Schtumple, that looks cool. Realizing this is just a shopped idea at this point, I don't see how you could fit the power supply in that configuration and also have a DVD drive. It also looks like it will have a lot of issues with cooling and cable routing. Not to mention a high end video card. The hard drive placement in the photo blocks virtually all of your pci slots.
Actually, it isn't a shopped idea, that picture with the transparent hardware was actually put like that, there is actually plenty of room for pci slots, it looks like there isn't but trust me, there is, just, the psu is a small form factor psu (10 x 12 x 6cm, i think) not a regular one, no way would a regular fit in there.
Unless you go bigger, I can't imagine how you could build something that would even come close to the specs of a baseline G5 tower. No way you'll get more than once processor in there, and the heatsink would also interfere with the DVD drive/powersupply issue.
I'm not after anything spectacular, I just want this as a basic machine for my tv/1tb back up server.
I have a few suggestions. I would make the case shape differently (bigger). You could still achieve a nice look by making it more like a shoebox, only with more height. That would allow you to mount your hard drives above your pci slots, with a cooling exhaust fan on the side in between the drives and pci slots.
Again, the hard drives ARE mounted about the pci slots, there is just enough room to do this, I need to take a better photo, or some kind of 3d drawing to show this, that photoshopped picture may not show it, but this is actually all possible with the hardware I have.
The DVD drive, you could get a slot loading drive, and flip it sideways and place it in the same space, only have the bezel coming out the right side. It's rectangular, and this would free up space for your power supply, and the added height would get it off your heatsink. Then place intake fans on the front of the case. You could get nice chrome or titanium grills for aesthetics, and maybe even fans with LED lights. It would put all your SATA cables in close distance from the motherboard inputs, and would allow nice cable management and airflow.
I have been tempted to go with a slot loading drive, it would go so well with the acrylic front, but the price put me off. I am working on air flow at the moment, I'm thinking I might have to go with a mac pro front like design, I hate fans with LEDs, very tacky.
It would still be unique and aesthetically pleasing. Put some rubber grommets in, wrap your cables, and your clear panels will be showcasing something that looks nice, instead of crowded and overheated.
The more I think about it, it would be nice to have a cheese grater
p) front, all the cables were going to be perfectly hidden, I hate cables, alot
If you want to have comparable specs to the new G5, you'll need to get a server mobo, and that means an even bigger case. But if you're going for a run of the mill power level box, you could pull this off. Could you list some of the hardware you plan on installing? And the OS? Good luck, and keep us posted!
Again, run of the mill is what I'm after.
I built this PC into my (old) desk, so I've pulled these kind of things off before
I have the following hardware
Pentium D 2.8(??)GHZ
Some small mobo, can't remember the make
2gb of DDR400 RAM
1 1tb drive or 2 500gb drives, haven't made my mind up yet, probably the 1tb will be best.
bog standard DVDRW
Can't remember the graphics card, it really isn't anything special, but it works in OSX86 so I'm happy with it
OSX86 is my operating system, the machine has run it before, so I'm sure it'll do it again