Build a desktop PC for 13.5" wide carry-on suitcase?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

I am a newbie. I am seeking advice on how to build a desktop PC for
13.5" wide carry-on suitcase. I guess I might not be the only one
looking for this type of machine...

I already have a Dell notebook (the ultra-light type), but I feel a
portable, high performance desktop PC will actually serve me better.

Unlike many users of laptops, I do not have to take computer to
meetings. I only need to carry it to a new site (usually by flight),
set it up at a fixed location, and work there for a month or two.
Given this pattern of usage, I feel using a desktop will be more
productive. (Of course, I will still bring the ultra-light Dell
Latitude with me, just in case.) There is no need for gaming, but
graphics-intensive applications are used from time to time.

Since I don't need to lug it around, a machine that can fit into a
wheeled carry-on suitcase would be good enough for me. I do not want
a tiny machine, which usually means fewer expansion slots and mediocre
performance- I want it to be as powerful as possible, as long as it
can stay within the size limit.

Most airlines limit the carry-on luggage size to 9" x 14" x 22", but
that is for the outer shell of the suitcase. Taking into account all
the padding, round corners, handles, and inner steel frames etc, I
would say the maximum size for the machine would be:

8" x 13.5" x 19" inch

Given this size limit, I hope to put the following into the machine:

CPU: Intel 3.4-3.6 GHz Hyper-threading

Chipset/Socket: 915G PCI Express chipset / LGA775 socket

Motherboard expansion slots: 1 slot for PCI Express x16 (I feel a PCI
Express x 16 graphic card may serve me well), 1 slot for PCI Express
x1, 1 or 2 slots for PCI

Bays: 1 for SATA HDD (80GB), 1 for DVD-ROM/CD-RW, 1 for 3.5" floppy
disk

USB 2.0 Ports: Minimum 4. The more the better.

Case: Sturdy, and good heat dissipation. Ideally a strong metal case.
Fan/Power: As good as possible, within the constraints of case size.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

I have checked out several brands and hoped to find a ready-made
product. Several actually come close, but all have some flaws:

IBM ThinkCentre S-51 Small Form Factor-
12.2 x 13.3 x 4.3 inch. This is the smallest. What disappoints me is
it has only 1 PCI slot and 1 PCI Express x1 slot. No slot for
graphics card. It uses Intel's Graphic Media Accelerator 900 (GMA
900). Maximum speed: 3.2Ghz. I guess this small machine is designed
for ordinary office work, so PCI Express x16 slot is not offered.

Dell Optiplex GX280 Small Form Factor-
3.6 x 12.5 x 13.9 inch. It offers 1 low profile PCI Express x16 (for
graphics), 1 low profile PCI. There is no PCI Express x1 slot.
Maximum speed: 3.2GHz. I wonder whether this indicates some
challenges in heat dissipation. (I don't like to see a cap in
processor speed, which limits my upgrade options in future…)

HP Compaq dc7100 Small Form Factor-
3.95 x 13.3 x 14.9 inch. This is very close to the limit (13.5 inch
for width) but still can get into a suitcase. (I tried already). It
offers 2 low-profile PCI slots, 1 low-profile PCI-Express X 1, and 1
low-profile PCI-Express X 16. Maximum speed: 3.6 GHz. 240W.

Alienware Bot-
5.35 x 13.58 x 13.77 inch. 2 PCI slots, 1 PCI-Express X 1, and 1
PCI-Express X 16 (Don't know if they are full height or low profile,
but that may be a minor issue?) Maximum speed: 3.6 GHz. 270W.
Compared with HP dc7100, Alienware Bot seems to be superior in case
design, power, fan, heat dissipation, etc. And for a business PC, it
looks attractive. The only downside- and probably a critical one- is
its size. With a width of 13.58, it may have to be "squeezed" into a
carry-on suitcase. (And according to the company, the front cover
cannot be detached to reduce the width of the machine. Besides, I
cannot find one to experiment with.)

So I am thinking about building my own perfect "suitcase ready" PC,
basically trying to combine the advantages of HP dc7100 and Alienware
Bot. Here are the challenges:

1) At present, most of the motherboards for 915G chipset seem to be
for ATX form factor, not micro-ATX. So this limits my choice of
motherboards and consequently, form factor of cases.

