How to Build Your Own Laptop [A Step-By-Step Guide]

Nowadays, many people would like to build their own laptops to meet their personalized needs. Do you want to build your own laptop, too? If so, do you know how to build a laptop? In this post, MiniTool will tell you benefits of building a laptop and show you how to do that.

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Is It Worth Building Your Own Laptop?

A lot of times you buy preconfigured OEM laptops directly from stores or manufacturer websites. These laptops are built in bulk with specifications fit for a variety of uses and applications, and you can start using it immediately when you get home or after the next package delivery truck arrives.

But these laptops may not meet personalized needs, especially for gamers and professional users. In addition, custom laptop computers have high cost effectiveness. Of course, the premise is that you build it yourself.

At the same price, the performance of the custom computers far exceeds the brand computers, because you can choose computer accessories according to your needs and don&#;t need to spend money on components you didn&#;t really want. Therefore, it&#;s worth building a laptop.

You can build your own laptop computers through the following ways:

1. Laptop Customization Service

Some PC brands like Lenovo and Dell provide custom laptop service. They allow you to choose components like processors, displays, hard drives, and so on. Then, they build the computer according to your specification.

I don&#;t recommend this method if your budget is limited. This method is not cost-effective. But if you don&#;t know how to build a laptop at all, this method is also OK.

2. Building a Laptop by Yourself

If you want to get a high-performance laptop with a relatively low cost, you should choose this method. If you don&#;t know how to build a laptop, I will show you how to do that in the following content. Just keep reading to learn how to build your own laptop.

How to Build Your Own Laptop

To build your own laptop, you just need to do two jobs: choosing components and assembling them into one PC. What do you need to build a PC? How to choose laptop components? In this part, I will tell you the answers.

How to Choose Laptop Components

To build your own laptop, you should buy a barebones laptop, a processor, a RAM, a network card, hard drives, etc. In this part, I will show you how to choose proper components.

But before grabbing the parts for your laptop, you should decide what the laptop&#;s main purpose will be. Most people build laptops for playing high-end games. In this case, you need to build your laptop with high-end specifications, but that will be directly proportional to the cost at the end.

If you just need a portable laptop for browsing, checking, and word processing, building a laptop is not necessary, because basic integrated laptops can meet your needs. You can buy an Ultrabook from any store.

1. Barebones Laptop

A barebones laptop is a half-assembled personal computer with a laptop shell, power supply, motherboard, camera, keyboard, cooling system, etc. Users can decide which component (CPU, memory, storage devices, etc.) to buy and install, according to their own needs and budget.

A barebones laptop is usually produced by Original Design Manufacturers (ODM) like Quanta, Compal, Wistron, Inventec, Pegatron, ECS, FIC, ARIMA, Mitac, Clevo, MSI, etc. These ODM companies produce PCs for some brands (OEM) like Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, Mac, etc. Then, these products will be sold to users as OEM products.

Here are some examples of the relationship between ODM and brands (OEM):

• Quanta: Dell, HP, Lenovo, Hasee, Apple, Thunderobot, etc.
• Compal: HP, Toshiba, Lenovo, Dell, etc.
• Wistron: Acer, Lenovo, Dell, HP, etc.
• Clevo: Hasee, Terrans Force, Thunderobot, Sager, etc.
• MSI: MSI, HIPAA, RaBook, etc.

It can be said that the quality of the barebones computer and the brand machine is almost the same. Then, you may want to where to buy these barebones laptops. I recommend you to buy these products on Alibaba, eBay, R&J Tech, or ODM vendor&#;s official websites.

To choose a proper barebones laptop, you should pay attention to the following aspects: whether the CPU and the graphics card are replaceable, the maximum number and capacity of memory it supports, the number of hard disk interfaces, the types of hard disk it supports, the screen interface, etc.

If the barebones laptop has enough interfaces or its hardware is replaceable, you have the opportunity to increase its performance again, just by spending money on the replacement of partial hardware. For machines whose interfaces are few or hardware is soldered, you can only replace the entire machine.

Besides, some users may also pay attention to its cooling system or its external features like external multi-screen interconnection, external graphics card, virtual reality, etc.

2. CPU

The CPU is a semiconductor integrated circuit chip that is mainly used to interpret computer instructions and process data in computer software. It is one of the main devices of a computer.

