What is this

Open Source PC casing in Laptop form. Based on industry standards. For everyday use.

Goals

• Build/develop and maintain your laptop, as you do with your desktop computer.
• The baseline size factor somewhere around Lenovo T520/W520 (The last known useable laptop in history.)
• Daily useable computer. So: Up to date x86 architecture, Windows.
• Keep it as thin as possible, within the limits of common sense.
• Have keyboard.

My definition of keyboard: Something that was totally discontinued after 2012 by all laptop manufacturers. Keyboard with classic IBM layout, especially keeping the original position of the 6 button Ins/Del/Home/End/PgUP/PgDown and 4 button cursors keys in place. Mechanical (scissor mechanics) if possible, but anything can be good with the classic layout. In commercially available laptops something like this was last seen in ThinkPad 25 Anniversary Edition, but that was only available in english layout.

Project ceases: If laptop manufacturers starts to build laptops again with keyboards, not with randomly placed buttons.

Current ideas

• Use Thin Mini ITX standard
• Thin Mini ITX Mainboard
  • Low power processor used (<=45W)
  • Laptop memories
• Cooling is something similar to the original Intel Thermal Solution in the Thin Mini ITX standard.
• USB Keyboard (internal connectors)
• Touchpad : TBD
• Mouse : USB (external)
• Display : some LVDS 40 panel with case and hinge, (some eDP or HDMI display would be better, but this is just wishful thinking)
• Case: Self made, bent/welded aluminium plate casing, 3D printed plastic parts
• Battery/power management : TBD Currently only external power
• Sound : TBD Currently external sound, Laptop speakers with 2mm connector

Hardware ideas

• Motherboard options
  • ASUS Pro H410T/CSM https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/business/Pro-H410T-CSM
  • AAEON MIX-Q370D1 https://www.aaeon.com/en/p/mini-itx-motherboards-mix-q370d1
  • ASUS PRIME H310T R2.0/CSM https://www.asus.com/Motherboards-Components/Motherboards/Business/PRIME-H310T/
  • Asrock IMB-1216 https://www.asrockind.com/IMB-1216
  • Asrock X300TM-ITX https://www.asrock.com/MB/AMD/X300TM-ITX/index.asp#Overview <-- Selected
• Processor/memory
  • As motherboard requests
    • Ryzen 5750GE selected.
• Cooling
  • Heatpipies https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32446947034.html
  • Passive cooling through alu case
  • Active cooling with thin coolers https://www.thermaltake.com/C_00003213.htm
  • Intel Thermal Solution HTS1155lp https://www.ebay.com/itm/334085185276 <-- Selected
• Display
  • Cabling TBD
    • https://www.hklrf.com/LVDS-Cable-for-screen-Asus-N56J-40-pin-p-n-14005-01140000-DDNJ8GLC100-14005-01140100_5180.html
    • https://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/questions/13080/lvds-for-asus-h310t-r2-0
    • https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/lvds-cable-for-the-asus-prime-h310t-csm.2563250/
    • https://www.ebay.com/itm/194591997846?hash=item2d4e963f96:g:yZMAAOSwLCRc93UY
    • LVDS 30 Cable for X300TM-ITX https://www.ebay.com/itm/252878881711?hash=item3ae0c183af:g:RBgAAOSwmCVY9cDk
    • LVDS 40 Cable between X300TM-ITX and LP156WD1 https://www.ebay.com/itm/154290360394 <-- Selected
  • Panels/Display assemblies TBD
    • LVDS 40 displays
    • eDP displays
    • LP156WD1-TL-B2 LCD panel (from Lenovo T520) <-- Selected
    • B156HW01 V4 LCD panel (from Lenovo W520)
• Keyboard
  • Modified HAMA Casano http://hama.hu/termekek/44-pc-notebook/49-billentyuzet/a791-billentyuzet-casano
  • Use Thinkpad keyboards with Arduino/USB https://www.instructables.com/Make-a-ThinkPad-keyboard-USB-adapter-with-Arduino/
  • Use Thinkpad USB keyboard. https://www.ebay.com/itm/174649516299 <-- Selected
• Power system
  • Mini UPS https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Mini-Ups-19v-High-Capacity-Mini_1600336157867.html?spm=a2700.7735675.normal_offer.d_image.3fdf444asZUCm2&s=p
  • Self made power system <-- Selected
    • Battery pack
      • 8 pieces of 26mm LiFePO4 cells https://www.ebay.com/itm/255105383478
    • Solar charger https://www.ebay.com/itm/314047150732
    • DC-DC converter https://www.ebay.com/itm/322962728306
    • 24 Volt adapter https://www.hestore.hu/prod_10038122.html
• Speakers
  • https://www.ebay.com/itm/372675445037?epid=1350074915&hash=item56c530012d:g:ieUAAOSw2-pc5W9w

Good Source

http://roddines.blogspot.com/2015/12/thin-mini-itx-motherboard-overview.html

Current tasks

• Display connection proof of concept - Proven
• Casing mechanical assembly - In progress
  • Cooling - cooler selected
  • Keyboard - keyboard selected