A while back I first heard about the LattePanda Alpha and it's an interesting little SoC machine that can be gaming-capable and is actually in reach for many potential buyers. While the prospect of eGPU is very interesting (some even pairing up with a Titan to truly test its bottlenecks), I find more interest adapting it into a handheld form factor.
The LP Alpha is more out of my budget, so I want to see what I can accomplish under $400, with similar performance. I chose a 6th generation Intel NUC with Iris graphics. I wouldn't be the first to make a portable system out of a NUC- that was done already with Project Scout, and it serves as one of my inspirations.
This budget should include the computer itself, additional hardware, case, and power management. The form factor is going to be roughly the size of a 7-to-8 inch netbook, or like the mini gaming PCs that seem to be getting more popular. That will probably be the biggest driving factor to how much I will need to DIY for the design.
To make it a UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC), it needs the following:
Here's a render of what you can expect for the parts layout to be like inside its case.
It can support Windows 10 but maybe I don't always want to use Windows. This handheld would serve both as a light Linux handheld/desktop to play less-demanding games natively, and play the more-demanding games with Steam Link. It's no Ryzen APU, but the GPU should manage fine for 1024x600.
The enclosure design, though it should be simple in the exterior, I also want it to be well-thought out. Some have paired their LP with Nintendo Joy-Cons but those are rather pricey and also I don't care much for the look and feel of them as my hands cramp easily using them for extended periods of time. That's why I am going with the PG-9038S joystick. I prefer a "Xbox-like" look and grip, plus they look more adaptable, being a third party controller for tablets.
The LP Alpha is more out of my budget, so I want to see what I can accomplish under $400, with similar performance. I chose a 6th generation Intel NUC with Iris graphics. I wouldn't be the first to make a portable system out of a NUC- that was done already with Project Scout, and it serves as one of my inspirations.
This budget should include the computer itself, additional hardware, case, and power management. The form factor is going to be roughly the size of a 7-to-8 inch netbook, or like the mini gaming PCs that seem to be getting more popular. That will probably be the biggest driving factor to how much I will need to DIY for the design.
To make it a UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC), it needs the following:
- Built-in controls
- Screen
- Batteries
Here's a render of what you can expect for the parts layout to be like inside its case.
It can support Windows 10 but maybe I don't always want to use Windows. This handheld would serve both as a light Linux handheld/desktop to play less-demanding games natively, and play the more-demanding games with Steam Link. It's no Ryzen APU, but the GPU should manage fine for 1024x600.
The enclosure design, though it should be simple in the exterior, I also want it to be well-thought out. Some have paired their LP with Nintendo Joy-Cons but those are rather pricey and also I don't care much for the look and feel of them as my hands cramp easily using them for extended periods of time. That's why I am going with the PG-9038S joystick. I prefer a "Xbox-like" look and grip, plus they look more adaptable, being a third party controller for tablets.
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