News DIY enthusiast builds a gaming laptop using only desktop PC parts

[Admin]

Frustrated that mobile GPUs are so underpowered compared to their desktop counterparts, this DIY enthusiast decided to build a custom gaming laptop using off-the-shelf desktop computer components.

DIY enthusiast builds a gaming laptop using only desktop PC parts : Read more

 

[Pierce2623]

I don’t really get the point of a desktop rx6600. It’s literally the same specs as the laptop part(even tdp) but on a much larger PCB. You can also buy a mini pc with a discrete 6650m for $500 brand new.

 

[KyaraM]

I don’t really get the point of a desktop rx6600. It’s literally the same specs as the laptop part(even tdp) but on a much larger PCB.

The laptop RTX 4060 is also only 8% slower unless you get a 45W model (which, frankly, is on you), and can be OC'd to nearly match the desktop variant... with these low-end GPUs, this experiment is utterly pointless. And a current laptop Ryzen 5 is on the same level as the 5600X, too.

Got a laptop recently with the R5 76400HS and 120W RTX 4060 for 800€. You pay the same for a similarly configured desktop.

 

[Notton]

That looked like a fun project.
5600X is an interesting choice. I guess it was cheap?

I would have used a Minisforum B550 Pro, or MS-01 as a basis. They are way more compact than mITX, the cooling is already figured out, and they feature a PCIe X16 slot.
They are a cut above a generic 7840HS mini-PC if you want to add a dGPU without bottle-necking from a PCIe4.0 x4 slot.

 

[KyaraM]

That looked like a fun project.
5600X is an interesting choice. I guess it was cheap?

I would have used a Minisforum B550 Pro, or MS-01 as a basis. They are way more compact than mITX, the cooling is already figured out, and they feature a PCIe X16 slot.
They are a cut above a generic 7840HS mini-PC if you want to add a dGPU without bottle-necking from a PCIe4.0 x4 slot.

You could also use any mini-PC with a Thunderbolt/USB4 or Oculink port for it. They exist and are probably the easiest solution.

 

[M0rtis]

I saw the video a couple of days ago. The whole idea was that a retail gaming laptop with a 4090 was 30-50% slower than its desktop equivalent. Now the laptop 4090 uses the 4080 core anyway. Unless this build was just a proof of concept before spending the money and time doing a full fledged top tier desktop replacement build, the current hardware is several tiers lower so its a bit pointless. Decent build overall but specs wise, it was a waste of time.
When someone is complaining about the lack of performance from about the top tier laptop 4090, I would have expected at least a desktop 4070 or RX 7000 series card in the build.
Its obviously not easy because of the heat and power requirements.

If Im not mistaken the laptop cards also probably use the top binned chips and seem to have a higher performance per watt compared to the desktop cards. Probably why they are released some time after the desktop versions - stockpiling the best stuff and/or refinements to the manufacturing process along with the extra design stuff for the format.
Can someone confirm this ?

 

[KyaraM]

I saw the video a couple of days ago. The whole idea was that a retail gaming laptop with a 4090 was 30-50% slower than its desktop equivalent. Now the laptop 4090 uses the 4080 core anyway. Unless this build was just a proof of concept before spending the money and time doing a full fledged top tier desktop replacement build, the current hardware is several tiers lower so its a bit pointless. Decent build overall but specs wise, it was a waste of time.
When someone is complaining about the lack of performance from about the top tier laptop 4090, I would have expected at least a desktop 4070 or RX 7000 series card in the build.
Its obviously not easy because of the heat and power requirements.

If Im not mistaken the laptop cards also probably use the top binned chips and seem to have a higher performance per watt compared to the desktop cards. Probably why they are released some time after the desktop versions - stockpiling the best stuff and/or refinements to the manufacturing process along with the extra design stuff for the format.
Can someone confirm this ?

The laptop 4090 performs about midway between the 4070 and 4070Ti, or I guess like a 4070 Super. While costing 2-3x as much as system with that card... I can understand why one would want to make a laptop with that performance for less money, but as you said, with this low-end configuration all this is is a cute idea/cool for builders and nothing more. What I wonder is. There is still some room in the chassis. If you make it a bit thicker, could you fit an AIO in it? With a reasonable CPU that might be possible.

 

[dalauder]

I don’t really get the point of a desktop rx6600. It’s literally the same specs as the laptop part(even tdp) but on a much larger PCB. You can also buy a mini pc with a discrete 6650m for $500 brand new.

