A DIY cyberdeck called the Slurptop combines a GMKtec mini PC motherboard with a custom 3D-printed chassis, an ergonomic mechanical keyboard and a built-in trackball. Modder Slurp Burgers also designed the system to run on swappable 24-volt Kobalt tool batteries, giving the unconventional portable PC a practical backup-power option.
Key takeaways
The build brings together off-the-shelf PC hardware and custom input and power systems in a distinctive portable workstation.
- Uses an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U motherboard from a GMKtec M5 Ultra mini PC.
- Features a columnar-stagger keyboard, central numpad, trackball and hinged XP-Pen drawing tablet.
- Runs for about five hours during light productivity use on a 24V tool battery, according to its creator.
- Automatically switches between wall power and battery through an off-the-shelf UPS switch.
Mini PC hardware in a custom shell
Rather than starting with a Raspberry Pi, as many cyberdeck projects do, Slurp Burgers built around the GMKtec M5 Ultra’s Ryzen 7 7730U motherboard. A custom 3D-printed enclosure houses the components, with the computer’s three front USB Type-C ports repurposed for internal connections to the display and peripherals.
The layout favors integrated controls over a conventional laptop arrangement. Its hand-wired keyboard uses MX-style switches and SA-profile keycaps, while a trackball with a PixArt PMW3360 sensor—salvaged from a mouse—sits near the bottom of the device. A hinged panel also incorporates an XP-Pen drawing tablet in its lid.
Tool batteries provide removable power
A custom circuit lets the Slurptop draw power from a 24V Kobalt battery. Slurp Burgers reports around five hours of runtime during light tasks such as word processing. A larger 8 Ah battery could extend that, though the project’s write-up does not give a specific runtime estimate for it.
Instead of building a custom battery-charging system, the modder retained the tool battery’s stock charging hardware. Batteries are removed and charged separately, while a high-speed UPS switch transfers the computer between wall power and battery automatically. That setup allows the battery to be taken out for charging without interrupting power when the system is plugged in.
A purpose-built productivity layout
The Slurptop’s rugged handle includes an OLED display, and a bright green toggle switch controls power. Together with the keyboard, numpad, trackball and drawing tablet, these features make the build a compact workstation shaped around its creator’s preferred tools—not a conventional laptop replacement with standardized ergonomics or specifications.
For PC builders and modders, the project highlights how mini PC hardware can serve as the foundation for a highly customized portable system. Its battery approach is especially notable: using the manufacturer’s charger and an automatic power switch avoids designing a bespoke charging circuit, while still making tool batteries part of the setup.
Via Slurp Burgers