DIY enthusiast builds a gaming laptop using only desktop PC parts

The completed DIY gaming laptop using desktop components
(Image credit: Socket Science)

Gaming laptops have become pretty powerful and capable, but they’re also pricey. Making matters worse, the graphics chipsets found in them usually dramatically underperform their desktop counterparts. That’s why one YouTube tech creator decided to build a gaming laptop using desktop PC parts.

Socket Science embarked on this voyage 14 months ago and recently posted the completed build. His DIY gaming laptop incorporates a Gigabyte A520I mini-ITX motherboard, a desktop AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU, and an XFX RX6600 desktop graphics card.

My DIY gaming laptop (w/ desktop parts) is FINALLY done! Full Reveal - YouTube My DIY gaming laptop (w/ desktop parts) is FINALLY done! Full Reveal - YouTube
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For memory, Socket Science found very low-profile DDR4 RAM that’s about 60% the height of traditional desktop memory sticks. He also incorporated a 16-inch 120Hz QHD portable gaming monitor and a thin scissor-key keyboard. After a bit of testing to make sure none of the components were DOA, it was time to start magically shrinking them to laptop size.

The DIY enthusiast started by removing the Wi-Fi card and VRAM heat shield from the motherboard then went on to try removing the rear I/O panel. Since his soldering gun wasn’t sufficient to desolder the I/O panel and he didn’t want to wait for a new one, so he just … snipped the connectors and pried the various ports off the motherboard.

Motherboard and GPU layout in custom laptop case

(Image credit: Socket Science)

Next, Socket Science designed his laptop case for the creation, using prebuilt models as inspiration. He 3D printed the case in several parts and then used a heat welding technique to join them. However, 3D-printed components are often sensitive to heat and a normal gaming laptop generates a lot of that. 

Since Socket Science was using desktop computer components, he knew the heat issue would be even more pronounced. To compensate for this, he “painted” the interior of the case with a coat of JB Weld. 

After laying out the motherboard and video card, Socket Science designed his own cooling system to address thermal issues within the laptop. He found heat sinks short enough to fit within his case as well as heat pipes. After bending the heat pipes in the absolutely wrong way, Socket Science had the foundation of his laptop’s cooling system.

Heat transfer system for laptop

(Image credit: Socket Science)

Since available fans either didn’t fit or didn’t provide enough airflow, Socket Science designed his own. He used a stock AMD fan motor but designed a fan with long, thin blades that pull air in from the center and force it out of the opening.

Socket Science also disassembled the small gaming monitor and keyboard, assembling them into his custom-designed laptop. After trimming and painting, the final product looks sleek and professional. He did omit a battery from the build, arguing that gaming laptops should always be plugged in anyway. Plus, he said he “lost interest” in trying to build a battery.

While Socket Science doesn’t go into performance details or how well his thermal management system works, he does say that he’s “pretty proud of how it turned out.” The video shows him gaming on the laptop, but it would definitely be nice to know just how hot those components run in the combined space of the custom-built laptop chassis.

Jeff Butts
Contributing Writer

Jeff Butts has been covering tech news for more than a decade, and his IT experience predates the internet. Yes, he remembers when 9600 baud was “fast.” He especially enjoys covering DIY and Maker topics, along with anything on the bleeding edge of technology.

  • Pierce2623
    I don’t really get the point of a desktop rx6600. It’s literally the same specs as the laptop part(even tdp) but on a much larger PCB. You can also buy a mini pc with a discrete 6650m for $500 brand new.
    Reply
  • KyaraM
    Pierce2623 said:
    I don’t really get the point of a desktop rx6600. It’s literally the same specs as the laptop part(even tdp) but on a much larger PCB.
    The laptop RTX 4060 is also only 8% slower unless you get a 45W model (which, frankly, is on you), and can be OC'd to nearly match the desktop variant... with these low-end GPUs, this experiment is utterly pointless. And a current laptop Ryzen 5 is on the same level as the 5600X, too.

    Got a laptop recently with the R5 76400HS and 120W RTX 4060 for 800€. You pay the same for a similarly configured desktop.
    Reply
  • Notton
    That looked like a fun project.
    5600X is an interesting choice. I guess it was cheap?

    I would have used a Minisforum B550 Pro, or MS-01 as a basis. They are way more compact than mITX, the cooling is already figured out, and they feature a PCIe X16 slot.
    They are a cut above a generic 7840HS mini-PC if you want to add a dGPU without bottle-necking from a PCIe4.0 x4 slot.
    Reply
  • KyaraM
    Notton said:
    That looked like a fun project.
    5600X is an interesting choice. I guess it was cheap?

    I would have used a Minisforum B550 Pro, or MS-01 as a basis. They are way more compact than mITX, the cooling is already figured out, and they feature a PCIe X16 slot.
    They are a cut above a generic 7840HS mini-PC if you want to add a dGPU without bottle-necking from a PCIe4.0 x4 slot.
    You could also use any mini-PC with a Thunderbolt/USB4 or Oculink port for it. They exist and are probably the easiest solution.
    Reply
  • M0rtis
    I saw the video a couple of days ago. The whole idea was that a retail gaming laptop with a 4090 was 30-50% slower than its desktop equivalent. Now the laptop 4090 uses the 4080 core anyway. Unless this build was just a proof of concept before spending the money and time doing a full fledged top tier desktop replacement build, the current hardware is several tiers lower so its a bit pointless. Decent build overall but specs wise, it was a waste of time.
    When someone is complaining about the lack of performance from about the top tier laptop 4090, I would have expected at least a desktop 4070 or RX 7000 series card in the build.
    Its obviously not easy because of the heat and power requirements.

