Thin HTPC case + LCD = Big Powerful "laptop"
Thin HTPC case + LCD = Big Powerful "laptop" Posted on: 08.01.2009 by Ricardo Oliveira Ok so as you may have seen i'm having major issues with my old workhorse laptop that I was going to attempt at fixing for digital DJ'ing but I started believeing ...... about how its such a waste of money to get a "store bought" computer when you could build your own. Then I thought "how could I build my own Laptop !!??" I then thought about the OCZ one and then quickly threw that thought out ... I then started to believe about the reason for the laptop being so expensive and its mainly because , well , its a laptop. Its thin and can fold up on your lap. So then I start believeing about what I would need for DJ'ing and I wouldn't NEED something quite as portable as a laptop. Not If I could find a slim enough HTPC type of case that I could toss in a backpack and plus I could save myself big $$$ with an increase in performance by going this route. So I started believeing about how you could mount a laptop LCD screen to the HTPC type of small desktop case [or hopefully something a bit smaller] and its definetly do-able but is it cost effective... ?? there's something like this that costs way too much but would work perfectly : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16816133026 This is just something that has been bouncing around my head for a while and i'd like to know what folks believe about it ... and at the very least stimulate some conversations :grouphug: about CHEAPER solutions to purchasing expensive laptops while still remaining portable (or atleast somewhat portable). Whacha Think !? | |
| Ricardo Oliveira 12.02.2009 |
Originally Posted by hunger
After doing a bunch of research on using Laptop screens for this project it turns out that It takes a shit load of work and extra money in order to convert a laptop screen into VGA or DVI for use with a desktop motherboard. Also - I ended up aquiring a 19" samsung LCD for a good price so i'm believeing about using that now. Possibly modifying the external shell and what not to mount it to the thin desktop case [HTPC cases are looking like the best options at this point] I know NOTHING about rack mounts other than what they look like ... Also after searching this site quickly the prices are making me sick: http://www.rackmountmart.com/ ::: As far as specs go ... I'm looking , as always, for the best bang for my buck. I want it so that this setup can power Traktor Scratch Pro without ANY hiccups , latency, analyzing, ect ... and Also the ability to run a VST(i) and effects as well hooked up to a 2nd midi keyboard. I want to use my 1st midi keyboard the Novation 25 SL as my main controller for traktor with a single turntable hooked up on the side, mainly for scratching. With that in mind i'm guessing either a Core 2 Duo or a Core 2 Quad - however my knowledge is such that I dont really know exactly what I need because i've yet to do little more than run the Demo for a little while on my desktop without any midi controllers. I will build around my needs and it seems that my needs right now will be focused around the Case + Monitor and the CPU.
Originally Posted by DvlsAdvct
My rackmountable amp for my home studio just sits on a piece of wood LOL |
| Juan Cruz Taboada 13.01.2009 |
Originally Posted by nemo
|
| Ricardo Oliveira 08.01.2009 | Ok so as you may have seen i'm having major issues with my old workhorse laptop that I was going to attempt at fixing for digital DJ'ing but I started believeing ... ... about how its such a waste of money to get a "store bought" computer when you could build your own. Then I thought "how could I build my own Laptop !!??" I then thought about the OCZ one and then quickly threw that thought out ... I then started to believe about the reason for the laptop being so expensive and its mainly because , well , its a laptop. Its thin and can fold up on your lap. So then I start believeing about what I would need for DJ'ing and I wouldn't NEED something quite as portable as a laptop. Not If I could find a slim enough HTPC type of case that I could toss in a backpack and plus I could save myself big $$$ with an increase in performance by going this route. So I started believeing about how you could mount a laptop LCD screen to the HTPC type of small desktop case [or hopefully something a bit smaller] and its definetly do-able but is it cost effective... ?? there's something like this that costs way too much but would work perfectly : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16816133026 This is just something that has been bouncing around my head for a while and i'd like to know what folks believe about it ... and at the very least stimulate some conversations :grouphug: about CHEAPER solutions to purchasing expensive laptops while still remaining portable (or atleast somewhat portable). Whacha Think !? |
| Shay Wyche 06.06.2009 | As a newbie here feel free to shoot me down, but wouldn't an old aluminium technics 1210 flight case make a fantastic htpc case? It's earthed, big enough and if you have an old PC case you can remove all the parts from there and fit them more or less directly in to the flight case. It would also have the physical protection it needs. Weight is the only obvious disadvantage, if you sort out the cooling. Cutting the inputs and outputs would pose a problem, but there are many rotary tools out there that will cut aluminium efficiently. I've built a few PC's from scratch and it's really easy if you do the research. In fact I believe I might give it a go. |
| Ricardo Oliveira 14.02.2009 | Friday evening
and everybodies partyin' ... except me AAAAHHHH Ok ... just needed to get that out of my system. I also found some interesting info about Deckadance being able to be a VST host as well as Hosted within ableton itself as a VST. Things are looking like I may lean towards that program for my needs instead of Traktor. |
| Ricardo Oliveira 13.02.2009 | c'mon |
| Ricardo Oliveira 12.02.2009 |
Originally Posted by hunger
After doing a bunch of research on using Laptop screens for this project it turns out that It takes a shit load of work and extra money in order to convert a laptop screen into VGA or DVI for use with a desktop motherboard. Also - I ended up aquiring a 19" samsung LCD for a good price so i'm believeing about using that now. Possibly modifying the external shell and what not to mount it to the thin desktop case [HTPC cases are looking like the best options at this point] I know NOTHING about rack mounts other than what they look like ... Also after searching this site quickly the prices are making me sick: http://www.rackmountmart.com/ ::: As far as specs go ... I'm looking , as always, for the best bang for my buck. I want it so that this setup can power Traktor Scratch Pro without ANY hiccups , latency, analyzing, ect ... and Also the ability to run a VST(i) and effects as well hooked up to a 2nd midi keyboard. I want to use my 1st midi keyboard the Novation 25 SL as my main controller for traktor with a single turntable hooked up on the side, mainly for scratching. With that in mind i'm guessing either a Core 2 Duo or a Core 2 Quad - however my knowledge is such that I dont really know exactly what I need because i've yet to do little more than run the Demo for a little while on my desktop without any midi controllers. I will build around my needs and it seems that my needs right now will be focused around the Case + Monitor and the CPU.
