Completed DIY "laptop" / portable PC (7.39 litres, 17'' screen, 5700x, RTX2070)

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Two... hundred... and ninety... holes... Don't have proper tools so drilled by hand with 6mm drill bit, then rounded the edges with 8mm bit.
Longer cables finally came - bluetack and original antennae above the monitor, 50cm pigtail cables behind the monitor, slack to attach to the network card - I can fold antennae for transport, unfold them for perfect WiFi and bluetooth - finally no interference!

Spoiler: vent holes and antennae photos

Pigtail cables fit ideally through cutouts in network card housing - no more sticking out antennae on the back!
Rubber feet were leaving nasty black rings on furniture when everything heated up, replaced them with simple plastic screw caps - much better, also more stable with a cap in the middle (there's a hex standoff roughly in the centre to support the top lid, but screwed only from the bottom).

Spoiler: network card assembled, feet replaced

4 screws in the top lid and everything assembled - 5.4 litres final-final-final build finally built!


Now only waiting for a Ryzen 5700X at a good price and an RTX 4070 or Radeon 7800XT release. It never ends

 

[aromachi]

I've had something similar to this on the drawing board for months. I was going to go for a S4M style case with a monitor built into one side of it. Ideally the case would have a set of legs to keep it upright, and the monitor would have some tilt. Final build will be all-in-one gaming tower about 5.5 liters. I think choosing an lcd panel is what's really holding me back, as I really don't know how to find a decent one and how I go about integrating it into a build. I need to do a lot more research.

 

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S4M style case with a monitor built into one side of it. Ideally the case would have a set of legs to keep it upright, and the monitor would have some tilt. Final build will be all-in-one gaming tower about 5.5 liters.

Nice! Sounds like one of my earlier designs from this post where hardware box was behind the monitor. Didn't work for me - the hardware box was heavier than the bottom box and when not on a flat surface it made the whole design flip back. Should work well for you, though, if you mount the hardware behind the monitor and have a sheet on hinges as a base/leg, but unfolding behind/under the hardware box, not in front "laptop style".

I think choosing an lcd panel is what's really holding me back, as I really don't know how to find a decent one and how I go about integrating it into a build. I need to do a lot more research.

What screen size are you planning? I started with a 17'' LCD panel and controller board from this post, but it was a pain. In the end a 17'' 1080p 144Hz portable USB-C monitor with the same specs was pretty much the same price. Also has speakers (mine are poor, but they are there) and easy brightness/volume/etc. adjustment. Looks better without 3D printing a case, too.

 

[aromachi]

What screen size are you planning?

I'd need a 15.4" or smaller panel. Probably smaller. My latest case design is ~4L and ~390mm from corner to corner, so 15.4 would be just about perfect. Ideally it would just mount to the side of the case somehow so I wouldn't have to design a shell for it. Like I said, it's going to take some design work.

 

[timginter]

I'd need a 15.4" or smaller panel. Probably smaller. My latest case design is ~4L and ~390mm from corner to corner, so 15.4 would be just about perfect. Ideally it would just mount to the side of the case somehow so I wouldn't have to design a shell for it. Like I said, it's going to take some design work.

I have Porpoise 17.3'' 144Hz and it's great, it also has VESA mounts, but it doesn't look like they do anything else than 17.3'' in 144Hz https://www.aliexpress.com/store/gr...html?spm=a2g0o.detail.100008.2.744a3049QJH8jl

Portable USB-C monitor sounds like a good option, though. With VESA mount you could drill the holes in the case and attach the monitor straight to the side panel and manage cables like in my build... or just ghetto double-sided tape for something without VESA mounts Like Arzopa G1 15.6'' 144Hz portable monitor

Sounds like an interesting project, though

 

[aromachi]

I have Porpoise 17.3'' 144Hz and it's great, it also has VESA mounts, but it doesn't look like they do anything else than 17.3'' in 144Hz https://www.aliexpress.com/store/gr...html?spm=a2g0o.detail.100008.2.744a3049QJH8jl

Portable USB-C monitor sounds like a good option, though. With VESA mount you could drill the holes in the case and attach the monitor straight to the side panel and manage cables like in my build... or just ghetto double-sided tape for something without VESA mounts Like Arzopa G1 15.6'' 144Hz portable monitor

Sounds like an interesting project, though

Thanks for the links. Those both look like really nice monitors. Annnd I'm obsessed with my project again To make those monitors work, I assume you have to have a DP to USB-C adapter from your GPU, then a separate usb-c from your motherboard for power?

