If I'm reading your specs right you are getting a computer with 16
cores and 16GB of memory, ie 1GB per core. I would get at least 2GB
per core and suggest that if you want to run really big cases you
should get 4GB per core. (at least keep your options open, ie buy
memory now that you won't have to "throw away" if you decide later to
get more memory). Disks are cheap, I would get at least another
disk.
We have more experience with Linux for running mpi versions of FDS -
so that is what we would suggest.
Definitely get a 64 bit OS. You won't be able to use more than 4GB of
your memory otherwise.