If you usually build your own desktop PC, you may have toyed with the idea of building your own laptop? Unfortunately, laptop barebones are quite hard to get by, unless you put out an order for a few thousand from your favorite ODM. OCZ is looking to change this, by letting you customize – and build – your own 15-inch gaming laptop.

Barebone Specs

The base model is built around the Intel PM965 (socket P) chipset, which supports the latest Penryn Core 2 Duo CPU’s up to the 2.6GHz T9600 and up to 4 GB of 667MHz DDR2 RAM. None of these components are included in the package, and neither is a hard drive or a wireless card. The idea is that you provide these components on your own, and hopefully, end up with an unusually cheap laptop.

One component that is not optional is the GPU, an Nvidia 8600M GT. This may be something of a let-down for some, especially when OCZ is branding it as a gaming notebook. The 8600 GPU is aging, and will soon be replaced by Nvidia’s 9-series equivalent 9600M GT. Most people who build their own are probably expecting to end up with the best laptop on the planet, and the 8600M is too old to comply.

Potential Issues

The so-called enthusiast market is pretty lucrative, and OZC could definitely be on to something with its new DIY laptop. Unfortunately for OCZ, some hard-core gamers will probably steer clear of the model because of the GPU. DIYers, or “Enthusiasts,” are usually well aware of what’s happening in the computer industry.

Another concern could be finding the components you want at the right price. Laptop components are usually quite expensive. Even though the barebone sells for only $699, a few high-end components could at least double that price. In the end, there’s no guarantee that it will be cheaper than if you buy a complete laptop, which makes it hard to justify a purchase like this.

How does it Work?

Judging from early reports in various forums online, it seems to be fairly easy to assemble the notebook. OCZ provides a complete set-up guide to minimize the chances of failure. In other words, if you’re used to PC building, this should be even easier. A list of validated components is also available at OCZ.com.

NOTE: This is a guest blog post by Jesper Carlson at Laptopical.com.

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