Build Your Own Laptop?

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Haltirith

Haltirith

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Mar 3, 2015
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Hello all, I was looking into building my own laptop, and not from one of those choose your own components lists, but choosing most all the components. What I would like to figure out is if there's a place where you could buy the case or basic assembly (Including monitor, keyboard, mousepad, and basic I/O), the motherboard, and the battery. I would like to be able to install my own RAM, CPU, hard drive, GPU, and m.2 WiFi/Bluetooth card. Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks!
 
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You cannot build your own laptop. No manufacturer sells a case that you could build a laptop in, nor do they sell motherboards for it etc. Laptops are designed with their own proprietary boards etc. Its simply not possible.
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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What you seek doesn't exist. The market for laptop customization just isn't there the way it is for desktops. And battery availability is the primary issue. I'm sure companies like Corsair and NZXT would love to jump on this bandwagon, but really the thing about laptops is that they're made to each companies' specifications, particularly the battery. Unlike desktops where they have standard form factors, laptops are more like snowflakes. You can get two laptops from the same manufacturer and they would still not be 100% the same.
 
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Eximo

Eximo

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I disagree completely. You can certainly pick up barebones laptops as the OP has described. This may involve contacting OEM/ODM directly. You can also find them on ebay and amazon, though I think that is risky.

These would come with everything mentioned. All the modular parts could be purchased and installed.

I don't really see the point though, you might as well just buy that model of laptop from a boutique builder. They can actually source things like current generation GPUs and CPUs. Very tricky to actually find all the right components, you don't often see new mobile CPUs and GPUs around. Certainly no savings to be had.

If you just enjoy taking apart laptops, you can still do that once you have it. Go in there and replace the thermal compound, lapping, adding tiny heatsinks to help with cooling.
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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That's still not the same as building your own laptop from scratch the way you are building a desktop. You can change and swap a few components, but batteries and displays are what keep the laptop customization market from happening the same way a desktop customization can.
 
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Eximo

Eximo

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That wasn't the question though. He asked for the main assembly, and that is a bare bones laptop with screen, motherboard, chassis, cooling, and (sometimes) battery. Though batteries are really the only easy component to come by.

Direct from manufacturer might be very expensive for a volume of one (if they'll do it). Buying a barebones from a re-seller, still going to cost you. My understanding is that companies like Sager might sell you a Clevo chassis if you ask directly.

I've tried finding MXM GPUs, and what you see most often are used cards coming from people who already have things like Clevo chassis with SLI 780m and upgraded to what would fit. CPUs seem more readily available, but then you have to trust the seller. Unless you have a tray source through a company though, these will be quite pricey as well.

As you say though, sometimes they are specialized and will only accept specific parts. You also have to be careful with TDP, power draw, and cooling. But they are designed to be modular or they couldn't be customized in the first place.

Certainly not as cheap or easy like desktops, but it is there for the enthusiast.
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Really? Huh I had not heard that before. I'm in the market for a new laptop and I've been shopping around and for the kind of laptop I want I haven't seen anything less than $1500. And that is mainly because I've been looking at laptops similar to what my dad has and those are the low profile thin frame laptops like the MSI GS63VR. I've been checking out to see what Sager has to offer as well.
 
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Haltirith

Haltirith

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Update, I called Asus and they gave me a list of their sources. So I should be able to call them and see if they would have any barebones laptops. And yeah, that's what I'm looking for is a barebones laptop that I can install my own SSD, HHD, GPU, CPU, and RAM into.
 
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J

jabranshakil

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What did you exactly ask them? I'm curious, because I'm interested in making my own notebook too. Thanks!
 
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