Norm
As stated above, the best way is to use server 12 with audiophile optimizer to avoid having to make all the changes to your OS. Optimizer does it all .
I will comment on your last question. I have almost the identical system that I built. I was fairly happy with it as is but then decided to get rid of realtek on board sound
drivers and installed an ASUS Xonar essentials STX sound card and used the optical and digital RCA instead. The result was a big improvement over the mobo sound. I also found the optical and RCA digital to be better sound than the USB to DAC. The only problems is in the usage of JRiver and Xonar as some settings are duplicates and some don't play well together but once it was all set up it sounds great.
RickG
As stated above, the best way is to use server 12 with audiophile optimizer to avoid having to make all the changes to your OS. Optimizer does it all .
I will comment on your last question. I have almost the identical system that I built. I was fairly happy with it as is but then decided to get rid of realtek on board sound
drivers and installed an ASUS Xonar essentials STX sound card and used the optical and digital RCA instead. The result was a big improvement over the mobo sound. I also found the optical and RCA digital to be better sound than the USB to DAC. The only problems is in the usage of JRiver and Xonar as some settings are duplicates and some don't play well together but once it was all set up it sounds great.
RickG