Janktop IV Sneak Peek (open source MINI ITX Laptop)

[Eban]

2 hours ago, FredSRichardson said:

 

 

I actually have a random modding question - would it be tough to take a laptop keyboard and display and connect them directly to a desktop?  The goal would be to have a thin folding keyboard + display that you could plug into a regular desktop with a long cable (or cable bundle).

 

I'm guessing this would have to be a viewport+usb wire bundle unless there's a really easy way to get both onto the same thunderbolt bus.

Something like this?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002596633741.html

but plugs into a desktop ?

[FredSRichardson]

5 minutes ago, Eban said:

Something like this?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002596633741.html

but plugs into a desktop ?

 

I think that is nearly perfect!  Thank you!

[Eban]

3 minutes ago, FredSRichardson said:

 

I think that is nearly perfect!  Thank you!

 

Except for the overprice 

[FredSRichardson]

19 minutes ago, Eban said:

 

Except for the overprice 

The price didn't seem bad - around $220 with shipping.  I'm not sure I'd spring for it though without knowing more about the panel and keyboard - but the concept is all there.  There's another 4K touchscreen model that is a lot more expensive...

[StripeySnake]

At that point though why not get a cheap laptop and run a vpn or something between the two?

[FredSRichardson]

Lag and rendering is the only real issue with remote desktop solutions.  I think nvidia actually has some pretty good remote gaming solutions - someone was telling me about that.  But if you're right next to your desktop and that has a good GPU, you really want to be connected by something like HDMI or viewport.  I was actually wondering if you could swap the panel for a 144 hz - actually I think there are portable fast monitors if you don't need the keyboard connected...

[Eban]

For me something like the portable screen/keyboard is ok. If it came in a 17" flavour with full size keyboard.

Thats if I wanted a quick (Or maybe just easier) desktop build.

 

But like a lot of people here I like to fix broken things; I like to "fix" things that are not broken; And I love to hotrod my laptop 

So for me right now the Janktop is my Number 1 choice.

 

[FredSRichardson]

@Eban - I actually really like the idea of a janktop style computer with a separate keyboard and screen so the big unit can be anywhere including under the keyboard + screen.  The main thing is that the whole thing should be travel ready.

[StripeySnake]

I could actually set up a system for that, as the keyboard and display use HDMI and USB cables, but it would add considerable complexity, thickness and cost to an already complex, thick and expensive build. I do have plans to implement a flipped GPU slot that intakes through the palmrest, and can slide out of the chassis, for support for larger cards such as they 3070, but that's about all I have on the to do list other than a possible fully custom display assembly.

[StripeySnake]

I'm back with more updates on the project. Today I got the display mounted to the case, as well as many important side parts. The good news is as follows: all of the parts fit perfectly, or close. The polycarb is definitely strong enough to not break when I open the display. The bad news is that there is a ton of flex when opening the screen, so much that you need to brace next to the hinges to open it properly. I expect most of this to go away once I have the side parts and back cover mounted, as they will temper the flex of the polycarb a ton, but I will also be adjusting the build for future reference to include thicker support material behind the hinges, as well as room for two several millimeter thick aluminum bars to run on either side of the keyboard internally to reinforce that weak point. I expect these revisions to counteract the flex to an acceptable degree.

 

 

Note: images are heavily cropped due to 4.8 mb size restriction
My timeline has changed a bit, you can expect the prototype to be complete within a week or two, but releasing the CAD files, (and possibly considering kits) will be a month or two out. This is because I still have some kinks to work out in the design such as hinge durability that I want to resolve before someone else could end up having the same issue.

[Eban]

12 hours ago, StripeySnake said:

My timeline has changed a bit, you can expect the prototype to be complete within a week or two, but releasing the CAD files, (and possibly considering kits) will be a month or two out. This is because I still have some kinks to work out in the design such as hinge durability that I want to resolve before someone else could end up having the same issue.

