Hi guys,
 
when I first laid eyes on an sr2 board about a year ago, I knew I wanted one. My only problem is that the size of the thing is incompatible with my wallet form factor. So its going to be slow collecting all the parts and such. But here is the log as I can get it done.
 
Goal: a esthetic pleasing horizontal custom case that has a art deco feel and just the right amount of bling. It will fit the components like a glove for true custom effect.
 
equipment as it stands so far: edited and updated list as of 12-10-11
sr2 - have
5672 xeons -
24gig dominator memory - need (using 12 gig patriot viper 1333 temp till I get the dominator)
2 corsair 850 psu - have
ssd - need (Using my old caviar black for testing. this will become one of the raid 5 storage drives later.)
optical - need - will be a trayless slim one. (old lg till I finish the case)
graphics: running 2 560 classifieds
watercooled - making all custom blocks solid copper 
 
I got the board in the mail a couple of weeks ago and started laying out the case. It will be constructed mostly from acrylic.
so far I have made a basic prototype from the following models.
 
more as it gets done.
 
Gratuitous
 

Thanks.
 
appreciate the tip about the 5649's. I will probably pick those up instead of the 45's. will need to wait till next month and a few more completed work projects to afford them though. I am not in a huge hurry to get the processors, as it will take a fair amount of time to work out the bugs in the case design. Will definitely look for a deal and buy them when the price is right. do those development models of the e5649 that are up on the bay right now for cheep work as well as the standard retail versions?
 
It is fairly complicated to fit everything as I am reducing the size to absolute minimum to contain the board and water systems. I also need to run a few temp simulations to verify that the interior stays cool enough, as I will be using fewer fans than a lot of builds. But I expect this design to run as cool as any other case, but if necessary I will add more fans. (fans are not shown in the initial design models above.)
 
Gratuitous

Tobit 

in the almost 30 years I've been building computers, I have never needed warranty service on a CPU of any kind.

good point. I haven't ever had a warrantee issue with a cpu either. If those are still up in a couple of weeks I will consider them.

so here is the 1st prototype. I cut it out of mdf to see what the general fit is like before i use the more expensive acrylic. I found many small issues that I will need to work out. but its a good start I think. Obviously the component mounting locations and the vents are not included in this initial version.
 
more to come.

notice the wire management holes under the mb





Gratuitous

Beautiful job...I like it!!! 

looking good man! keep it up!

I know, I know, this is taking me too long. well small little update:


 
So, Im thinking that about making some of these ecp mounts to fit in a drive bay. any one interested if I do?

yes, it is wood. just a throw away prototype. the final version will be mostly acrylic. I guess Im in a hurry to see how my cuts fit, I will be more carefull about the dust.

Ok, got the buttons working well. just need to fill in the area with the post code with smoked and make flush cover for the jumpers.


 

here it is with the smoked cover for the post code and dip switches.

and here in my soon to be obsolete dusty server case from the closet.

That copper CPU block is exactly what I was thinking about getting made as well.

I would definitely need to have a base made, but just the thought of sandblasted copper on the SR-2 makes me giddy.  I am going to see when I can get the money together to talk about doing some if he would be willing to work on them.
 
BTW I love the wood box.  Even though you will be changing things around, it looks so nice just as it is right now.

Looking nice. As for cases, I have a CaseLabs TH 10 that looks so big without my water cooling gear in it. Swallows a SR-2 and wants dessert.

I would have loved to have gone your route and gone custom, but I do not have the patience to mess around with the details like I would love to spend the time on them.
 
Custom work is an art that makes the case more personal than just buying a beautiful case from another person.  Jim made an amazing case, but your case is going to be amazing as well.  Just seeing it in wood makes the thing show how much time you are willing to spend to get the details down and make it truly unique.  You could even do a wood filler and wet sand, paint and give it a mirror finish and use it as a secondary case.
 
Now you got me thinking of the money I need to spend to get water in that case and getting it done fast.  I will put some pictures in the modrig section tonight just so I have a platform to go off of when I get around to putting everything in the dream rig.

You are welcome. Your ideas sound like you have thought many hours on what to do next, and I am looking forward to where you go with them. Also, Jim is the owner of CaseLabs.