When you plan to buy a CPU, you should pay attention to the following aspects:

• Brands: Intel and AMD occupy most of the PC CPU market. For personal computers, Intel&#;s most common CPU series are Core, Pentium, and Celeron (their performance decreases in turn in the same generation); AMD&#;s most common series are Ryzen, AMD FX, APU, Athlon and Sempron (similarly, their performance is weakened in turn).
• Cores: Cores are separate processing units in CPU and each of them reads and executes program instructions, just like a separate processor. Current CPUs have at least dual cores and a CPU with more than 4 cores is recommended. If you use your PC to do graphic design, video editing, image rendering, etc. a CPU with more cores is better.
• Clock rate: The clock rate refers to the frequency at which the clock generator of a processor can generate pulses, which is usually used as an indicator of the processor&#;s speed. If you use your PC to do 3D modeling, play client games, etc. a CPU with higher clock frequency is better.

Note: When you buy CPU, RAM, hard drive, or graphics card, you should make sure that their interfaces are compatible with the barebones laptop (motherboard).

3. RAM

Memory is the bridge between external memory and CPU. All programs in the computer run in memory, so the performance of memory has a great impact on the computer and it also determines whether the operation of the computer is stable.

When you plan to buy a RAM, you should pay attention to the following aspects:

• Generation: There are four generations of memory, namely DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, and the latest DDR4. Generally speaking, the higher the generation number, the stronger the overall performance. Currently, the mainstream memory on the market is DDR4.
• Capacity: If you play games on PC, 8GB memory is at least. If you use PC for 3D modeling and rendering, 16G is best. Click Windows 10 RAM Requirements: How Much RAM Does Windows 10 Need to know more.
• RAM frequency: Generally, the higher the frequency, the better the performance of the RAM. But the CPU may have a limit on the memory frequency. If so, you should choose the RAM with highest frequency within the range.

Tips:

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4. Hard Drive

When you plan to buy a hard drive, you should pay attention to the following aspects:

• Storage medium: There are mainly two types of local storage you can choose from for the laptop you&#;re building: SSD or HDD. HDDs are incredibly slow and only suitable as a secondary backup drive to a primary storage device. On the other hand, SSDs are very fast and reliable. It&#;s recommended to use them as primary drives.
• Interface: The hard drives have many interfaces. Some HDDs and SSDs are sold in a 2.5-inch SATA format. However, for SSDs, SATA interface will limit their speed, so a lot of SSDs are sold in M.2 PCIe format. Click 2 SSD vs. SATA SSD to know more.
• Capacity: In most cases, 500 GB hard drive is needed at least. Click What Size of Hard Drive Do I Need for My Laptop to know more.

5. Graphics Card

Sometimes, graphics cards are soldered on motherboard or integrated in CPU or chipset. In these cases, you can&#;t replace and upgrade graphics cards. When you buy the barebones laptop, you should check whether the GPU is soldered or not. If it is soldered, you should check there is an extra GPU socket in which you can insert another GPU.

When you plan to buy a GPU, you should pay attention to the following aspects:

• Graphics chips: There are two types of graphics chips: ATI (ATI was acquired by AMD) and NVIDIA. AMD graphics cards perform better in picture rendering, while NVIDIA cards perform better in game fluency.
• Brands: Common graphics card brands are Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, Sapphire, Dylan, etc.
• Architecture: It refers to the technology the GPU uses. The newer the architecture, the better the GPU.
• Stream processor: The number of stream processors directly affects graphics performance. In the same generation of graphics cards, the greater the number of stream processors, the stronger the graphics card&#;s ability to draw and the faster it will be.
• Frequency: The higher the GPU frequency, the stronger the performance, the greater the heat, and the higher the power consumption. On the other hand, the lower the frequency, the weaker the performance, and the smaller the heat.
• Video memory: Large video memory is useful, but it is not so important. If the architecture is not good enough, no matter how large the video memory is, the GPU is useless.

Note: The graphics card used for the barebones laptop is MXM graphics card (Mobile PCI Express Module). MXM is a set of device interfaces designed for graphics processors based on PCI-Express interface.

Assembling the Laptop

After getting components ready, you can assemble them to build a complete laptop. Please refer to the following steps:

Step 1: Turn over the shell so that the bottom is facing up. Then, use a screwdriver to remove the baffle in the CPU section. Pull up the lever on the right side of the CPU socket to the vertical position, install the CPU, and then return the lever to its original position.

Step 2: Install the RAM and the wireless network card. You just need to align them obliquely with the slots and then push gently in. You can install the GPU with the same way if you have bought that. Please after you install the network card, you need to connect the cable.

Step 3: Install hard drives. I have written a post about how to install a second hard drive. You can read it to get detailed steps. But before you install hard drives, you should consider how to install OS, taking Windows as an example. There are two options for you:

1. After assembling the computer, create a Windows installation media and then use it to install Windows. In this case, the Windows is fresh and you should install all apps you want.
2. Clone disk. This method is suitable for the following situation: you have a computer before and there are lots of apps and files you want; you don&#;t want to reinstall them or transfer them because it&#;s time-consuming. This method can help you install Windows and transfer files at the same time.