2) While I see a lot of attractive Micro-ATX cases, most ATX cases are
quite large and have a width over 13.5". (They are more like square
boxes.)

Any suggestions? Thanks a ton in advance.



Simon Leung

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

Why not just get a "desktop replacement" notebook? I know this a homebuilt
group but what you're looking for exists already and is built to travel with
a display included. You do remember the display right?

"Simon Leung" <simon_leung76@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8ddc60fe.0408121158.1daf4e2e@posting.google.com...
> I am a newbie. I am seeking advice on how to build a desktop PC for
> 13.5" wide carry-on suitcase. I guess I might not be the only one
> looking for this type of machine...
>
> I already have a Dell notebook (the ultra-light type), but I feel a
> portable, high performance desktop PC will actually serve me better.
>
> Unlike many users of laptops, I do not have to take computer to
> meetings. I only need to carry it to a new site (usually by flight),
> set it up at a fixed location, and work there for a month or two.
> Given this pattern of usage, I feel using a desktop will be more
> productive. (Of course, I will still bring the ultra-light Dell
> Latitude with me, just in case.) There is no need for gaming, but
> graphics-intensive applications are used from time to time.
>
> Since I don't need to lug it around, a machine that can fit into a
> wheeled carry-on suitcase would be good enough for me. I do not want
> a tiny machine, which usually means fewer expansion slots and mediocre
> performance- I want it to be as powerful as possible, as long as it
> can stay within the size limit.
>
> Most airlines limit the carry-on luggage size to 9" x 14" x 22", but
> that is for the outer shell of the suitcase. Taking into account all
> the padding, round corners, handles, and inner steel frames etc, I
> would say the maximum size for the machine would be:
>
> 8" x 13.5" x 19" inch
>
> Given this size limit, I hope to put the following into the machine:
>
> CPU: Intel 3.4-3.6 GHz Hyper-threading
>
> Chipset/Socket: 915G PCI Express chipset / LGA775 socket
>
> Motherboard expansion slots: 1 slot for PCI Express x16 (I feel a PCI
> Express x 16 graphic card may serve me well), 1 slot for PCI Express
> x1, 1 or 2 slots for PCI
>
> Bays: 1 for SATA HDD (80GB), 1 for DVD-ROM/CD-RW, 1 for 3.5" floppy
> disk
>
> USB 2.0 Ports: Minimum 4. The more the better.
>
> Case: Sturdy, and good heat dissipation. Ideally a strong metal case.
> Fan/Power: As good as possible, within the constraints of case size.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

Hi, Michael,

I bought my Dell Latitude (the ultra-slim type, less than 4 lbs) 3
years ago for over $3000, and I absolutely loved it. But that initial
excitement was worn off pretty quickly. You can literally feel the
machine getting older and older over time. It is not durable, and the
value drops fast. (Now I wonder if someone would take it for a couple
hundred dollars). And most components are proprietary. If it breaks
down, it is hard to buy a standard part and plug it in by myself. My
notebook is still alive, but I am more and more concerned about its
health, and am waiting for that inevitable moment...

Besides, when doing heavy-duty work, differences in processor speed,
HDD speed etc begin to matter.

Taking into account the total cost of ownership over time, laptop
should be 2-3 time more expensive than a desktop that has headroom for
upgrading.

Some "desktop replacement" notebooks are indeed very powerful. But I
can clearly see myself regretting in two years when things begin to
fall apart again. So I am taking the other route: looking for a
"notebook replacement" desktop

Yes, display is something I have to think about. But I figure it
would be much easier to find a CRT monitor on site. Still, thanks for
raising this.

Simon


"Michael-NC" <NoAddress@desolate.com> wrote in message news:<1kUSc.252328$2o2.14794717@twister.southeast.rr.com>...
> Why not just get a "desktop replacement" notebook? I know this a homebuilt
> group but what you're looking for exists already and is built to travel with
> a display included. You do remember the display right?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

"Simon Leung" <simon_leung76@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8ddc60fe.0408121836.46c9b01e@posting.google.com...
> I have checked out several brands and hoped to find a ready-made
> product. Several actually come close, but all have some flaws:

Which notebooks did you look at?


