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Custom: High-end laptops are incredibly powerful given their footprint but most still lag behind their desktop cousins in at least a couple of key performance categories. Fed up with the situation, one YouTuber set out on a 14-month journey to right this wrong by building his own laptop using actual desktop hardware.
Core components for the build include an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU mounted in a Gigabyte A520I AC mini ITX motherboard that's paired with a Radeon RX 6600 GPU from XFX and some low-profile DDR4 memory.
After designing and 3D printing the bottom shell of the laptop, it was time to figure out how to make all the hardware fit. Everything that wasn't necessary, like some of the rear I/O ports on the motherboard and the GPU's sizeable heatsink, was removed and the layout was set.
Next, Socket Science crafted a custom cooling solution using copper shims, aluminum heatsinks, and copper heatpipes. It's the "jankiest" part of the setup (his words, not mine), but it got the job done when combined with some modified fans.
The keyboard and touchpad were next, and they went on without incident once the custom tray was printed, sanded, and painted. A 16-inch QHD portable display with a 120 Hz refresh rate was chosen for the project, but it needed to be slimmed down to fit. Fortunately, the control board cables were long enough that they could be mounted in the base of the laptop. A custom 3D printed lid with bezels, and a set of hinges, tied it all together.
A custom battery pack was also in the original plan but ultimately got scrapped in order to leave more room inside the system for better airflow.
Flat black paint was used to coat most of the chassis, complete with copper highlights and blue accents. His YouTube channel logo served as the centerpiece on the outside of the lid – a nice touch.
Socket Science said the end result is far from perfect, adding that it turned out "alright."