If you want to use the second method, you just need to click the button below to buy MiniTool Partition Wizard and use its Clone Disk method.

Are you interested in learning more about laptop custom factory? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

No matter which method you use (A or B), you can the detailed steps from this post: How to Install Windows 10 on a New Hard Drive (with Pictures).

Step 4: Remount the cover and boot into your computer.

Here is a post showing how to build your own laptop step by step. If you are interested in building a gaming laptop or something like that, you can read this post.Click to Tweet

Bottom Line

Has this post helped you in building a laptop? Do you have problem in installing Windows? If you have any difficulty, please leave a comment below or us at [ protected]. We will reply to you as soon as possible.

Build Your Own Laptop FAQ

Can you build your own laptop?

Compared with buying a laptop, some people would like to build a laptop. To build a laptop, you should find components first, assemble them, and then install Windows. Just through this way, you can build your own laptop.

Is it worth building your own laptop?

If you have special requirements on computer, such as high performance, smooth gaming experience, etc. it&#;s worth building your own laptop. But if you don&#;t have such requirements, building a laptop, is not recommended.

Is it cheaper to build your own computer?

In the same quality, building a laptop is cheaper than buying a laptop. Building a laptop is cost-effective.

Is building a laptop harder than a desktop?

Building a laptop is not harder than building a desktop, if you have learnt how to build a laptop. There are websites where you can buy components for building a laptop. There are guides showing you how to build a laptop. Therefore, building a laptop is not hard.

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Building your laptop is an excellent way to learn how a computer works. It is a daunting task and will take a lot of time, resources, and money, but it could help meet your specific needs. You will need some hardware components to start. 

These will include a motherboard, storage devices, central processing unit, power supply, a monitor, a case, and memory. Moreover, you may later need to add some extra elements if you want to build your laptop with high-end specifications like fingerprint readers.

This guide will show you how to build your own laptop from scratch. It will also cover potential issues you may face, a list of the different steps involved during the process, and a deeper look into how much it costs to build your own laptop. 

Why You Should Build Your Own Laptop

Regardless of your skill level, building your own laptop gives you an advantage over people who have not built their own. Businesses, homes, and even cars use them daily. Knowing how they are built will come in handy as a life skill. You may want to build a laptop to use for programming, gaming, or just to help you with everyday tasks.

Building your own laptop is essential if you require exact specifications that laptop manufacturers do not offer, such as higher internal storage and additional features. In some cases, it may even be too costly to buy a laptop from an online retailer.

This is often common with gamers who require a wide range of specs for their games. Moreover, building your laptop enhances your problem-solving skills. While making the laptop, you will likely come across some obstacles, such as how to insert additional storage. However, you will find a way to fix them. 

How Hard Is It to Build Your Own Laptop?

It is quite difficult to build your own laptop and the reason is not far-fetched. For one, laptops are portable and compact. This means that you will need to solder many parts on the motherboard, which is a complicated process. 

Not everyone can solder, and some people make mistakes during the process. Ensuring that everything fits may be a problem, as well. However, with the right motivation and tools, you should be able to build your own laptop.  

How Long Does It Take to Build a Laptop?

The time it takes to build a laptop is partially up to you. Generally, gathering and assembling the laptop should take a few weeks. However, it could take longer if you do not have all the necessary laptop components and required tools. 

How Much Does It Cost to Build Your Own Laptop?

The cost associated with making your own laptop depends on what you want to build. Are you building a gaming laptop that requires more advanced components? Are you building a simple laptop to browse the Internet? For the barebone laptop, you can spend up to $1,000 to build it, while for a simple laptop, it may cost you as low as $300.

How Much Cheaper Is It to Build Your Own Laptop?

It may be slightly cheaper to build your own customizable laptop. The reason is that custom-built laptops can perform better than brand new computers. You will have the chance to choose the best accessories and laptop components. You can also avoid bloatware that often comes with new laptops for faster memory and long-lasting battery life.

What Do You Need to Build Your Own Laptop?

To build your own laptop, you need some important components. The following list may get longer depending on the features you want to include on your laptop. However, for a general laptop, you&#;ll need the tools below.

• Motherboard. This component is essential for all computers because they can&#;t work without one. However, you may be wondering what a motherboard does. It distributes power, handles power consumption, and promotes communication between different PC parts.  
• Central Processing Unit. The central processing unit (CPU) executes a lot of system processes. However, CPUs also serve other purposes. 
• Graphics Card. The graphics card is responsible for generating output images for the laptop.
• Random Access Memory. The random access memory (RAM) offers speed and capacity. More RAM means you can install more programs, and your processing speed will be faster.
• Hard Disk Drive and Solid State Drive. Both the hard disk drive (HDD) and solid state drive (SSD) store information. However, the difference between them is that the former stores information mechanically, while the latter stores it electronically. 

