Getting a desktop GPU into a laptop...a query?

I'll cut to the chase, I am beginning designs on a laptop (using blender and a 3d printer) which could possibly house a desktop GPU and be almost as customizable as a desktop, using 80% desktop components. I know a lot about gaming desktops and laptops, but as far as parts themselves come, I'm a little rusty....

Are most GPU's roughly the same size? Could a slot be built into a laptop which could accommodate pretty much all recently-made GPU's, or no?

 

desktop GPU's that are reference usually come in the same size. But with each generation, it could be slightly bigger or smaller. Many manufacturers use custom PCB's and change the sizes. I would say design for the largest reference GPU today, (Titan Z?, dual GPU PCB). The length is always what changes, if it ever does. I dont see GPU's getting bigger though, if anything smaller.

 

Maybe if this laptop were to house only mini-ITX-sized GPUs, this could be feasible. If not, then this thing would be a s big as some of the smallest ITX computers and HTPC (maybe not the latter, but still).
A problem I foresee is how are you going to orient the PCI slot. Everything else seems to be fine, but this is what worries me.

 

Nice that someone else willing to design a laptop with desktop parts.

A problem with desktop video cards is that the width, height and depth actually varies.
The width and height does have a max. The width has a min.

Another is figure out how to power it. There isn't a cheap enough battery that is safe enough to handle operator error.

There are mITX boards that uses only mobile parts but have a full length x16 pcie with full 16x lanes and LVDS / eDP slot.
You can use that as a start reference.

Have fun

 

Good luck. While commendable, I say it's futile. I guess as an exercise "because you can" it might be interesting. Otherwise it'll be an expensive and time consuming project that you could likely just find an existing SFF case for a mITX board that would be just as small by the time you work out cooling and everything else.

The fastest half height card is the GTX 750ti. You could mount a full height card sideways but it would still pose a challenge to get it connected to the mainboard PCIe slot.

 

Actually that is really easy, cheap ? no if you care about reliability. Those $10 flex cables are a crapshoot.

Also, figuring out GPU placement is pretty cheap compared to the other costs that have yet to be mentioned

 

And how are you going to to power this desktop GPU in a laptop?