Update to Intel Driver problem
Just a quick update - the Intel Matrix Storage Drivers version 7.8 does indeed appear to have cleared up the random lock-up/rebooting problems from the previous post. 
Well, my new job as a consultant pretty much requires that I set up my own test lab. At my last company, the VMWare box I had cost ~$25,000 three years ago... Here's the one I built for closer to $2,500.
Photos of the various parts are posted to http://adobe.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=s6046yj.b4jo0jtb&x=1&y=-40qvc3