Key Takeaways
1. Smartphone Hardware Potential: The project highlights the advanced capabilities of smartphones when paired with appropriate software, using a damaged Galaxy S20 FE powered by a Snapdragon 865.
2. Cost-Effective Setup: The DIY mini PC uses minimal components to keep costs low, including a USB-C to HDMI adapter and a Raspberry Pi casing.
3. Desktop-Like Experience: The modified smartphone can access a desktop-like environment through Samsung DeX, with display output set to 1440p.
4. Gaming Performance: While not designed for high-end gaming, the setup can run lighter games and retro game emulation effectively, including PS2 and Game Boy titles.
5. Affordability and Accessibility: The initiative aims to provide a low-cost computing solution using older smartphones, which are often available cheaply in the second-hand market.
The recent DIY mini PC initiative by YouTuber ETA Prime has caught attention, as it transforms a damaged smartphone into an efficient computer. While it may not match the power of some budget-friendly x86 mini PCs on the market, that’s not the main focus of this endeavor.
Smartphone Hardware Potential
The essence of this project lies in showcasing how advanced smartphone technology can be when matched with suitable software. The broken device used here is a Galaxy S20 FE, which has a display that doesn’t work. It is powered by the Snapdragon 865, a high-end system on chip (SoC) from early 2020, and the revamped mini PC utilizes the Samsung DeX feature.
Keeping Costs Low
ETA Prime has been careful to keep the cost of hardware down, using minimal components. The essential parts include a USB-C to HDMI adapter (Anker 310 adapter currently priced at $16.99 on Amazon), a Raspberry Pi casing, and a cooling modifier. After connecting everything, the modified S20 FE is capable of entering a desktop-like environment through DeX. With a clever software tweak, ETA has also managed to set the display output to 1440p.
For those who aren’t particularly into gaming, this arrangement can easily manage everyday tasks. For gamers, ETA Prime demonstrates that the Snapdragon 865 with 6 GB of RAM can effectively run lighter games. By using GameNative, a Windows gaming emulator, the YouTuber showcases Hollow Knight: Silksong operating at a steady 60 FPS.
Retro Gaming Capabilities
This setup also excels in retro game emulation. ETA Prime has demonstrated several PS2 and Game Boy games running without issues. Native Android games tend to work fine too, although it is important to mention that the hardware struggles with more demanding titles.
Nevertheless, performance wasn’t the primary goal for this project. The focus is on affordability and accessibility. Many older smartphones, like the Galaxy S20 FE, can often be found in the second-hand market at a low price because of damaged screens. However, it’s essential to highlight that setups like this are not a true desktop alternative. Instead, they provide a “desktop-like” experience. For further details, check out the video linked below.
ETA Prime on YouTube
Source:
Link