Building Your Laptop From Scratch: A Step-by-Step Guide

Building a custom laptop can be challenging because of electrostatic discharge and other variables that can harm the building process.

Below you will find a step-by-step guide on how to build your own laptop. These steps act as a general guide but may be modified depending on the specific components you&#;re including in your project.  

Purchase the Necessary Parts

The first step is to choose a processor for your laptop. This part is crucial because some processors on the market may not meet your required standards. Do your research and find the best one for your project. Next, select a case for your laptop. You also need to get the motherboard and purchase memory. 

However, think about the motherboard chassis before buying the memory. Purchase a drive. There are two options here. You can choose the solid state drive or a hard disk drive. Also, don&#;t forget about the laptop battery, graphics card, and CD ROM drive if you intend to have one.

Assemble the Parts 

After gathering the parts you need, assemble them in the case. Start by rotating the shell to add each one. You can use a jeweler screwdriver for this part. However, ensure that it is magnetic so you can easily pick each part up and screw things in. While adding all the components into the laptop case, don&#;t forget to put the screws in one plastic bag. This makes it easier to keep track of them. 

Insert the Hard Drive 

Once you have assembled the other parts, add the hard drive. It helps to add brackets during the installation of the hard drive. These brackets help it to latch onto the frame. If possible, use screws to ensure that the drive is attached securely. While adding the drive, apply some pressure before taping it to the frame. There are screw holes in each drive to help it stay in place, so you need to attach them. You can add the optical drive to the shell when you are done.

Add Memory

Check the panel covering your laptop&#;s motherboard to find the memory slot. When you have located it, insert the memory chip into the slot and release it by pushing it down. It will easily snap into place. Check to make sure the memory cards aren&#;t overcrowded in one direction. 

After installing the memory, check the CPU space to see if it will fit. It is important to ensure that it fits correctly and you don&#;t need to force it. If you do, the pins may pop out later. When you install the CPU, lock it in and add the cooling fan.

Add the Drivers and Operating System

Before installing the drivers and operating system, check the battery to ensure it is properly inserted. Also, fully charge the battery before switching on the laptop for healthy battery life. You can also conduct a memory test to ensure that the memory is working well. Furthermore, you need a CD or a bootable USB drive to boot the laptop. If it works, then you can install your operating system and drivers.

Do You Need Coding Skills to Create a Laptop?

You do not need coding skills to create a laptop if you&#;re using parts. However, it helps to know the basics of coding if you want to understand how the computer and its features work and will be used. It is also an excellent skill to pair with your computer engineering skills.

Can You Learn to Build a Laptop in a Coding Bootcamp?

Most coding bootcamps teach you how to become a tech professional, rather than how to build a laptop. They focus on coding concepts and processes to help you begin or advance your career in tech. This means that you do not need to attend a coding bootcamp to learn how to build a laptop.

Gather Feedback, Reflect, and Iterate

Making your own laptop may be stressful, especially if you are not a trained computer engineer. However, you can build your laptop from scratch with the right guidance and patience. However, keep in mind that the process will not be without setbacks. Since laptops are smaller than desktop computers, they may require a lot of soldering, which is difficult for some people.

Nevertheless, building your own laptop may be necessary if you want a custom computer. Some people need custom computers for gaming or other functions. Moreover, while you&#;re building your device, you can use quality materials.  

How to Build Your Own Laptop FAQ

Can you build a laptop by yourself?

You can build a custom laptop by yourself with the right tools and components. The process takes a few weeks or less, depending on how much time you&#;re able to dedicate to it. It may be cheaper than purchasing a laptop from a well-known manufacturer. 

Is it cheaper to build your own laptop?

The answer depends on what you need the custom laptop for. Generally, it&#;s cheaper to buy a laptop, rather than build your own. However, this isn&#;t always the case. If you need a laptop that is highly customized and includes features that are rarely found together, it could be cheaper for you to build your own laptop. 

Is it difficult to build a laptop?

Yes, it can be difficult to build a laptop. Of course, this depends on whether you&#;re assembling parts of building every component. It also depends on the keyboard layout, screen size, drive bay, disc memory, drive panel, and actual performance of the laptop. 

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What parts do you need to build a laptop?

To build a custom laptop, you need a central processing unit, dedicated graphics card, motherboard, battery, laptop case, hard disk drive, and random access memory. You may also need to use a jeweler screwdriver to piece it together. 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website laptop supply.