Building a laptop using a NUC and Desktop GPU

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biggs92

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May 5, 2015
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Hi guys, so before I get a second job to pay for this project, I just wanted to see what the community thought of it first.

the plan is to take a reasonably top end Intel NUC (see link for spec) and using a mini PCIe splitter and a mini PCIe to PCIe adapter, attach a desktop graphics card or two. Obviously a case, PSU, monitor, keyboard, trackpad and speakers are still going to need to be connected somehow. Which is still an awful lot to think about.

To try and save on space and weight I was thinking about using thermally conductive polymers, which transfer can heat in a specified direction.

The spec of the build would be as follows:

CPU: 3.1GHz Core i7-5557U (Turbo Boost up to 3.4GHz)

RAM: 16GB 1866MHz DDR3 (supports up to 16GB)

Storage: 256GB Samsung SM951 PCIe SSD (x2?)

GPU: GTX970-DCMOC-4GD5 4GN (X2?)

Display: Sharp 14" 4K IGZO Display

As for battery, keyboard, trackpad and speakers, I haven't yet looked into them.
The plan regarding the case is to gen up on some CAD software from pluralsight or lynda and design it round the build then send the design off to someone who has the resources to make it.

Cheers guys!
Remember, this is still just an idea, and if you think its worth a go I'll try and document it as I go.

P.S. Keep in mind that other than the CPU, this would make it completely upgradeable



 
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I doubt it, desktop GPUs are very power hungry and the customization for laptops just isn't there the way it is for desktops. Even if you could get a GTX 970 to run on a battery, chances are great that it just wouldn't last long. U processors also aren't available to the general public either, so there's the question of availability there.
 
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The CPU comes with the barebones NUC so that's how I'd get my hands on that. All the other components the NUC is designed to be able to work with, except of course, the Graphics card.
I appreciate that a dedicated Graphics card is hella hungry in regards to power, but if we could sort that out would it be a viable build? (i.e. a hella huge battery)
16x channel PCIe adapters and splitters exist, so that should handle the "water pipes"? 😛

Cheers
 
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Seriously, unless you're Tony Stark and have advanced knowledge of chemistry, physics, welding, and programming languages, what you seek just does not exist. Even if you could get a GTX 970 to run on battery, there's no guarantee that it would last beyond, say, 20 minutes and that's just a conservative estimate.
 
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OK, taking on board what you've said G-unit. BUT, how about this for a solution? The CPU has an iGPU which supports 4k resolutions and is generally not too shabby. I know desktop GPUs don't have optimus, but if I could go along similar principles, i.e. the Dedicated graphics only work when plugged into a power outlet?

darkbreeze, what I'm thinking is just a simple mini PCIe to PCIe adapter, Although that exact product is where I got the idea 😛

Something like this
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Patent-product-mini-pcie-1x-to_60017506852.html
 
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G-unit, I think I missed the point on that last post...
So what you're saying is that this configuration simply would not work together?

darkbreeze, the idea is also to try and squeeze it all into a custom fabricated case too btw.
 
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Hiya logain,

It basically is a Mini-ITX board that is being used, Check out the Intel NUC. That's what I'll be using for the Motherboard and CPU. The RAM and CPU should be the only only laptop grade components in the build.

Intel i7 NUC
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/03/mini-review-intels-powered-up-core-i7-broadwell-mini-pc/
 
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That particular i7 isn't even a quad core. It is a dual core with hyperthreading. You would be better off with an i3 4160 and ASRock H97M-ITX/AC. Personally, I would use a Xeon 1231v3, with that same board, if wanting true i7 performance, which you will want for cad programs. The ASRock Z97E-ITX/ac has M.2 capability, but only supports M.2-2242 ssd. Not familiar with what models support that spec. You would need to use the ASUS Z97I-PLUS to get support for the 2260 and 2280 SSD's.

Edit- After looking at the specs for the SSD series you were wanting, you would have to go with the Asus solution. Something like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($241.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus Z97I-PLUS Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($151.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung SM951 512GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($494.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($344.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1433.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-13 12:20 EDT-0400
 
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Cheers logain,
I appreciate the time you've put in to helping and I get what your saying. It doesn't make sense to do what I'm doing when there is a much simpler alternative.
But then I'm just building another standard computer setup. I already have a computer which I'm pretty happy with, the idea is just to see if and how well this set up works.
As no one has categorically said "This will not work", I'm probably going to go ahead and try it when I've saved up the extra moola.
If I do do it, I'll make sure to document it all and pop it all on here.
 
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Yeah the thing I'd be worried about with that device is that you still have to lug around a power supply. It's a good idea in theory but doesn't really translate well to real life purposes.
 
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If you want to do any serious gaming the M.2 would need to be a gen 3 x4. Many manufacturers do gen 2 x2 which is terrible (not enough bandwidth). Gen 3 4x, gen 2 8x, and gen 1 16x are your minimums. The only board I'm aware of that uses an M.2 with a gen 3 4x connection is the Asrock x99e-itx/ac but thats a mini itx motherboard. I imagine theres a NUC that does too but i don't know. I can't imagine why not. The CPU has 16 lanes available, i can't imagine they just wouldn't use them.
 
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If a desktop system is what you want a mini ITX with an i5-6400T or i3-6300T is probably what you want. I looked into doing this once and the real problem is batteries. You would need a lot of 18650 cells, a voltage regulator and an adaptor- you would probably have to run the thing on a PicoPSU, since they have DC in. Plus, you also need a charger. But doing more than that for hardware isn't feasible anyway. You could also have a low power GPU although it would take up a lot of space, nothing more than a GTX 750 Ti. Perhaps a better option is an eGPU over Thunderbolt.
 
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So I just read this article...

http://arstechnica.co.uk/gadgets/2016/01/intels-next-nuc-will-be-a-quad-core-mini-pc-with-iris-pro-and-thunderbolt-3/

Could be an interesting read. supports DDR4 RAM and has a thunderbolt port.
 
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