Hey everyone! I'm on a mission to create my own handheld gaming PC because I'd rather craft it myself than buy one from places like Valve or Best Buy. However, I'm struggling to find a suitable motherboard that's small enough to fit my needs while still being able to run on battery and handle decent RAM and CPU specs. Any advice would be super helpful! Also, I'm looking for someone who can model a case for 3D printing, as soldering isn't something I can do. I have a budget of around $150 NZ.
5 Answers
Considering you can't solder and are on a tight budget, you're really limited in options. It might be challenging to find anything decent for $150 beyond just basic components like an R36 Ultra. Keep an eye out for sales or used parts, though, as that could help you build something functional without spending a ton.
I've seen some touchscreen Raspberry Pi setups that can run Windows or Linux. Pair that with a tablet controller, and you might be really close to what you're aiming for! Just an idea to consider.
You should look into creating a handheld with a Raspberry Pi! There are various cases available that mimic classic handheld consoles and even come with built-in controllers. Just search 'Ras Pi handheld' online to find some cool options.
You might want to check out some communities that specialize in PC builds. You’ll need more than $150 for decent parts, especially for the motherboard. For a handheld setup, micro-ITX boards are your best bet, but they usually cost around that price alone. If you're looking for a case, the S300 is great for budget builds!
Before you get too deep into this, what exactly do you want to run? With $150, you're pretty limited, mainly leaning toward phones for better performance.
I appreciate the feedback! I'm mainly just trying to find something that would work without breaking the bank!