YouTuber creates DIY ultrawide handheld gaming PC from broken laptop parts

Marcin Plaza builds a handheld gaming PC using Lenovo parts.

: YouTuber Marcin Plaza transforms a broken Lenovo Yoga 730 into a handheld gaming PC with an ultrawide 12.7-inch screen. He custom-built a keyboard and designed a 3D-printed chassis to house the components, including an Intel Core i5-8250U CPU. Despite its outdated hardware, the device runs games like Stardew Valley smoothly. Plaza's next project involves adding a dedicated GPU.

Marcin Plaza, a YouTuber, embarked on a project to turn a broken 13-inch Lenovo Yoga 730 into a DIY ultrawide handheld gaming PC. Utilizing a unique 12.7-inch BOE NV127H4M-NX1 LCD panel compatible with the notebook's mainboard, Plaza designed the device with a clamshell form factor similar to older Nintendo handhelds or GPD pocket PCs.

Plaza's three-month endeavor included crafting his first custom PCB and trialing various 3D-printed chassis designs. The final product features a basic keyboard setup, a large trackpad, shoulder pads, and four buttons akin to the Nintendo Switch configuration, all operated by a button matrix with 42 inputs.

Despite using older hardware like an Intel Core i5-8250U CPU, 8GB RAM, and Intel UHD 620 graphics, Plaza's device plays games such as Stardew Valley, Portal, and Half-Life 2 with ease. Although ultrawide support isn't universal, the unique format allows for additional window space during gameplay.

DIY handheldultrawide screengaming