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$39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

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Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#151

Post by somehnguy »

clnq wrote: post #148
somehnguy wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A slightly less-performant server is better than no server :) I gave up on worrying about those details - just installed ProxMox, set it on a shelf in the basement, moved on. Works great for the tasks I'm running.

Well, it depends on what you use it for. I was thinking about using it for distributed workloads which is more intense than average. I was even thinking about how much mileage could one get from a rack of old laptop logic boards. Gaming laptops sold for parts are much, much cheaper than "real" server hardware. It appeals to me because of the reuse aspect as well.

> A slightly less-performant server is better than no server

Holds true regardless of your workload :) Imo sounds like premature optimization.

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#152

Post by ktaylora »

btgeekboy wrote: post #46
ktaylora wrote: post #17

This is cool. What I really want is to be able to build an array of these. Like turn a stack of old fleet framework laptops (or lenovo laptops -- something cheap and plentiful) into a little closet Kubernetes cluster. A bit like people do with raspberry pi's (k3s). Has anyone seen work out there to this end?

I’ve seen a few twists on that idea, such as this one: https://www.printables.com/model/416934-framework-as-a-serve...

Yes! I knew it was out there somewhere. Thank you.

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#153

Post by coffeebeqn »

fbdab103 wrote: post #71
brnaftr361 wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the same thing, too. But I also wonder if the cooler mounting pattern is going to be compatible with consumer market coolers. I expect the one they've chosen is already tooled. I've got an older laptop with a busted screen, I've thought about pulling the mainboard and dropping it into a 3D printed chassis myself, and using it as a server. Haven't gotten around to it.

How much cooling does a laptop specced processor require? Presumably they are already engineered to run at lower power (<20 watts) and have severe thermal throttling by default.

It’s more that a bigger fan and heat sink is completely silent while laptop blowers are almost always loud at full load

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#154

Post by coffeebeqn »

brnaftr361 wrote: post #63
coffeebeqn wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s a little half assed though. Moving to a more desktop form factor would allow them to dump the laptop thermal solution with maybe one large case fan and a low profile cpu cooler. You could have an extremely quiet little machine instead of a jet engine that barely moves any air. I’ve been doing a somewhat similar mod on an old Lenovo tiny pc and it’s definitely great value as long as you put a little effort and th…

I thought the same thing, too. But I also wonder if the cooler mounting pattern is going to be compatible with consumer market coolers. I expect the one they've chosen is already tooled. I've got an older laptop with a busted screen, I've thought about pulling the mainboard and dropping it into a 3D printed chassis myself, and using it as a server. Haven't gotten around to it.

It’s usually not the same. I have a AM4 OEM mini PC which has a B300 motherboard and it’s almost the AM4 Mount but it’s slightly narrower so I had to use zip ties on one end

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#155

Post by [deleted] »

kstenerud wrote: post #59
schoen wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's running Linux, so, yeah it absolutely will. I can still get the latest and greatest Linux updates for my 13 year old laptop. For example, Linux explicitly supported 386 CPUs until 2012 (its successor CPU came out in 1989) and is only discontinuing support for the 486 CPU now (its successor CPU came out in 1993). https://www.tomshardware.com/news/linux-removes-486-cpu-supp... I'm running some 20-year-old Dell d…

This really is the kicker. CPUs over the past 20 years have gone from 2.4GHz to 5.6GHz clock speeds + bigger cache size and more cores. For most common tasks you're not going to see much difference between a 2-core and an 8-core CPU. There just isn't much need for CPU advancements in today's average workloads (browsing, word processing, spreadsheets). Any further advancements (such as AI) will happen in the GPU (or w…

[deleted]

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#156

Post by alfor »

IshKebab wrote: post #133
alfor wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Completely agree. It’s more wasteful than the path the we are in (full integration) Laptop will more and more look like an Iphone (glue together, with no replaceable parts) Every connector, every wire, every locking mechanism, every screw has a weight, cost and reliability problem. Making the system very integrated will decrease cost, weight and failures. Apple is leading the way with their M1/M2 everything on one ch…

The framework laptops are still very highly integrated. Yes there's a cost to connectors, screws, etc but it is very small compared to the cost of manufacturing ICs, displays, etc. I don't think Apple really solders on RAM and storage to save money, energy or for performance. I don't think it would make any difference to energy and I doubt it makes a significant difference to performance. The real reasons are to save…

Look at the performance/power of the M1/M2, this is a result of tighter integration. I agree with you Apple does a lot of price differentiation with the amount of storage/ram where it does not reflect at all the cost of the components.

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#157

Post by guywithahat »

awinter-py wrote: post #66
guywithahat wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't think that's a real consumer problem (particularly for the space they're in, which is portable laptops). Being reusable is a solution, and in this case it doesn't seem to be solving a real world problem. Usually people want their desktop computers to be more powerful than their laptops, and have dedicated graphics. This gives people a desktop computer which is older and less…

out of curiosity, three questions: 1. have you ever bought a used laptop, 2. have you ever upgraded a laptop you own, 3. have you ever kept using a device until some EOL event forced you to replace it

Yes no yes

What I described was my computer setup. I have a laptop which I use for minor projects, and a desktop for training models (and video games). Like the Framework laptop, my laptop was designed to be thin and doesn't have a dedicated graphics card. My desktop receives regular upgrades, my laptop goes about 4-5 years by which point I want a new one anyways (usually the battery is dying and the cpu is starting to show its age).

Most importantly however I would never use a desktop that's worse than my laptop, because if that were the case I'd just plug my laptop into my monitor instead of using a desktop (and I assume this is the case with most consumers).

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#158

Post by guywithahat »

senttoschool wrote: post #55
sonzohan wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are three problems it solves: 1. Upgrading is cheaper than a whole new system. This saves consumers money. Modern laptops increasingly solder parts down, making upgrades nigh-impossible (I've tried multiple times). Most tech companies have trade-in programs, but with dismal exhange rates. This gives the user more options and control over their hardware. 2. Countering planned obsolence and expensive repair costs…

> Upgrading is cheaper than a whole new system. This saves consumers money. Modern laptops increasingly solder parts down, making upgrades nigh-impossible (I've tried multiple times). A MacBook Air can easily last 5 years+. I've had mine for 10 years. Will the average Framework laptop last as long as the average MacBook? > Countering planned obsolence and expensive repair costs associated with modern products. Macboo…

You're being down voted but I think you're 100% right. Most processing intense tasks are done on the GPU nowadays anyways, so even if someone truly needed the fastest machine to train their neural networks (which frankly still wouldn't justify a new motherboard every year) they couldn't use a framework laptop anyways because it only has a CPU

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#159

Post by guywithahat »

greggyb wrote: post #40
guywithahat wrote: post #19

I know framework is a popular company on tech forums but it's always felt like a solution in search of a problem. Laptops I own that only have a CPU are rarely computationally bounded in what I'm trying to do, by the time the CPU is showing its age the battery and case are usually showing their age too. But lets say I need the most up to date CPU and can't wait, why would I now need a desktop computer with no expanda…

Instead of thinking of it as something less capable than a desktop, why not consider it a larger and vastly more capable Raspberry Pi or similar SBC?

Because it's not a raspberry pi. It has a higher power draw, costs more, and most importantly you don't get to choose when you want a new one, rather you have to buy their laptop and wait ~2 years for them to come out with a new motherboard so you can justify buying a second without creating more "e-waste"
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