You're all correct about the "Why?" part. My guess was that it's a proof of concept using his previous desktop build and he already had the slightly-dated parts? If it works nicely, maybe he drops his current desktop in when he upgrades?

 

[baboma]

>I don’t really get the point of a desktop rx6600.
>I would have used a Minisforum B550 Pro, or MS-01 as a basis.

The point of the project isn't what's better suited, or more practical. The point is that "building a laptop from desktop parts" would get way more hits than "laptop from mini-PC parts."

Most of these out-there projects on YT are for eyeballs. The more impractical and outrageous, the better. It's the Internet economy in action.

 

[somn1]

>I don’t really get the point of a desktop rx6600.
>I would have used a Minisforum B550 Pro, or MS-01 as a basis.

The point of the project isn't what's better suited, or more practical. The point is that "building a laptop from desktop parts" would get way more hits than "laptop from mini-PC parts."

Most of these out-there projects on YT are for eyeballs. The more impractical and outrageous, the better. It's the Internet economy in action

If you watched the video you would have seen the purpose of why he built a laptop out of desktop parts. He built it so that he can have the advantage that a desktop has in a laptop form factor. This means he can upgrade it whenever he feels like it and that's genius because it keeps costs lower compared to buying a whole new laptop.

 

[baboma]

>If you watched the video you would have seen the purpose of why he built a laptop out of desktop parts. He built it so that he can have the advantage that a desktop has in a laptop form factor.

My BS filter is fairly time-tested by now, so the above never pass the smell test, let alone reaching the tire-kicking phase.

The laptop that was built is nothing more than a prop. A laptop by definition needs to be portable, ie being carried to different places. Said DIY-top would fall apart with the slightest handling.

The lid is epoxied together from 4 3D-printed pieces with no structural reinforcement. One finger pushing in the middle would be all it takes. The hinges are flimsy pieces that can scarcely bear the weight of the lid+display, let alone handle the rigors of repeated opening/closing. The unit has no battery, which reconverts it to a badly-built mini-PC. Basically, the unit is held together with bubblegum and duct tape.

But it looks nice, being painted for "accents" and logo and whatnot. Think that painted keyboard can stand up to repeated use?

In short, it's built for looks and YT consumption, ie for hits, not for any practical use. It's probably already being shoved into some dusty drawer, after the video upload, and will never again see daylight until the fateful house-cleaning moment, when it meets its ignominious end at some recycler.

At for the parts being used, they all have one commonality--they're cheap. RX6600 & 5600X are almost the cheapest parts that can still be labeled as "reasonably modern"--although 5600 would've been cheaper still.

The main function of these ventures, for YT creators, is to monetize, aside from building up their brand. Looking at the dude's small sub count (21K), keeping costs low would be a priority, as the end result--a janky prop--would be the same regardless of the parts. As long as the paint looks nice.

 

[ezst036]

If you watched the video you would have seen the purpose of why he built a laptop out of desktop parts. He built it so that he can have the advantage that a desktop has in a laptop form factor. This means he can upgrade it whenever he feels like it and that's genius because it keeps costs lower compared to buying a whole new laptop.

That's exactly why none of these motherboard and case companies have ever dared to make a build your own computer in all of these decades.

What's to stop MSI and Corsair from collaborating and producing a fully modular laptop? Nothing.
What's to stop Asus and Lian Li from collaborating and producing a fully modular laptop? Nothing!

They choose not to. Between two or three of these companies, they have every bit of the know-how needed. From batteries to LCD screens to connectors to boards and mouse track pads and everything else.

They choose it, choose not to make it happen. That's all it is.

Laptops are arguably better sellers anymore than compared to desktops. So how aren't fully build your own laptops a reality already? Why haven't they been around since the Pentium III days? They don't want us having fully modular laptops. They want us buying their proprietary garbage that breaks quickly and we have to replace it in 3 years.

Even the parts makers are failing us. Lian Li, Corsair, Inwin, Biostar, name who you want. They are failing us.

 

[King_V]

For all those who ask "why?" in this..

Have your learned NOTHING from Cave Johnson??

The answer is: "Why NOT?"

 

[Pierce2623]

For all those who ask "why?" in this..

Have your learned NOTHING from Cave Johnson??

The answer is: "Why NOT?"

Why not? Because he could’ve gotten better value buying.

 

[King_V]

Why not? Because he could’ve gotten better value buying.

But it was never about the value in the first place.