 

Looks great 

 

Yes I understand the hinge issue. My alienware (as you know) feels like a tank, never an issue with hinges. The Legion though feels like I could rip the screen off if I was a little too .....enthusiastic.

 

So long as the thermals work out. I can see the Janktop style form factor being my daily driver computer of choice for the future. With something like my lenovo for away games.

 

Until one of the big brands start offering me something I want and not thin and lite diet BGA rubbish with hamstrung components they want to sell...Im just not giving them my money.

 

So work out the hinge flex and take my cash 

 

[serpro69]

Damn this looks hot. Can't wait to see how the final product looks like. And extra respect for open-sourcing this. I don't really see laptop OEMs doing anything similar anytime soon, so we definitely need more enthusiast-based projects like this one to break this "smaller and thinner above all else" trend.

[FredSRichardson]

On 4/10/2022 at 10:59 AM, StripeySnake said:

I could actually set up a system for that, as the keyboard and display use HDMI and USB cables, but it would add considerable complexity, thickness and cost to an already complex, thick and expensive build. I do have plans to implement a flipped GPU slot that intakes through the palmrest, and can slide out of the chassis, for support for larger cards such as they 3070, but that's about all I have on the to do list other than a possible fully custom display assembly.

 

I think the nice thing with an outboard keyboard/monitor combo is that the focus is on a flat case design without worrying about hinges etc.  Unfortunately, the commercial flat cases I've seen like the s4mini are too small in the other dimensions.  And it is really clear no one is trying to put anything over a 3070 in those small cases so I definitely see your point there.

 

Also great work on the build!!   Do you think having some parts in aluminum might add stability - maybe round the edge?

 

But seriously that is a really nice looking design!  Small and thin by my book! 😁

[StripeySnake]

Actually, I grossly overestimated how bad the hinge flex was. I can already open the screen normally as it is, and simply removing an unneeded slit from the design behind the hinges would greatly improve that flex as well. Honestly, I don't think it's a problem anymore. As for the build, I now have all core components properly mounted, and am working now on the basic case exterior and screen and keyboard. Unfortunately the controller board I'm using has a really short cable, and the longer ones take a month to ship or more, so I'm getting an FPC extension instead on eBay. it should come by Saturday. I need to do 3 more prints (roughly 1 per day), and then the printing is done as a whole. I won't be setting up the watercooling completely though till I am completely satisfied with the look and feel of the case, as it is difficult to disassemble. 
Have a picture of the current progress!

[FredSRichardson]

Well that is looking damn impressive.  It would be wonderful getting a picture of it and the reactions you get at a coffee shop (plugged in near a wall of course)!

 

Though really for me this kind of thing is designed for the hotel room after flights - rather than in the wild.  The good thing is that it's tall enough not to easily spill a can of coke on or something (that's all to easy with the ultra thins...).

[FredSRichardson]

I've been looking to see what cases out there could fit in a backpack. My dream would be a RTX3070(+) backpack build - but I'm beginning to think that just doesn't exist - unless it's a really big backpack...

 

Well, I did see this RTX3090 build - I don't know what to make of it:

 

With an option to have an outboard folding monitor/keyboard, I would be okay with any case that I could stuff in my backpack - but I might have to start thinking suitcase instead.  The limiting factor is really the width.  There are a few options out there:

 

Velka 5 - 99mm (really really thick...) - up to RTX3070:

https://www.velkase.com/products/velka-5

 

Velka 3 - 96mm (really thick) - RTX3060 (TI?):

https://www.velkase.com/products/velka-3

 

SFF Time P-ATX v2 - under 80mm (pretty thick) - I'm guessing RTX3060 TI: 

https://www.sfftime.com/  

 

Sentry 3.0 (TBD) - 2.0 is here under 75mm: 

https://zaber.com.pl/sentry/

 

HZMOD Flat XQ69 V4.1 (Sentry knock off - poor value) - under 70mm thick - RTX3060 TI (runs hot):

pricey! https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001920647703.html

 

s4mini of course (currently unavailable) - under 65mm - RTX3060 TI: 

https://nfc-systems.com/skyreach-4-mini

 

I'm kind of interested in this.  I can see where laptop manufacturers have an angle here - you can get a laptop with mobile RTX 3080 and maybe it out-performs a desktop RTX 3060 TI but at a really high price (and a lot of heat).

