pro M.2 (windows)

Any light on my dilemma would be great. Thanks.

My dilemma is, do I spend another £300 (approx £2087) on an Intel Skylake 8 core processor

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The answer is no, absolutely not.

If your uses/software benefit from frequency over core count, the 8700k is the winner over the i7 7820x by a long way. Plus it's way cheaper.

If you would benefit from the higher core count, buy an AMD Ryzen R7 2700x on an X470 motherboard. The price will be similar to an 8700k build, possibly cheaper, while giving the same multicore performance as Intel's 7820x.

The 7820x was knocked down by the 8700k and AMD's R7 1800x, and the R7 2700x reversed over it to finish it off. It's pretty obsolete now.

Given your current PC is 9 years old, either the i7 8700k or the R7 2700x would be a big upgrade.

What GPU would you be getting, and why? What software do you use that benefits from a GPU?

And why a 1TB Samsung Sata SSD, a 500gb Samsung Sata SSD, and a 512gb Samsing NVMe SSD? That's probably not optimal. What are you storing on what drives?

That was the answer I was looking for! Mega thanks! One question though, OC?
I'm always skeptical of overclocking but it seems the norm these days.. or would I be ok at stock?
I'm a big Kontakt (within Cubase) user.
M.2 for OS
500gb SSD for Songs, Cubase and Reaper
1TB for Kontakt samples and VSTi sample banks (VSTi, IK Multimedia Sampletank, Magix Independence Pro)
Integrated GPU. No need for large graphic cards. Won't be playing games or video editing. Strictly a digital audio workstation.

It's very normal to have samples and so forth on a separate SSD. But one normally has software on the same SSD as the OS. Plus the NVMe SSD is overwhelmingly faster than any Sata SSD. The difference in read/write speeds and IOPS is just silly.

If it won't all fit onto a 512gb 970 Pro, a 1tb 970 Evo is about the same price as a 512gb 970 Pro and a 500gb 860 Evo. I'd suggest going with that as it should give overall way better performance.

But by splitting off programs onto a much slower SSD you're probably hurting rather than helping yourself.

One question though, OC?
I'm always skeptical of overclocking but it seems the norm these days.. or would I be ok at stock?

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Of course you'd be okay at stock. But overclocking is, more or less, free performance. All the top end components like -k CPUs, Z370 mobos, higher end PSUs and coolers etc, are made with the understanding they will be used for overclocking. PCS's overclock is actually quite tame, but still enough that you would see performance lifted quite a bit especially in multithreaded workloads as it would take the 6-core frequency from 4.3GHz to up to 4.8GHz.

And the cost difference between a pre-overclocked system https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/computers/intel-z370-overclocked/ and the same system at stock speeds is about a tenner. Plus the OC is covered under PCS's warranty.

Are you looking for a quiet build?

Thank you so much for your advice. It's a little overwhelming after nine years! I totally get what you are saying about the SSDs. I'll have another look at that.
Yes I'm looking for a quite build and yes, I think I know what you re gonna say.... The 500D case. I must admit, I fell in love with this case when I first saw it. I would of got a fractual R6 otherwise. Hoping the contribution of SSDs over Mechanical drives would help.

You don't have a beefy GPU in there so won't be making noise, and unsurprisingly this is one of the biggest noise generators in any system that has one under load.

I was going to say that about the case (R6 does have a tempered glass version too), though apparently the 500D does a fair job of holding in the noise from the one review I could find:
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/corsair-obsidian-500d-mid-tower-case,5463-3.html

We do have one system with an aluminium case in the house and it's nice. Also lighter than steel so about half the weight of my R4 (it's a Cooltek Jonsbo W2)

I would suggest the RMx PSU, however, as this is semi-passive and can cool itself under many loads without needing to switch on its fan. So in real terms it will probably be 100% silent, not just 'very quiet'.

As for the RAM, 2x16gb 3000MHz is only £8 more than 2x16gb 2666MHz and ~£20 more than 4x8gb 2666MHz. I'd generally go with 2 x 16gb as, if nothing else, there is less load on the IMC. Apparently.

You didn't say which mobo you were looking at, though my go-to depending on budget is the Ultra Gaming as it seems to pack the most features into the most reasonable price.