 

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Thanks for the links. Those both look like really nice monitors. Annnd I'm obsessed with my project again To make those monitors work, I assume you have to have a DP to USB-C adapter from your GPU, then a separate usb-c from your motherboard for power?

Nice, glad to spread the bug

Yes. Some may work with just one USB-C (video and power) - I have another Porpoise 15.6'' 1080p 60Hz monitor and can connect it with just one USB-C cable off of a Thunderbolt port.

My 17'' has a USB-A to USB-C for power and HDMI to USB-C. The cables from 3rd post in this thread (in "Peripherals") have a wrap near the ports - you can cut the wrap, connect to the monitor, bend the cable in a U shape around the connector and route the cable behind the screen like described earlier in this post

 

[timginter]

@aromachi , if it's a tower / all-in-one build, why 15.6''? Feels really small to sit on the desk anyway. My lapdesk is about portability and I already feel 17.3'' is a minimum, something larger would have been better.

If I were building a static setup, I would take the same hardware as for my lapdesk, a 27'' 144Hz monitor with a VESA mount and make a custom bracket for the mount to have the hardware attached behind the monitor. 3D printed cases for each component (or spray-painted 1.5mm aluminium sheets). A 27'' all-in-one with all the junk hidden behind the monitor

 

[aromachi]

@aromachi , if it's a tower / all-in-one build, why 15.6''? Feels really small to sit on the desk anyway. My lapdesk is about portability and I already feel 17.3'' is a minimum, something larger would have been better.

If I were building a static setup, I would take the same hardware as for my lapdesk, a 27'' 144Hz monitor with a VESA mount and make a custom bracket for the mount to have the hardware attached behind the monitor. 3D printed cases for each component (or spray-painted 1.5mm aluminium sheets). A 27'' all-in-one with all the junk hidden behind the monitor

That's pretty much what I'm using now. My 5L case sits at the corner of my desk right behind a massive 2k 27" acer monitor. It's a very compact setup and it works very well in my small house.

BUT... it's all about going smaller. When you say "why 15.6''. Feels really small".. well, just you saying that gets my heart racing and makes me want to spend the rest of the night in CAD perfecting my next concept. And I'd love to have a mini setup like this in a padded case for hotel stays and LAN parties with the buds instead of lugging around my ageing laptop. I can always use dual monitors at home.

something larger would have been better.

Watch your mouth! You don't talk like that in here.

 

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Finally, Ryzen 5700x was at a nice price! I haven't tinkered for quite some time, time to replace the CPU.

I may have missed a spring cleaning or two...

The original CPU fan was dying, very loud and sounded like something was scraping inside. Back in my day, you'd peel the sticker on the back of the fan and add a bit of mechnical oil - all would work like new... I don't think you do that any more After some oil, the old fan would ramp up to max 500 RPM, 5700x would reach 91 degress just on desktop. I replaced the CPU fan and re-run TimeSpy, really happy with the results!

	5700x	3500x	5700x vs 3500x delta
CPU temp min	43.1	47.9	-10%
CPU temp max	83.1	75.4	+10%
TimeSpy CPU score	9328	5186	+79%

 

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Unfortunately, the Dynatron A18 just couldn't cool the 5700x. It was OK-ish in benchmarks, but after gaming for a couple of hours it would reach over 90 degrees and throttle.

I changed the hardware box standoffs to 65mm and installed Thermalright AXP90-x47. TimeSpy results are much better!

	5700x
CPU temp min	28.9
CPU temp max	61.4
TimeSpy CPU score	9651

I updated first posts with current parts.

 

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the time has come! finally replaced the RTX 2070 with a Zotac 4070 Super Twin Edge - perfect size and performance!

I play single player games at 1080p with a 72fps cap. I mostly play VR on a Quest 3, but set 120fps target with Synchronous Space Warp always on (so the GPU renders only 60fps). 4070 Ti Super would have been overkill for £300 more.

easy install, I used cable ties to secure the GPU instead of drilling new holes and faffing about with custom screws. 4070s is in the same space where the 2070 was. the backplate still rests on the bottom aluminium plate and that gets warm = extra cooling surface.

Zotac RTX 4070 Super Twin Edge	Temperatures
GPU temp min	40.1
GPU temp max	77.5
GPU hot spot max	89.2
TimeSpy GPU score	20417