[Eban]

7 hours ago, FredSRichardson said:

 

 

Also great work on the build!!   Do you think having some parts in aluminum might add stability - maybe round the edge?

 

But seriously that is a really nice looking design!  Small and thin by my book! 😁

 

In one of my previous lives I was a welder/fabricator. Mostly specialising in aluminium welding. 

I no longer have a workshop or tools but Janktop  V4.4 I may try to make with a aluminium case. See how it goes.

[serpro69]

6 hours ago, StripeySnake said:

Actually, I grossly overestimated how bad the hinge flex was. I can already open the screen normally as it is, and simply removing an unneeded slit from the design behind the hinges would greatly improve that flex as well. Honestly, I don't think it's a problem anymore. As for the build, I now have all core components properly mounted, and am working now on the basic case exterior and screen and keyboard. Unfortunately the controller board I'm using has a really short cable, and the longer ones take a month to ship or more, so I'm getting an FPC extension instead on eBay. it should come by Saturday. I need to do 3 more prints (roughly 1 per day), and then the printing is done as a whole. I won't be setting up the watercooling completely though till I am completely satisfied with the look and feel of the case, as it is difficult to disassemble. 
Have a picture of the current progress!

 

Looks very interesting! Have you weighed the top polycarb plate separately? I wonder if a replacement could be found that would offer same strength but weigh less. I remember polycarb being quite heavy. Though from this photo it looks like it's quite thin, so likely doesn't weigh that much?

[StripeySnake]

The polycarbonate is 6.35mm thick, and very light. The main weight comes from the radiators, water block and GPU

[FredSRichardson]

17 hours ago, Eban said:

 

In one of my previous lives I was a welder/fabricator. Mostly specialising in aluminium welding. 

I no longer have a workshop or tools but Janktop  V4.4 I may try to make with a aluminium case. See how it goes.

An aluminum case would be sweet!

[FredSRichardson]

This thread has really inspired me to learn a bit more about SFF builds that might be suitable for travel.  I can definitely build something that would fit fairly easily into a backpack with up to a 3060 TI in it.  From what little I've read the mobile 3080 benchmarks pretty close to a desktop 3060 TI.

 

The thing I'm really not clear on is travel robustness for something I build LOL!  There are a few pretty nice forums dedicated to SFF builds though.

 

EDIT: this is actually exactly what I'm thinking of, but I think the s4mini case is a rainbow unicorn right now...

 

[electrosoft]

I'm not even sure how I missed this thread but @FredSRichardson dropped a link in another thread. This is a very cool and fascinating project, awesome!

 

 

[FredSRichardson]

@StripeySnake - I realize you're probably deep in this project - would love an update whenever you get a chance!  There are a lot of SFF builders, but I think very few go so far as to build their own enclosures - I didn't realize how rare that actually is - and very cool that you're doing some of this with a 3D printer.

[StripeySnake]

Here's where it is as of now. I got the internal display running on the chassis, and found the issue with the keyboard, although it seems to be the keyboard itself, so I'm going to buy a 17 r1 keyboard and see if I can get that to work. That said, I have conformation my keyboard controller does work and thus this is plausible. unfortunately the printer broke down with 3 parts to go, so I'm outsourcing the last few prints to a local college. Additionally, I have been offered a 5700 xt for a very good price, so I will be getting anew PSU and GPU for the final build. In order to finish the build now, all I need is the bottom panel, 3 printed parts, and the new keyboard. Everything else is done.

 

[FredSRichardson]

Dang - bummer about the printer!  Great work though and pretty exciting.  It will be awesome to see how all this comes together - I honestly only have a vague notion!