Portable mini pc in place of laptop

grumpybeard · 14 Dec 2012 at 13:58

Hey folks,

Taking a sabbatical next year to kitesurf a few locations over the summer.

I have an ipad for cafe surfing/picking up emails. However I want to have a portable machine capable of 1080p video processing from the GoPros and photo editing, plus some self study programming I will do.

Been considering a high end laptop (Alienware, Clevo P170EM), but wonder whether it's possible to build a portable mini PC capable of the applications in mind (i.e. quad core i7, 16Gb ram min). Occasional gameplay so ability to pop in decent graphics card would be good.

Anyone with experience of building something similar, including the possibilty of placing a monitor about 17" into a rucksack/carry bag with the PC to port it around (from accommodation to accommodation). Probabbly issue with monitor stand into rucksack?

Wonder if this option could give me decent portable computing power that is more easily upgradeable than a laptop, or just stick with search for a laptop, hmmm?

grumpybeard · 14 Dec 2012 at 22:06

Hey Gav thx for the reply. Nice build. You just stick one of these in any old rucksack or so ething more specialist. What do you do aboubt monitor, do you transport one or have one abailable at destination?

Thanks!

grumpybeard · 15 Dec 2012 at 00:14

Thanks gav, that sugo bag looks good (but perhaps not able to source in uk).

What do you carry your monitor in?

grumpybeard · 17 Dec 2012 at 08:16

Emailed Silverstone regarding the Sugo pack, unfortunately the reply below:

"Thank you for your interest in SilverStone product.

The Sugo pack is a phased out product, we are not selling it anymore.
Since it is for 2 years EOL, regrettably nobody is selling this item."

May try get one from the auction site, thinking going the SG05 as it has the smallest footprint I can find.

grumpybeard · 17 Dec 2012 at 12:24

Hi Marine,

Thanks for pointing out the Sapphire low profile 7750, looks good, and has got me thinking.

Liking the look of the Streacom F7CB evo, wonder if I can put an ivybridge i7 with the sapphire 7750 in this case, able to keep the temps down and have a Pico powerful enough (no overclocking, but lots of video/picture editing).

This case looks approx the same size as an Xbox and I can handle taking something this size on my travels. Thanks.

grumpybeard · 20 Dec 2012 at 15:43

Well I pulled the trigger on components for an SG05 build, can't wait to get home for Xmas tomorrow and start building with the listed components. Not exactly laptop portable but will fit onto carry on luggage no problem for the few trips I will make next year. Should be a little powerhouse, looking forward to the build.

Silverstone SG05BB-450 USB 3.0
Intel Core i7 3770K
Asus P8Z77-I DELUXE
Corsair Hydro H60 V2
16GB (2x8GB) Corsair DDR3 Vengeance
2GB EVGA GTX 680
Razer Mamba 2012 4G 6400 DPI Wireless Mouse
Ducky DK9087 Shine 2 Blue LED Mech KB Brown Cherry tenkeyless
2 x Samsung 840 Pro 256GB

Thanks all for offered suggestions and help. I did a bit of to-ing and fro-ing with all the case/psu/heat combinations and thought the SG05 would give me the best all-round portable system for next year, with a choice of components I can always harvest and make use of in my other systems after my travels (for example the SSds and GTX680).

Cheers.