ATX board to "laptop" converstion

[joedoe_31]

Hi!

Any suggestion about "converting" an atx board to a "laptop", in the
sense that
I don't need the PCI/AGP slots available, just want to use the 2
integrated usb ports (for wifi, perhaps external hd or flash drive),
mouse/kbd, vga?

The mobo has a 1ghz PIII, with the CPU fan on it, so it can be in a
"customized?" case (SFF?) that it fits in.
An LCD display of sort in a "foldable" form or "plugged?" in the vga
port. Power supply of course just like by an adapter of sort. I dont
mind the weight for carrying it (5-7lbs?). It would be like a laptop,
but bulkier!

Please, comment, especially those who know what they are talking about,
know the different issues involved.

Thanks all,
Sid

 

[Mike T.]

Hi!

Any suggestion about "converting" an atx board to a "laptop", in the
sense that
I don't need the PCI/AGP slots available, just want to use the 2
integrated usb ports (for wifi, perhaps external hd or flash drive),
mouse/kbd, vga?

The mobo has a 1ghz PIII, with the CPU fan on it, so it can be in a
"customized?" case (SFF?) that it fits in.
An LCD display of sort in a "foldable" form or "plugged?" in the vga
port. Power supply of course just like by an adapter of sort. I dont
mind the weight for carrying it (5-7lbs?). It would be like a laptop,
but bulkier!

Please, comment, especially those who know what they are talking about,
know the different issues involved.

Thanks all,
Sid

What you are looking for, and don't realize it yet, is a mini-itx board. I
don't think you can convert your current PIII mainboard to work for your
purposes. But a buddy of mine built a mini-itx system that is about the
size of a kleenex box, and runs off of a cigarette lighter (in his car).
It's not a powerhouse, but it will do anything your PIII board will do.
He's using it as a overly-complicated MP3 player (!) He did it just because
he COULD. I could too, but it's not my thing. Do some reading at the
following site. -Dave

http://www.mini-itx.com/

 

[xmikedavis]

The mini-itx site might be a good place to look for SFF power supplies
and displays, but since you want to use an atx board it's likely that
you'll need to fabricate the case yourself. Any way you slice it, it
will probably cost you over a hundred dollars.

If I were you I'd just pick up a pIII laptop on ebay for <200 bucks.
Unless you are just trying to be weird, it will probably work out
better.