Portable desktop

[ChronoIntheUSSR]

Ok, I have a delema (sp?). I need a new laptop, but want one that can support DX10. Since there is no DX10 laptop card, I have decided to make a "portable desktop" for myself. My plans include using desktop parts, specifically a Core 2 Duo, PCIe motherboard with SLI capabilities and at least 4 SATA ports, liquid cooling, a Geforce 8800 GTX (possibly 2), and a 500 gb hard drive.

My questions are;

1. Does anyone know of where I can get smaller then normal parts meeting the needs for my plans. Like a 2/3 size motherboard, and a smaller power supply?

2. Should I even attempt to look for a battery that would support this?

3. and of course, does this even seem possible to any of you? this is a huge project for me, and don't really know for 100% if this is possible.

Thanks for the help.

[Skyone]

My suggestion is to just take your time - do not rush. Browse around http://mini-box.com, they have microPSU's and miniITX motherboards.

[bgnome]

Ok, I have a delema (sp?). I need a new laptop, but want one that can support DX10. Since there is no DX10 laptop card, I have decided to make a "portable desktop" for myself. My plans include using desktop parts, specifically a Core 2 Duo, PCIe motherboard with SLI capabilities and at least 4 SATA ports, liquid cooling, a Geforce 8800 GTX (possibly 2), and a 500 gb hard drive.

My questions are;

1. Does anyone know of where I can get smaller then normal parts meeting the needs for my plans. Like a 2/3 size motherboard, and a smaller power supply?

2. Should I even attempt to look for a battery that would support this?

3. and of course, does this even seem possible to any of you? this is a huge project for me, and don't really know for 100% if this is possible.

Thanks for the help.

portability and performance have always been a tradeoff. you are looking for a particularly beefy machine, for which i would imagine the power demands are ginormous. if this is the path you wish to take, i wish you luck.

anyhow, if you truly are looking for dx10 compatibility, i stumbled upon something promising regarding video upgrades for laptops a while back:
Asus XG Station

[dragon]

i had an idea like this bofore. my idea was to mount the cards on there sides.
and before i try to power an realy old and i mean realy old computer with batterys. gues what happened?

[marshallh]

Better just to bondo in a LCD screen to the side of a regular computer case.

[Life of Brian]

Better just to bondo in a LCD screen to the side of a regular computer case.

Hey that might be kinda cool...

[Sir Games-A-Lot]

Batteries: No. They would need to be physically huge (way beyond what you would want to carry anywhere) and the only affordable chemistry would be lead-acid.



What you are describing sounds like a combination between a modern shuttlePC and the so called luggables of days gone by (think Commodore SX-DX).

The most important thing is what you intend to use it for. If it is literally just an all in one desktop solution that's moved from one flat surface to another on occasion, then that would be very possible, but a real laptop form factor that was light enough to carry around with you all the time would be very hard to achieve with newer (read no miniaturized yet) parts.

[vskid]

Better just to bondo in a LCD screen to the side of a regular computer case.

I want to do that. All-in-one PC that can do everything and uses desktop parts.