SOMEONE BUILT A WORKING GAMING CONSOLE ENTIRELY OUT OF E-WASTE
A dead Dell G5 5505 gaming laptop from an electronics recycler, rebuilt as a slim, wall-mountable console in a 3D-printed PETG case.
by u/ArtificialAGE (Life2Build on YouTube)
Workshop
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a long weekend
- license
- license not specified
- repo
- repo 0 stars
●●●●○ · a long weekend · license not specified · 0 stars · repo
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Jump to section
COMPAREE VERDICT
This is a documented personal build, not a downloadable project. The builder took the motherboard out of a Dell G5 5505 gaming laptop (AMD Ryzen 4800H with Radeon RX 5600M) that was headed for e-waste, 3D scanned it with an Einstar handheld scanner, modelled a console-style chassis around it in SolidWorks and printed it in PETG. The stock laptop thermal module does the cooling: air comes in through the side slats and leaves through the top. It can hang on a wall using screw holes in the bottom of the case or stand upright on printed legs. The builder runs Steam in Big Picture mode and says performance is in the same class as a PS5. The case files have not been published, so to copy the idea you have to design an enclosure for your own board. The board must also be able to start without its screen: the builder says such boards usually show a picture over the USB-C port, while HDMI only works once the system has booted. He also kept the laptop battery connected, because the board does not run at full performance without it.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —Documented in a Reddit post with a build video, the builder's answers in the comments and a YouTube video with a parts summary.
- —Donor hardware: the Dell G5 5505 motherboard (Ryzen 4800H, RX 5600M), the stock laptop thermal module, the laptop battery and RAM.
- —Case designed in SolidWorks from an Einstar 3D scan and printed in PETG. No STL or CAD files have been released.
- —No licence is stated, because no files have been released.
- —"Steam Machine" is the builder's name for a console-style PC running Steam. It is not a Valve product.
Parts to buy
5 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Videos
I Built a Steam Machine from a "Dead" Laptop3:47
The builder's own video: scanning and CAD, printing the chassis, assembly, first boot and a gaming test with frame rates.
More builds like this
All projects
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Watch the builder's video (Shows scanning, CAD, printing, the parts layout, assembly and a gaming test in under four minutes)
- 2.Find a donor laptop board that still works(The builder used a Dell G5 5505 and says such boards go for around $100 or less on eBay. Local electronics recyclers are another source)
- 3.Test the board on the bench(Use the USB-C port for video if HDMI stays dark, and check that it boots and runs games before designing a case)
- 4.Capture the board's dimensions(The builder scanned mostly the top of the board for hole positions, ports and the fan location, then added manual measurements. A photo with a scale reference and calipers also works)
- 5.Design and print the enclosure(Leave room for the stock thermal module, with intake at the side and exhaust at the top, and print in PETG rather than PLA)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- Your donor board will have its own layout, so the enclosure has to be designed around your board. The builder's case files are not public.
- Some boards only show a picture on the internal display, which makes the BIOS hard to reach. The builder uses the USB-C port for video during setup.
- The board may not run at full performance without its battery. If you keep it, use only an undamaged battery and check it for swelling over time.
- PLA can soften near the heat of a gaming board. The builder printed in PETG and would not use PLA.
- Salvaged boards have an unknown history. Test the board on the bench before you design and print anything around it.
Are the case files available?
Not at the moment. Neither the Reddit post nor the YouTube video links to STL or CAD files, and we found no listing on Printables, MakerWorld or Thingiverse.
What laptop was used?
A Dell G5 5505, the all-AMD version with a Ryzen 4800H processor and Radeon RX 5600M graphics. The builder says boards like this sell on eBay for around $100 or less.
Why is the battery still inside?
According to the builder, most laptops cannot reach full performance without the battery attached. His battery cost about $25 and he treats it as a built-in UPS. He is looking into spoofing the battery with a microcontroller in the future.
Does PETG survive the heat?
The builder reports no warping: the CPU and GPU cores peak around 85 C, and he estimates the printed parts stay much cooler than that, around 50 to 60 C. He would not use PLA.
How do you get a picture from a laptop board with no screen?
The builder says boards with USB-C or Thunderbolt usually output video over that port, and he keeps a USB-C to HDMI cable in his toolkit for these projects. HDMI often shows nothing until the system has booted.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The builder turned a laptop that was dead as a laptop into a living-room console. What salvaged hardware have you given a second life, and what did you put it in?
u/ArtificialAGE (Life2Build on YouTube)
Reddit user ArtificialAGE, who also posts build videos as Life2Build, got a Dell G5 5505 that was dead as a laptop but still had a working motherboard. He 3D scanned the board, designed a console-style chassis around it in SolidWorks and printed it in PETG. He says it is his third machine of this kind.
Keep building
Same category or platform, picked by how close they are to this build.
NO CAD FILESTurn an old 5K iMac into a Studio Display
WorkshopFor advanced builders
UP NEXT
Any 2014 to 2020 5K iMac can become a USB-C monitor with power delivery for 300 to 500 dollars, about a third of Apple's 1,599 dollar Studio Display.
Also Workshop
Open the next buildMore builds like this
FULL CAD3D print a six-axis robot arm with 0.1 mm repeatability - full plans are free
RoboticsFor expert builders
NO CAD FILESYou can build a Tesla coil that shoots lightning and plays music
WorkshopFor expert builders
FULL CADA £180 add-on makes a normal 3D printer cure resin deep inside the tank
WorkshopFor expert builders
DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM1d ago
Practical notes from our verification: the parts list here comes from the builder's own Reddit comments and YouTube description, not from a published guide. The case files are not public, so this page is a recipe for the idea, not a download. The builder's tools were an Einstar scanner (he puts it at about $500 used or $650 new) and SolidWorks for Makers, but commenters point out that calipers, a photo and free CAD software are enough for a flat board. The RAM in the video cost him $22 when he bought it, and he says the same RAM costs $99 today.