> IBM ThinkCentre S-51 Small Form Factor-
> 12.2 x 13.3 x 4.3 inch. This is the smallest. What disappoints me is
> it has only 1 PCI slot and 1 PCI Express x1 slot. No slot for
> graphics card. It uses Intel's Graphic Media Accelerator 900 (GMA
> 900). Maximum speed: 3.2Ghz. I guess this small machine is designed
> for ordinary office work, so PCI Express x16 slot is not offered.
>
> Dell Optiplex GX280 Small Form Factor-
> 3.6 x 12.5 x 13.9 inch. It offers 1 low profile PCI Express x16 (for
> graphics), 1 low profile PCI. There is no PCI Express x1 slot.
> Maximum speed: 3.2GHz. I wonder whether this indicates some
> challenges in heat dissipation. (I don't like to see a cap in
> processor speed, which limits my upgrade options in future.)
>
> HP Compaq dc7100 Small Form Factor-
> 3.95 x 13.3 x 14.9 inch. This is very close to the limit (13.5 inch
> for width) but still can get into a suitcase. (I tried already). It
> offers 2 low-profile PCI slots, 1 low-profile PCI-Express X 1, and 1
> low-profile PCI-Express X 16. Maximum speed: 3.6 GHz. 240W.
>
> Alienware Bot-
> 5.35 x 13.58 x 13.77 inch. 2 PCI slots, 1 PCI-Express X 1, and 1
> PCI-Express X 16 (Don't know if they are full height or low profile,
> but that may be a minor issue?) Maximum speed: 3.6 GHz. 270W.
> Compared with HP dc7100, Alienware Bot seems to be superior in case
> design, power, fan, heat dissipation, etc. And for a business PC, it
> looks attractive. The only downside- and probably a critical one- is
> its size. With a width of 13.58, it may have to be "squeezed" into a
> carry-on suitcase. (And according to the company, the front cover
> cannot be detached to reduce the width of the machine. Besides, I
> cannot find one to experiment with.)
>
> So I am thinking about building my own perfect "suitcase ready" PC,
> basically trying to combine the advantages of HP dc7100 and Alienware
> Bot. Here are the challenges:
>
> 1) At present, most of the motherboards for 915G chipset seem to be
> for ATX form factor, not micro-ATX. So this limits my choice of
> motherboards and consequently, form factor of cases.
>
> 2) While I see a lot of attractive Micro-ATX cases, most ATX cases are
> quite large and have a width over 13.5". (They are more like square
> boxes.)
>
> Any suggestions? Thanks a ton in advance.

Yeah, look at desktop replacement notebooks...again.

>
> Simon Leung

One thing for sure, you don't _need_ PCI Express for graphics. There are no
applications out now or are coming out soon that saturate an AGP bus. Right
now, there is now speed advantage.

You still haven't said how you're going to fit your monitor in your carry-on
bag ;-)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

Smile, this isn't as uncommon a request as people think.

o Notebooks are great for many applications
---- P-M is the processor of choice
o Notebooks can not serve a special segment of demanding users
---- field-usable, lightweight, very rugged, dual-processor, multi-PCI, multi-SCSI etc

That special segment is served by Lunchbox PCs:
o Do a Google for Lunchbox PC
o You will find several specifically tailored to fit within carry-on luggage specs

Used by NHTSA, GM, NASA, Boeing, IBM Almaden, CCIE to Seismologists.

Their advantage is notable:
o Desktop board from Micro-ATX, ATX right up to Extended-ATX (Dual CPU & up)
o Lots of PCI slots, in some cases backplane 14-slot with Single-Board-Computers (SBC)
o So total cost of ownership is over several motherboards
---- over 12yrs you may buy 4 laptops - each with a 50-100% premium over desktop
---- over 12yrs you could just u/g a component - like a motherboard or CPU etc

Their disadvantage is also notable:
o None have integral batteries - they are not laptops
---- you need power from car or house
o You could make a laptop-like version
---- use LI-Ion battery & charger re energy density
---- use Mobile-Athlon on a desktop board, 2.5" SATA vs 3.5" SATA etc
o They are not usually light
o The cost is in the case & the TFT screen

Screens are often Daylight Viewable or TouchScreen Daylight Viewable.
The former is a recipe for a few hundred $ premium, the latter well over 600$ premium.

There aren't a huge number of cases, but even so volume is not advantageous re cost.