Originally Posted by DvlsAdvct
My rackmountable amp for my home studio just sits on a piece of wood LOL |
| Juan Cruz Taboada 13.01.2009 |
Originally Posted by nemo
|
| DiscJoker aka GP 11.01.2009 | i been lookin at the mac mini myself or building a lunchbox comp. just have a lcd screen. |
| Granville Cerullo 10.01.2009 | I use a mac-mini myself. It works perfectly fine with Traktor Pro and my audio8 dj. |
| Marvel Cuffaro 10.01.2009 | Meta, Before I go throwing out outlandish ideas what kind of specs, options and upgradeable parts are you looking at? mobo/ram/cpu/video card(?)/hdd you could go for a 1u half-depth rack and mount a used laptop screen to it. Depending on screen size and resolution you can ebay a used screen, or look around at local PC shops, sometimes they'll gut broken laptops and keep the usable parts including the monitors. If you snag the model # off the screens you can usually find adapters for the screen to go to USB, or some other port. |
| kieran frearson 10.01.2009 | Is there a way to make my macintosh NOT sleep when I put down the screen?! That would solve so many of my problems hehe |
| Roberto Viccione 10.01.2009 | well, another idea is if you run everything in the same box just put a power strip in there, and once again, you have one cable, and surge protection at the same time Also, you can look into rackmounted machines, that way you can just get a little rackmount travel setup (with handle and everything) and set it up however you want, shelves and all. Not really good on the whole hardware modification stuff, but I'm sure there are things you can do. |
| Ricardo Oliveira 10.01.2009 | nothing else eh ... I figured you guys would be all over this |
| Ricardo Oliveira 09.01.2009 | Hey guys ... The idea is to have the monitor power through the motherboard so that it uses only one cord. I was believeing about something along the lines of these but not quite : http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/i-epia/ and ESPECIALLY THIS ONE ... minus the welding of the aluminum http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/itx-laptop/ and last but certainly not least combining these types of cases/enclosures with a "hackintosh" setup running Leopard or a faster OS. However i'm still a windows guy and most of my software is as well so im trying to justify and figure out the benefits of the switchover to Apple operating systems for my uses - which would include DJ software of course : http://community s.anandtech.com/messagev...&enterthread=y Also I FULLY understand the prices are drastically dropping however I still believe this idea is a good one , as has been proven by the links i've posted and hopefully will be proven by my use of one thanks for the input |
| Marvel Cuffaro 08.01.2009 | http://www.instructables.com/id/Suitcase-Mod/ Think that's what you're looking for As far as cost goes I don't believe its really feasible if you go all new parts, if you go used parts it probably could be done cheaper but then you'd still be pushing near the cost of of a laptop with better specs and less work. |
| Ruiz dB 08.01.2009 | I've thought about this as well... Especially when small form factor desktops came out such as the Shuttle, iMacs, etc... But it's hard to beat the true portablity, power and price of alot of laptops right now alot of them coming standard with 2GB RAM or more, Pentium C2D processors, 15" screens, 120 GB HD's etc for about $600 or less... In fact, I heard a report today that the age of the desktop is dead. I know the economy is tough and back in the day, building your own desktop was the way to go to get the computer with everything you wanted, but you can't really beat the price vs. personal effort ratio in the laptop. That being said, if you are doing full mobile setups, you could definitely mount a powerful desktop PC in an encased rack setup along with a 19" mixer, a nice power supply and even have the foldaway server keyboard / screen in there too... Depending on what you believe is feasible for mobile setups, you may even have room for your amp and rack mounted CD decks... I personally like having my mobile setups in an "all-in-one" package... ...but if you are just cruising to the club... buy a laptop... Desktops + Monitor use up power outlets... and Lord knows that evening clubs are not the best spots to find an abundance of power outlets... |
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