Question

if I want to build a rack mount computor what is the best motherboard/cpu combination and firewire card for use with the RM16?

Answer 1

Boy, that's a pretty subjective question...if you intend to do any recording, and especially if you intend to work with a DAW you need to get the fastest  computer with the most ram you can afford. If all you want to do is run the RM16.There is a list of compatible firewire cards here:

http://support.presonus.com/entries/21766827-Is-there-a-Firewire-Compatibility-List-for-Firewire-cards-

There are minimum  specs for all hardware and software with the specs... you can build off that.