    If Im not mistaken the laptop cards also probably use the top binned chips and seem to have a higher performance per watt compared to the desktop cards. Probably why they are released some time after the desktop versions - stockpiling the best stuff and/or refinements to the manufacturing process along with the extra design stuff for the format.
    Can someone confirm this ?
    Reply
  • KyaraM
    M0rtis said:
    I saw the video a couple of days ago. The whole idea was that a retail gaming laptop with a 4090 was 30-50% slower than its desktop equivalent. Now the laptop 4090 uses the 4080 core anyway. Unless this build was just a proof of concept before spending the money and time doing a full fledged top tier desktop replacement build, the current hardware is several tiers lower so its a bit pointless. Decent build overall but specs wise, it was a waste of time.
    When someone is complaining about the lack of performance from about the top tier laptop 4090, I would have expected at least a desktop 4070 or RX 7000 series card in the build.
    Its obviously not easy because of the heat and power requirements.

    If Im not mistaken the laptop cards also probably use the top binned chips and seem to have a higher performance per watt compared to the desktop cards. Probably why they are released some time after the desktop versions - stockpiling the best stuff and/or refinements to the manufacturing process along with the extra design stuff for the format.
    Can someone confirm this ?
    The laptop 4090 performs about midway between the 4070 and 4070Ti, or I guess like a 4070 Super. While costing 2-3x as much as system with that card... I can understand why one would want to make a laptop with that performance for less money, but as you said, with this low-end configuration all this is is a cute idea/cool for builders and nothing more. What I wonder is. There is still some room in the chassis. If you make it a bit thicker, could you fit an AIO in it? With a reasonable CPU that might be possible.
    Reply
  • dalauder
    Pierce2623 said:
    I don’t really get the point of a desktop rx6600. It’s literally the same specs as the laptop part(even tdp) but on a much larger PCB. You can also buy a mini pc with a discrete 6650m for $500 brand new.
    You're all correct about the "Why?" part. My guess was that it's a proof of concept using his previous desktop build and he already had the slightly-dated parts? If it works nicely, maybe he drops his current desktop in when he upgrades?
    Reply
  • baboma
    >I don’t really get the point of a desktop rx6600.
    >I would have used a Minisforum B550 Pro, or MS-01 as a basis.

    The point of the project isn't what's better suited, or more practical. The point is that "building a laptop from desktop parts" would get way more hits than "laptop from mini-PC parts."

    Most of these out-there projects on YT are for eyeballs. The more impractical and outrageous, the better. It's the Internet economy in action.
    Reply
  • somn1
    baboma said:
    >I don’t really get the point of a desktop rx6600.
    >I would have used a Minisforum B550 Pro, or MS-01 as a basis.

    The point of the project isn't what's better suited, or more practical. The point is that "building a laptop from desktop parts" would get way more hits than "laptop from mini-PC parts."

    Most of these out-there projects on YT are for eyeballs. The more impractical and outrageous, the better. It's the Internet economy in action
    If you watched the video you would have seen the purpose of why he built a laptop out of desktop parts. He built it so that he can have the advantage that a desktop has in a laptop form factor. This means he can upgrade it whenever he feels like it and that's genius because it keeps costs lower compared to buying a whole new laptop.
    Reply
  • baboma
    >If you watched the video you would have seen the purpose of why he built a laptop out of desktop parts. He built it so that he can have the advantage that a desktop has in a laptop form factor.

    My BS filter is fairly time-tested by now, so the above never pass the smell test, let alone reaching the tire-kicking phase.

    The laptop that was built is nothing more than a prop. A laptop by definition needs to be portable, ie being carried to different places. Said DIY-top would fall apart with the slightest handling.

    The lid is epoxied together from 4 3D-printed pieces with no structural reinforcement. One finger pushing in the middle would be all it takes. The hinges are flimsy pieces that can scarcely bear the weight of the lid+display, let alone handle the rigors of repeated opening/closing. The unit has no battery, which reconverts it to a badly-built mini-PC. Basically, the unit is held together with bubblegum and duct tape.

    But it looks nice, being painted for "accents" and logo and whatnot. Think that painted keyboard can stand up to repeated use?

    In short, it's built for looks and YT consumption, ie for hits, not for any practical use. It's probably already being shoved into some dusty drawer, after the video upload, and will never again see daylight until the fateful house-cleaning moment, when it meets its ignominious end at some recycler.

    At for the parts being used, they all have one commonality--they're cheap. RX6600 & 5600X are almost the cheapest parts that can still be labeled as "reasonably modern"--although 5600 would've been cheaper still.

    The main function of these ventures, for YT creators, is to monetize, aside from building up their brand. Looking at the dude's small sub count (21K), keeping costs low would be a priority, as the end result--a janky prop--would be the same regardless of the parts. As long as the paint looks nice.
    Reply