got this old C2D laptop with broken screen lying around for quite sometime d

Built it for NAS / torrent server / CCTV recording. (unused desktop HDD lying around, but it couldnt fit into this laptop HDD)

so i make the whole desktop HDD run in a laptop system together.
size wise is slightly bigger than a microATX box.



will fit everything in that motherboard size area




rear side of the board




desktop HDD requires 12V and 5V to run. so i use 2 step down voltage breakout board (reduce voltage from 19V to 12V and 5V separately)




i glued some thick felt sheets to insulate the desktop HDD touching area with motherboard to prevent shorting





HDD connection is extended from laptop to the desktop HDD using extension cable. Data is connected while the HDD power goes directly to the laptop charger
did some cable management






added extra 60mm fan directly on the CPU fan to blow cool air in + stick the voltage regulators onto ram slots
on the power side, there is a main on/off button + a power on button (turn on laptop).

reason is desktop HDD is powered by power brick, so when laptop shuts down, the HDD doesnt shut down.






i havent figured out what box i wanted to put yet, or i might just glue it to the back of an LCD to make a AIO.
can later use it as NAS / torrent server / CCTV recording

This post has been edited by AllnGap: Jun 2 2020, 05:06 PM

not sure yet

old system has PCMIA expansion slots, can get those with USB3.0 slot, can plug in more HDD d.
but now can just get a single 2TB is more than enough

whole thing just like mATX box size only.

T7500 2.2Ghz 4M
2Gb DDR2

i've been looking at banana Pi 4 also.
but this is way more flexible, can make into torrent server or keep files.