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    Building a Desktop with Laptop parts?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Fletchman1313, Jan 31, 2015.

  1. Fletchman1313

    Fletchman1313 Notebook Consultant

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    Hello all,

    It's my first time posting in this forum. I usually frequent the Ideapad forum.

    So, my Lenovo Ideapad Y570 has finally bricked after 3 years (just about 2 months after the extended warranty expired). In the event that I cannot get this thing repaired, what is the feasibility of building a small desktop out of whatever components I can salvage? Like if the CPU is still okay, is it possible to extract it and put it into a compatible motherboard, and then build around it? I figured I can at least turn the blu-ray DVD drive into an external.
     
    Fletchman1313, Jan 31, 2015
    #1
  2. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

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    I don't think it will be possible to reuse the CPU... there is no desktop board to use the mobile CPU.. You can use the HDD and Blu-Ray drive...
     
    TomJGX, Jan 31, 2015
    #2
  3. LTBonham

    LTBonham Notebook Evangelist

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    LTBonham, Jan 31, 2015
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  4. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    Ouch, not at that price. :)
     
    tilleroftheearth, Jan 31, 2015
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  5. LTBonham

    LTBonham Notebook Evangelist

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    Yepper, they hit you in the rocks. Not much competition out there though....

    It would be fun to see how small of a box you could make with that.

    Edit - you could probably buy a replacement mobo for your laptop for the same price on eBay. I have done that with both the HP craptops I have owned.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2015
    LTBonham, Jan 31, 2015
    #5
  6. Qing Dao

    Qing Dao Notebook Deity

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    I did the same thing five years ago with a Core 2 Quad. I used the mobile CPU, 2.5" hard drive, laptop PSU, mini-pcie wireless card, and DDR3 SODIMM RAM. If I had wanted to, I could have even re-used a laptop's LCD display since the motherboard I used had LVDS output. It worked like a charm. Finding a compatible motherboard might be difficult, but they are out there and some don't cost too much. Mine was a Jetway I had bought on Newegg for $60.

    Edit:

    I found this one in a few seconds of searching: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SBC-Mini-IT...ntel-QM67-Supports-dual-display-/251713231078
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2015
    Qing Dao, Feb 1, 2015
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    tilleroftheearth likes this.
  7. StormJumper

    StormJumper Notebook Virtuoso

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    Also you should post to Desktop Forum as well since this is mainly about laptops. And since your talking putting laptop parts into desktop that will not work hardware wise.
     
    StormJumper, Feb 1, 2015
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  8. APA_1985

    APA_1985 Newbie

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    There are sometimes mobos and RAM conversions out there that will take mobile parts and make them desktop compatible. IMO it's a waste of money, you're better off just selling the laptop and buying affordable desktop parts.
     
    APA_1985, Feb 1, 2015
    #8
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  9. LTBonham

    LTBonham Notebook Evangelist

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    That's not a bad price on eBay that Qing Dao posted. I think it would be fun to take some parts and make a mini desktop with it. If you end up doing it, I would like to see/hear about it.
     
    LTBonham, Feb 1, 2015
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  10. Fletchman1313

    Fletchman1313 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the replies, people. I'll see if the Y570 can be fixed. If not, I'll let you know what happens if I actually build something with the spare parts. Maybe I'll even make the case out of Lego or something.
     
    Fletchman1313, Feb 2, 2015
    #10