Is Building a Laptop Worth It?

[NewYorksFinest]

Just a thought, I know it is possible, but is building a laptop worth it? Is it expensiver? I noticed that mobile CPUs are harder to find. I have to find SDRAM and a laptop frame. But is it worth it?

 

[Bateluer]

But is it worth it?

No. Its never been worth it.

 

[DSF]

I can imagine it being a fun project for the right kind of person, but there wouldn't be anything approaching monetary value in it. It would all be personal satisfaction.

 

[Essence_of_War]

I have to find SDRAM and a laptop frame. But is it worth it?

If you're going to buy or make your own frame, fit a logic board to it, etc, I think it could be fun if you know you're the kind of person who enjoys it, but you don't have economics of scale on your side, so my bet is that it would not be cost-effective.

Clevo makes a bunch of laptop that get re-branded for 'custom laptops' sellers. They tend to be very durable, and also have lots of user-serviceable parts (2.5'' drives, msata drives, accessible RAM). If you wanted a little DIY upgrade-ability, I might pick up something from one of their re-branders (Sager, System76, etc) and then trick it out from there.

 

[Imaginer]

From a pure mobility standpoint, it is nigh impossible to get a custom, from scratch, component assembly of a laptop. Namely because one would have to consider sourcing for the screen (and those aren't available as pure components unless you have a contract order from a supplier).

Never mind that there aren't standard mainboards either for laptops - because each and every laptop out there vastly differ depending on a marketed usage aspect (and a user's own user handling, weight, size, and features).

Also something not many would consider, is a TIGHTER thermal envelope to design the chassis for. It maybe simple to build a PC tower, but now try and balance power and thermal dissipation. Getting a power brick for the laptop is also of consideration and each one is specifically designed for the overall system of laptops - because you wouldn't want to try to take up more volume and weight of including the supply in an already crammed space.

There is a reason why not more work has been pushed for making standard component sockets, slots, and interchangeable interface boards for laptops as well - sockets take up room. Slots take up room. Any physical interconnect would take up room versus eliminating that and directly soldering it to the board - thus allowing less bulky and possibly lighter designs. That is the primary tenants of laptops.

Have anything heavier, might as well build a mITX box and carry a monitor and wireless keyboard and mouse with you. You get more power, one would use that power of the laptop at an outlet anyways, and you have a much better off the shelf commercial consumer screen.

Of course I am bringing this point as how illogical in this light a completely interchangeable laptop would be - given a plethora of varying manufacturer considerations, designs, and especially thermal and battery considerations.

But as Essence_of_War mentioned, there are OEMs that do make a generic, box laptop chassis that "roughly" have boards with standard connectors allowing some upgradability. Note that those boards would not typically allow swapping of a CPU (which if one gets down to that point, a mainboard swap would also be in play - and thus the mainboard would need to conform to cooling and ports of the existing chassis).

But from an upgrading standpoint, I would advise that anyone looking for a laptop and especially ultrabook class laptops - to keep in mind that these are mobile solutions and you should get the components that would match your intended lifetime of the device you expect out of it (i.e. upgrade the most you can for what you need over the intended time given the OEM's options initially instead of upgrading later as an afterthought).

Not to mention, due to chassis variation and styling - batteries are not going to be standard (electrically or physically).

 

[monkeydelmagico]

No

 

[corkyg]

No

+1 (I only speak Analog!)

 

[lehtv]

+1

If no = 0 and yes = 1, then no + 1 would be yes.

Sorry, too much programming recently D:

 

[JackMDS]

Since a question like this seems to be rather strange coming from a computer Enthusiasts. I'll use a Motor Vehicle example.

A friend of mine look for a building project to do together with his son on the weekends.

So he bought a Porsche Speedster Kit ( http://www.rustytubs.com/porsche-speedster-kit-car-bodies-replica-3.html ).

After months of weekend father/son work they had a Shiny Red car that you would know from its look that it a self build kit for a fraction of the cost of a dealer's car.

Now let see. Buying the parts of a laptop will cost about 3-5 times more than the same Laptop already assembled.

Would a Human put the tiny parts/bolts/nuts better than the Robot that does for the Manufacturer? Nah.

So, is it worthwhile to Build a Laptop?

 

[Imaginer]

After months of weekend father/son work they had a Shiny Red car that you would know from its look that it a self build kit for a fraction of the cost of a dealer's car.

Fraction of the cost because you are only considering material and part cost.

Now add in machine time, labor time, and given a dedicated - much more fluid/efficient process with a proper assembly line rather than a limited garage.

The "hidden" costs add up quick. Because you mentioned...

After months of weekend father/son work

Again, I (or anyone for that matter) am not building a PC for the sole sake of cost savings in terms of "worth it". What would be worth it is the knowledge and experience in knowing your system. Also, it helps better for self supporting a system you build (a car can be classified as a complete system - outside of energy consumption support and delivery infrastructure that is).

 

[JackMDS]

@Imagine, LOL what I like about the Internet (and forum in particular) there is always a way to play with words in order to appear right.

It follows the law of.

I gave John $1, so I can say I gave Money.

I gave Jill $1000, so I can say I gave Money.

Sine "I gave Money = I gave Money", then $1=$1000.

=========================
1. I hope that you realize that we are talking about Laptops.

2. In order to make it easy to understand let say that I am talking about Out of pocket cost.

3. In case of the Porsche example the out pocket expense are fraction of the cost.

In case of a Laptop the out of pocket expenses are more than a cost of ready made laptop.

4. There is higher probability that the car will work than the probability that a hand made laptop will work.

5. If the car will not work a skill mechanic can be paid to fix it and it still will be a fraction of the Cost.

In case of the laptop if you need to pay some one to try fixing it, the cost might end up few times more than the cost of working ready made.

==========

I bought my first IBM PC ready made in 1980, and since than I always self build my desktops. I fixed a lot laptops, but building one, Nah.

On a second thought, may if a person try to fix few Laptops he/she will understand why it is a silly idea to try building one.

 

[NewYorksFinest]

@Imagine, LOL what I like about the Internet (and forum in particular) there is always a way to play with words in order to appear right.

It follows the law of.

I gave John $1, so I can say I gave Money.

I gave Jill $1000, so I can say I gave Money.

Sine "I gave Money = I gave Money", then $1=$1000.

=========================
1. I hope that you realize that we are talking about Laptops.

2. In order to make it easy to understand let say that I am talking about Out of pocket cost.

3. In case of the Porsche example the out pocket expense are fraction of the cost.

In case of a Laptop the out of pocket expenses are more than a cost of ready made laptop.

4. There is higher probability that the car will work than the probability that a hand made laptop will work.

5. If the car will not work a skill mechanic can be paid to fix it and it still will be a fraction of the Cost.

In case of the laptop if you need to pay some one to try fixing it, the cost might end up few times more than the cost of working ready made.

==========

I bought my first IBM PC ready made in 1980, and since than I always self build my desktops. I fixed a lot laptops, but building one, Nah.

On a second thought, may if a person try to fix few Laptops he/she will understand why it is a silly idea to try building one.

So easy...

Not as easy as giving you an infraction. You're on thin ice here buddy, I would suggest that you refrain from posting if you have nothing useful to say.

mfenn
General Hardware Moderator