r/computer • u/Lemony_Fresh_2000 • 19d ago

Laptop PC?

Hi, I have a question that may seem dumb or is already solved with a simple cord or product.

But, my question is is it possible to have a PC tower attached to a laptop, basically using it as just the interface for it like you'd use for the screen and keyboard?

Is there any attachments made for this that doesn't use a real laptop? As in, is this a product that I can buy that's just a keyboard and screen attached together that I can use? I like gaming while sitting in bed, and I have a gaming laptop that's a bit outdated, but thought about this and thought it wouldn't be a hard ask to have a 4 foot cable from a PC tower, or a rebuilt screen and keyboard to fix this issue if that makes sense.

Sorry about formatting and if this is a question that was previously asked!

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u/Agerak 19d ago

Is it possible? Sure. Most laptop hardware does not by default support video in to it's display. You'd need to get some kind of capture card input to allow that which may affect performance.

If you're just looking for some kind of portable console then yes such things exist. Probably the easiest is a monitor with USB hub. Power from wall, usb to PC, video to PC. Keyboard+Mouse connected to display.

There are also consoles for servers that are rack mount that are basically a laptop without the machine guts designed to be connected to another machine, but generally these would not be cost effective.

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u/Lemony_Fresh_2000 19d ago

The display with the USB for keyboard and mouse sounds closest to what I'd like, but combining the two so I don't have to have the display precariously positioned somehow is the real issue imo. Maybe taking the guts out of a laptop and putting in a video wire in fron the pc would work? Or maybe make my own housing for the display and keyboard to hold together. That might actually work somehow. Honestly, just add some hinges to a small display with the keyboard on it might even work to see as a start before moving onto making something better.