Friday 16th May 2008

OCZ launches build your own laptop kit

Posted at: 3:22am 16th May 2008 by James Morris

Customisable laptop chassis kits available soon

It's been several years since we ran our extremely popular 'how to build a laptop' feature, but now, most of the kit mentioned in the piece is obsolete or now longer available. Although Scan started stocking a limited range of self-assembly laptop kits last year, these too are now unavailable. However, OCZ has now announced that it will be launching its own range of do-it-yourself notebook barebones kits, so if you're interested in making your own portable machine, all hope is not lost.

The first OCZ DIY Gaming Notebook to be announced comes with a 15.4in glossy finish display, and uses a motherboard based on Intel’s PM965 chipset. Graphics are included, and consist of a fairly healthy NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB DDR2 memory. A 4x dual-layer DVD burner with 8x single-layer writing is also supplied. It’s then up to you to find and install a Core 2 Duo processor, system memory, hard disk and of course, an operating system. The fastest compatible processors is the 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo T9500, and up to 4GB of DDR2-667 is supported. Unsurprisingly, OCZ also suggests using one of its SSDs instead of a regular SATA hard disk. OCZ is even offering a one-year warranty.

The 15.4in model is just the beginning, too. Custom PC has learned that a 17in version is also set for release, most likely at Computex in June. This looks even more exciting, with support for quad-core CPUs, DDR3 memory, and dual GPU graphics. OCZ is also claiming that it will be offering the first notebooks with 800MHz memory, via its own SO-DIMMs. With just three custom components to supply and fit yourself,

OCZ’s DIY Gaming Notebook is nowhere near as customisable as your average desktop, but it could be cheaper than buying a readymade laptop - full details of UK availability and pricing haven’t yet been announced. However, OCZ told us it was ‘Setting up distributors at the moment, including the usual Overclockers UK, Aria and Ebuyer. The kits should be available in the next few weeks.’ Pricing is expected to be under £800 inc VAT for the 15.4in model.

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Comments

Does it really add up?

Let's say the kit will cost £750 and lets also say you want the best you can get for this kit: Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile T9300 is £202 from scan 4GB Corsair KIT DDR2 667MHz is £58 from scan 320 GB Western Digital is £70 from scan (decided not to go for a SSD) All this comes to £1080 not including delivery so add another £20 to make it nice and round £1100 Spec will now follow as: 2.5ghz dual core 4GB 667mhz DDR2 RAM 320GB HDD 512MB 8600 GeforceGo 15.4" Widescreen This doesn't include the OS either! so lets add another £60 for vista home premium totalling £1160. From a well known manufacturer I call "Lled" For £1190 I get a nice shiney 17" screen Very nice 512MB 7950GTX Go 320GB HDD 4GB DDR2 RAM @ 667mhz Vista home premium T7600 @ 2.33 GHz Difference between the two are: A slower processor :( against the "Lled" 1.6" of screen against the DIY £30 against the "Lled" Better graphics against the DIY No DX10 support against the "Lled" So looking at it for £30 more you can get a much nicer looking, dont actually have to put it together yourself and in general far superior laptop

Comment by double_helix at 4:46pm 26th May 2008

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No chance

£800 for a 'custom' laptop, that I still have to buy a flipping wireless card for???? No thanks, I'd spend that money on a decent laptop and upgrade it further then and there.

Comment by finlay666uk at 9:15am 20th May 2008

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MXM

There is a laptop graphics standard, called MXM. It's now on its 4th generation. However, it just standardises the form factor and electrical connection. There are still quite a few options for thermal outputs. So it has remained something for manufacturers, so they can offer one notebook with ATI or NVIDIA graphics, and (potentially) upgrade to the next generation without having to offer a totally new model. It's not usually possible for users to do the upgrade, though.

Comment by jdmorris1 at 11:42pm 16th May 2008

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the age old problem...

graphics in laptops has allways been a issue, a few companies have fit monster sli systems in their notebooks, but those are absurdly expensive, other than that all we can get is low-range crap or integrated. why has no company tried to make an standard for internal graphics that all laptop makers can then adhere to, saving them money and providing users with an upgrade path.

Comment by yougotkicked at 10:02pm 16th May 2008

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Were the is the external Graphics card

come on tech guys give us laptop gamers something we actual want a upgrade path for the most important thing in a modern machine the GPU.

Comment by Cool_CR at 4:43pm 16th May 2008

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This is just their first one

Wait for the Computex announcement of the 17in version. ;^>

Comment by jdmorris1 at 4:23pm 16th May 2008

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Bit pointless without customisable graphics

GFX is the #1 variable in a gaming laptop - particularly the fact that GPUs become outdated far faster than CPUs. Can't see much point in making a customisable kit - and then missing out the #1 item gaming laptop users will want to customise!!!

Comment by jontseng at 4:04pm 16th May 2008

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