You can build a "luggable" into a case that will fit in carry-on luggage, but to get
a rugged item it isn't easy - you've a frame to construct, the shock-absorbing of
everything (Sorbothane socks to Paulstra shock mounts). You could use "structural
framing aluminium extrusion" to create the super-structure & bolt everything to it,
then stick it in a flight-case, inside a foam-surround for shock proofing. However,
the question is whether you need it - or whether an OffTheShelf is actually cheaper.

If it's ruggedness, there are several military-spec laptop makers out there:
o Consumer end (Panasonic Toughbook) right up to pretty military-ish things
If it's expandability, there are military-spec luggablish units out there
o I think one exists that looks like a Pelican flight case (or Halliburton alloy case)
o Inside that is a TFT, battery/charger, and a PCI slot for expandability

The other issue is economics re laptops are now no longer 3k$ - but =<1k$.
Thus whilst in the past the economic saving over 12yrs was perhaps 4k$, in
the future it may be more like 1k$ which is not a lot with the capital-cost &
capital opportunity-cost of making a lunchbox or buying one OffTheShelf.

DIY, however, it is possible - but Security may freak a bit.
--
Dorothy Bradbury
www.stores.ebay.co.uk/panaflofan for quiet Panaflo fans & other items
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dorothy.bradbury/panaflo.htm (Free Delivery)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

simon_leung76@yahoo.com (Simon Leung) wrote in
news:8ddc60fe.0408122223.4502ef05@posting.google.com:

> I bought my Dell Latitude (the ultra-slim type, less than 4 lbs) 3
> years ago for over $3000, and I absolutely loved it. But that initial
> excitement was worn off pretty quickly. You can literally feel the
> machine getting older and older over time. It is not durable, and the
> value drops fast. (Now I wonder if someone would take it for a couple
> hundred dollars).

Just to help you out, I will. I won't even make you wait until your check
clears to send me the laptop; you can just tape the check to the keyboard
and send them both in one shipment.

Hell, I'm feeling generous; you can even deduct shipping costs from the
$200.

 

[Donut]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

http://www.cappuccinopc.com/default.asp






On 12 Aug 2004 12:58:33 -0700, simon_leung76@yahoo.com (Simon Leung)
wrote:

>I am a newbie. I am seeking advice on how to build a desktop PC for
>13.5" wide carry-on suitcase. I guess I might not be the only one
>looking for this type of machine...
>
>I already have a Dell notebook (the ultra-light type), but I feel a
>portable, high performance desktop PC will actually serve me better.
>
>Unlike many users of laptops, I do not have to take computer to
>meetings. I only need to carry it to a new site (usually by flight),
>set it up at a fixed location, and work there for a month or two.
>Given this pattern of usage, I feel using a desktop will be more
>productive. (Of course, I will still bring the ultra-light Dell
>Latitude with me, just in case.) There is no need for gaming, but
>graphics-intensive applications are used from time to time.
>
>Since I don't need to lug it around, a machine that can fit into a
>wheeled carry-on suitcase would be good enough for me. I do not want
>a tiny machine, which usually means fewer expansion slots and mediocre
>performance- I want it to be as powerful as possible, as long as it
>can stay within the size limit.
>
>Most airlines limit the carry-on luggage size to 9" x 14" x 22", but
>that is for the outer shell of the suitcase. Taking into account all
>the padding, round corners, handles, and inner steel frames etc, I
>would say the maximum size for the machine would be:
>
>8" x 13.5" x 19" inch
>
>Given this size limit, I hope to put the following into the machine:
>
>CPU: Intel 3.4-3.6 GHz Hyper-threading
>
>Chipset/Socket: 915G PCI Express chipset / LGA775 socket
>
>Motherboard expansion slots: 1 slot for PCI Express x16 (I feel a PCI
>Express x 16 graphic card may serve me well), 1 slot for PCI Express
>x1, 1 or 2 slots for PCI
>
>Bays: 1 for SATA HDD (80GB), 1 for DVD-ROM/CD-RW, 1 for 3.5" floppy
>disk
>
>USB 2.0 Ports: Minimum 4. The more the better.
>
>Case: Sturdy, and good heat dissipation. Ideally a strong metal case.
>Fan/Power: As good as possible, within the constraints of case size.