Open-Source Laptop Built From Scratch

“I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success.”
– Nikola Tesla

An ambitious project has brought to life an open-source laptop boasting a 4K AMOLED display, a Cherry MX mechanical keyboard, and the capability to run advanced tasks such as playing Minecraft at 4K resolution and operating +7B LLMs. With an approximate battery life of seven hours and entirely open-source, this laptop is a testament to innovative engineering.

Project Overview

The journey from concept to creation involved mapping out a skill-chart encompassing essential laptop qualities like screen, performance, build, and efficiency. The inventor aimed to create a laptop meeting modern commercial thin & light standards as closely as possible while starting from scratch.

Key Components

Motherboard and Powertrain

  • Motherboard based on the Rockchip RK3588 SoC.
  • Key features include USB-C USB3.1 Gen 1, PCIe Wi-Fi/BT + SSD.
  • Powertrain integrated with an ESP32-S3 embedded controller and a ~60Wh Li-ion battery pack.

Display and Chassis

  • 4K AMOLED 13.3” display chosen for its high pixel density.
  • Anodized aluminum CNC chassis for durability and aesthetics.

Peripherals

  • Wireless, mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX ULP switches.
  • Glass-topped multi-touch trackpad.

The laptop’s general system overview included a single-board computer SoC for easy reference and compatibility, with the FriendlyElec CM3588 SoM chosen for its affordability and documentation.

Technical Challenges and Solutions

Among the project’s challenges was running a 4K AMOLED eDP display on non-mainline Linux, which necessitated reverse-engineering display values and tuning power-on timings. In the powertrain, American-manufactured batteries were selected for ease of procurement, leading to a robust 62.9 Wh power solution.

The mainboard design incorporated dual USB3.1 Type-C ports, USB2.0 Type-A, a headphone jack, and a microSD card slot. The assembly also included a fan and heatpipe system constrained by limited thermal management resources.

Final Reflection

The culmination of months of hard work across electrical, software, and mechanical systems resulted in the creation of the laptop named “anyon_e.” Inspired by open-source projects, the inventor aimed to empower creativity and innovation through this endeavor.

For an in-depth look at this inspiring project, including detailed hardware and software overviews, interested readers are encouraged to explore the full write-up and accompanying video demonstrations.

Sincerely,
Byran