Which I suppose would start looking something like:

Case
CORSAIR OBSIDIAN SERIES™ 500D FULL TOWER CASE
Overclocked CPU
Overclocked Intel® Core™ i7-8700K Six Core (3.7GHz @ up to 4.8GHz)
Motherboard
Gigabyte Z370 AORUS Ultra Gaming: ATX, LG1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready
---Get £25 Restaurant Choice Voucher w/ select GIGABYTE Motherboards!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
INTEGRATED GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR (GPU)
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Hard Disk
1TB Samsung 860 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
---The Crew 2 FREE with select SAMSUNG SSDs!
1[SUP]st[/SUP] M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SAMSUNG 970 EVO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3400MB/R, 2500MB/W)
---The Crew 2 FREE with select SAMSUNG NVMe SSDs!
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Noctua NH-U14S Ultra Quiet Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
COOLER MASTER MASTERGEL MAKER THERMAL COMPOUND
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
WIRELESS 802.11N 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD
USB Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 11 to 13 working days
Quantity
1

Price £1,884.00 including VAT and delivery

Unique URL to re-configure : https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z370-overclocked/VNS6rV0bCb/

As for the extra fans, the corsair website indicates it has 1 front and 1 rear fan (well, the case manual does anyway). But PCS say it only has 1. I'd suggest contacting them to check. If it does indeed have 2 fans as standard I wouldn't bother buying extra fans. You don't even have a GPU in there producing heat.

If it only has 1 fan I'd probably still suggest buying it with no extra fans, and then getting yourself your own, quieter case fan to install after you receive the system.

Again, thanks for your input. As for mother board, I was looking at the ASUS® PRIME Z370-P: ATX, LGA1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs

The performance should be pretty similar / all but equal across motherboards. The Ultra Gaming has better onboard sound, more audio outputs including optical, and if that's not relevant it has USB 3.1 Gen 2 types A and C at the rear.

Your case has a USB C port on the front panel. The Ultra gaming has a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type C front panel connector. The Z370E is considerably more expensive but has wifi, BT 5.0 and a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C front panel connector.

Again, thanks everyone for their suggestions.
I think I have decided on my final custom specs.
I have also decided to use this build as a dual use pc, which will be for music production and gaming (1080).
Here's the specs:

CaseCORSAIR OBSIDIAN SERIES™ 500D FULL TOWER CASEOverclocked CPUOverclocked Intel® Core™ i7-8700K Six Core (3.7GHz @ up to 4.8GHz)MotherboardASUS® ROG MAXIMUS X HERO: ATX, LGA1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB ReadyMemory (RAM)32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 16GB)Graphics Card6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1060 - DVI, HDMI, 3 x DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!1st Hard Disk1TB Samsung 860 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)The Crew 2 FREE with select SAMSUNG SSDs!1st M.2 SSD Drive512GB SAMSUNG 970 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 2300MB/W)The Crew 2 FREE with select SAMSUNG NVMe SSDs!DVD/BLU-RAY DriveNOT REQUIREDPower SupplyCORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIETPower Cable1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)Processor CoolingCorsair H115i PRO Cooler w/ PCS Liquid Series Ultra Quiet FansThermal PasteCOOLER MASTER MASTERGEL MAKER THERMAL COMPOUNDLED Lighting2x 50cm RGB LED StripExtra Case Fans3x Corsair LL120 RGB LED Fan + Controller KitSound CardONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)Wireless/Wired Networking10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)USB OptionsMIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTSOperating SystemGenuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]Operating System LanguageUnited Kingdom - English LanguageWindows Recovery MediaWindows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online AccountOffice SoftwareFREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)Anti-VirusNO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWAREBrowserGoogle Chrome™Warranty3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)DeliverySTANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)Build TimeStandard Build - Approximately 12 to 14 working days
QTY
1
£1,890.83ex VAT£2,269.00inc VAT and Delivery

I am in a dilemma though concerning the Corsair H115i pro AIO and fan configurations.
280mm radiator on top or in front? TOP with the 2 x 140mm Corsair ML fans and 3 intake Corsair LL120 rgb fans at the front (or 2 infront and one rear exaust) or front radiator and 2 x 120mm rgb fans at top(pushing air out) and one rear exhaust?
Confused..

Just so you're aware, Intel are expected to launch faster, 8-core CPUs in the consumer range in October. Also Nvidia are expected to announce their new gen of GPUs in about 4 days.

I am in a dilemma though concerning the Corsair H115i pro AIO and fan configurations.

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Radiator compatibility:
Front:............................................360mm / 280mm
Top:................................................280mm / 240mm
Rear:..................................................................120mm
(Installation Manual): https://www.corsair.com/uk/en/Categ...®-500D-Premium-Mid-Tower-Case/p/CC-9011116-WW

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So the radiator will probably go on top.

The case has 6 fan mounting spots. 3 front, 2 top, 1 rear. PCS sell it with 1 fan as standard. So it is likely your 3 RGB fans go front, the radiator top, and the 1 included case fan at the rear.