Custom portable computer/system.

Communities DIY Corner
1

Hello guys,
I would like to build something like a laptop, doesn’t have to be compact/one piece.
Some reasons are:
a) more freedom (to repair, change components/upgradability/modular, not dependent on a single company for support, etc).
b) cost savings (Laptops come with features like camera, mic, fingerprint, keyboard, trackpad, useless ports/lacking useful ports, etc) which I don’t use or want to use custom instead.
c) ability to customize/choose each component spec/feature, and don’t have to look for a perfect laptop which usually never ticks all boxes.

These are some reasons I can think of right now.

I was thinking something like:
a) mini-pc on the go type of solution. Drawbacks are:
i) need external power source. (I know I can use power banks, but mini-pc usually use more energy/less efficient, and therefore would have lot less life. I want at least 4 hours of normal usage).
ii) I like open standard like usb C, but most come with barrel jack power, and often lack usb c ports. I don’t want to use external power for an external monitor of around 14 inch. So I would like usb c port to output display with power to monitor and not hdmi.
iii) Not popular choice, so expensive in my country, plus they are either pretty weak (n100) or very strong. I need a middle ground.
b) sbc
i) they are often arm based, and I would like to continue using my arch linux OS and programs the way i do now. x86 ones are not powerful enough
ii) Many similar problems mini-pc have.
c) tablet
i) this is interesting, as display, computer and battery would be included. (don’t care about touch, will never use it.)
ii) they usually don’t come in x86, not powerful enough, lack of ports and choices, expensive.

So is there already a solution out there for people like me, or some diy options available by sacrificing some things?
I would like to:
a) use oled display of around 13-15 inches, minimum 1080p, awesome display. This should ideally be powered by a single usb C cable for both display input and power delivery.
b) Use my custom keyboard and mouse, and don’t waste money on things I wont use like camera.
c) preferably x86 based, with nice port options like at least 2-3 usb A, 1 usb C for power, 1 usb C for display, and at least one spare, so total 3 usb C, ethernet port and headphone jack.
d) I don’t want it to be powerful/expensive at all, but should be able to do basic tasks, plus able to record screen and light video editing at at least 720p.
e) Ideally also be fanless/quiet, efficient, durable, reliable etc.
f) portable is must.

tldr: I want to create a system where I use my own monitor, keyboard and mouse. Computer should be x86 or if arm, should run arch linux, very cheap and available widely, nice port selection, uses open standards like usb C, portable, light, efficient, should be able to do basic tasks flawlessly.

If you know any blog, write-up, video about people using something I would be interested in, I would really appreciate if you can help me with anything.

Thank you!!

2

I have a Verbatim 14-inch monitor, can check power draw if you like.

  • Fanless would make this a guaranteed DIY or extensive modding project.
  • quiet is possible (think minisforum, beelink and similar)

Something like the Latte Panda Alpha 864s can be powered using USB-PD

You could potentially mount all the PC-parts into a suitcase, that way it is self-contained.

While this is an honorable goal, it is not achievable when aiming for this level of compactness.
And honestly, get a Laptop from one of the smaller companies in the space:

3

Thank you for your reply!
These companies are either not available in my country, or if they are, they are enormously expensive. I don’t care about compactness. I will use a very tiny keyboard and mouse, a display of around 14 inch, which leaves me with a computer (sbc/mini-pc) and power bank.
Using laptop would be more expensive, and not feasible to use custom keyboard.

4

Edit: For example, framework has an interesting product, which is a case from cooler master, and their laptop motherboard, and they both combined can be used as mini-pc. It is also flat, so I could make a shell and actually make a custom laptop with similar idea, would just need to add power bank.

5

Edit 2: sorry, edit button is not available for me.
Currently in my laptop, I keep the charger plugged in, and battery stops charging at 80%, so my laptop keeps running through outlet. sometimes electricity is cut, so my laptop switches to battery, and doesn’t shut off. I also use this way to maintain battery health.
Can this also be done with a power bank? Meaning limit charging to certain percent, and pass electricity directly to computer, without discharing and charging again and again, to prolong battery life?

6

The main headache here is POWER. Laptop battery → need to plug it somewhere, which would power the system. Maybe there are custom boards, which could be adapted to a DIY project, but not familiar with those.

On the other hand… how much “doesn’t have to be compact” are we speaking about? Because there are vendors like Anker, producing portable power stations. Although need to look through to find one with UPS.

And from there you could go either an SFF, maybe even with a mobile chip/board. Or even a regular one (AMD).

Because, if to look at actual power draw, I have two monitor examples - an old 1080p 27" IPS, and a beefy 2024 32" 4K 240Hz OLED. One (according to the UPS I have) consumes somewhere to 10w. Second - 70w.

For the system itself - a desktop 9900x with iGPU, 3 fans, aio + 3 fans… uses somewhere up to 100w when I’m coding. Somewhere to 300-400w, when I’m compiling something, which takes 10-20 minutes to compile.