NVIDIA’s latest powerhouse, the RTX 5090, is notoriously elusive if you’re hunting for a good deal. However, there might be an interesting twist coming, as this desktop-class GPU could make its way into a particularly unusual prototype laptop.
This potential development is part of a Kickstarter initiative led by UHPILCL, which has certainly captured my attention. They’re promoting a concept billed as the “world’s first built-in split type water-cooled gaming laptop.” Although the design is still in progress, it’s shaping up to be more akin to a chunky magnesium block with a screen attached rather than your typical sleek gaming machine.
When Videocardz first broke the news, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Typically, gaming laptops strike a balance between power and portability, but UHPILCL is clearly betting everything on performance, seemingly unconcerned with the aesthetic impact.
The UHPILCL YouTube channel showcases the laptop in action, revealing a massive device extracted from a backpack. It feels almost like setting up a miniature desktop with a 17.3-inch display, emphasizing its unrefined, prototype status. Despite this, the laptop has been demonstrated streaming videos and running games.
According to their Kickstarter page, this is the sixth iteration of UHPILCL’s water-cooled gaming laptops; the previous five never escaped the prototype phase. The campaign hasn’t officially started yet, but you can register for updates if you’re curious to follow its journey.
Now, you might be wondering how on earth a desktop RTX 5090 can fit into a laptop chassis. The answer lies in its liquid cooling system, which cleverly reduces the space typically allocated for an air-cooled setup. The cooling method is touted to include an 18W water pump coupled with a sizeable 320mm radiator, ensuring both CPU and GPU stay chill. An extensive exhaust system runs along the top, behind the screen’s hinges, showcasing the cooling focus.
The UHPILCL project doesn’t seem to be the maiden voyage for water-cooled laptops — the market’s seen its kind before with devices like XMG laptops, which used external setups. Similar efforts, such as ASUS’s 2015 ROG GX700, have tried external liquid cooling, too.
A high-performance system like this one obviously requires a serious amount of power, highlighted by its notable full-size AC connection on the chassis’s side. Additionally, the laptop is expected to house a 980W power supply unit.
Arguably, the standout aspect of this laptop might just be its upgradability. In a market where gaming laptops mostly offer limited options for upgrades, UHPILCL takes a different trajectory by utilizing standard desktop components. They claim compatibility with ITX motherboards and support for AMD and Intel’s recent processor lines, including the likes of AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K, indicating an openness to future enhancements.
The prototype makes room for desktop GPUs, contingent on adapting the cooling system by removing air coolers. The spacious design permits a host of port options, from multiple USB variants to HDMI and Ethernet, ensuring connectivity won’t be an issue. There’s no explicit detail on battery capacity, but reports suggest about three hours of performance when not gaming, aligning with what you’d expect from such a demanding machine.
The laptop’s ultrawide 17.3-inch display may seem small in the grand scheme of the chassis, but it packs features like 3K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and top-tier color accuracy. A unique 4K camera is ingeniously placed below the screen, adding a touch of novelty.
For now, UHPILCL’s creation remains a tantalizing concept. Whether or not it takes off on Kickstarter, it’s a fascinating glimpse into how gaming laptops might evolve, particularly in terms of upgradeability. While it may only appeal to niche markets due to its hefty form and likely price, it’s an exciting experiment that challenges the status quo.
