Carry on for Node 202 and 24" Monitor

Raendor

Gawd
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Guys, in the upcoming months I will have to travel a lot between DC and Denver. Basically, every week for maybe up to 6 months. I'm gonna go crazy without PC,, buut I don't like laptops, because of their limitations and no upgrade path.

However, I have a nice g-sync 24 inch monitor I'm not currently using almost at all and I have an empty Node 202 and two sticks of DDR4 laying around. I thought of putting a G4560,1050ti and some z270 mITX board for future upgradeability (i.e. migrating my 6700k, when I decide to upgrade main rig). That should be pretty good for some gaming in SFF.

My main challenge is to be able to transport this on a plane, i.e. I need somehow to fit it into a carry on bag. There're great monitor bags, like Roccat Tusko, but is there something to fit both monitor and Node 202, so that I had one carry on iteam, as I'm afraid United won't like me carrying both monitor bag and American Tourister with clothes and Node into salon.

Any ideas, experience to share?
 
For size, the carry on is maxed at around 55x35x20cm. That case is 38x33x9cm. Unless you can find a trolley bag with exactly 35cm width and walls less than 1cm thick, you will not be able to fit the case inside the bag. And size is not all. On many carriers, weight is a problem, too. That 202 weights 3.5kg empty. With stuff inside, it will go up to about 6kg plus peripherias plus bag. Usually, the carry on limit is around 7-9kg.
I designed and built a ITX case especially for my plane travels. Full size GPU in detachable compartment, ATX PSU, 6cm CPU cooler and it all fits into 35x20x15cm and weight only 3.9kg fully loaded.

Why do you want to carry anyway? If you plan to build a 2nd PC and you commute between two well defined places, just have one PC in Denver and one PC in DC. Then carry a 2.5 external HDD with your movies, games and whatnot. FAR easier to pack.
 
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Read down https://hardforum.com/threads/ncase...for-community.1800249/page-14#post-1042950162 wahaha360 says some bags worked for him. No bags ever worked for me for monitors really. Until I got fed up and got a customized Sky Train backpack from Red Oxx -- but what I carry is a Sharp LL-S201A which is only 18.25" across, it's a "20 inch class" aka 19.5" monitor. Plenty for me.

A 24" monitor will be at least 21" across (it's 16/sqrt(16^2+9^2) = ~0.87 times the diagonal plus frame) and there are plenty of airlines with 21.5" longest dimension restriction and that half inch includes wheels, handles and bag material. It's just not enough IMO.

You could look at http://www.magma-bags.de/produkte/digi-control-backpack-xl/digi-control-backpack-xl-2-e.php3 . It's your best choice TBH but across it's only 330mm and the node is 332 mm so I suspect even if fits it'll be insanely tight. This is why the Sentry was so exciting -- but now I travel less so I skipped on it. Do note, again, that many airlines will restrict you to 14" aka 356mm across. That doesn't leave a lot for bag / padding materials for sure. The Sentry is only 310mm in this dimension and that 20mm is the difference between fitting and not fitting in a carry on.

So either the sentry or http://nfc-systems.com/shop/s4-mini-chassis or https://www.logicsupply.com/mc600/ . These two use ITX sized GPUs but that's not a problem if you are going for an 1050 Ti and external AC-DC bricks which is an advantage: you could check the brick in while keeping the lighter, valuable, fragile PC with you. If you are modding inclined, you could cut and mesh cover the top of the MC600 above your PSU and GPU fans.
 
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...external AC-DC bricks which is an advantage: you could check the brick in while keeping the lighter, valuable, fragile PC with you.

And if the checked in bag gets lost, you will be unable to use your PC. I prefer to have everything in one place. Also, pack light. I can carry 4 days worth of clothing in a laptop bag, incl. laptop. Or 2 weeks worth of clothing in a carry on bag with PC and stuff inside. Even a laptop if only 1 bag is allowed. After 2 weeks, I just use the washing service of the hotel or some laundromat. I try to stay away from checked in stuff. It is a hassle, it gets lost, stolen, damaged and you need to wait a whole lot once you land.
I met a guy once, who had 3 pairs of sock and underwear, 3 shirts and 1 pair of spare pants. With this, he could exist for months. He just had too wash and iron every 2 days.
 
You have to be realistic about these things. There are a ton of airlines that will weight limit you to 10kg. Your bag will weigh say about 2kgs or a bit less (but not much less!) and if it's a rolling bag then 3kg is more realistic. Your monitor is 2.5kg, there's just no way it's less but it can run up to 3.5kgs easily. An SFX housing PC case is 3kg, there's no escaping from that. An SFX PSU is 1kg. Just counting the weight of the GPU and CPU heatsinks will take you above the 10kg limit and you didn't pack a sock yet. I guess if you stay within the USA then you are perhaps not weight limited... yet.

The smaller cases are, well, smaller and lighter and you also save on not packing the brick in the carry on. Yes, losing is it is a huge nuisance but what can one do? (Hire a private jet. Business class ticket is not enough. Air Canada weighted my bags once at the business check in desk.)
 
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Whenever I brought my monitor with me, it was checked, not in a carry-on. However, I also was bringing my pillow with me, so the screen was laying flat on a pillow and cushioned on the back by a week's worth of clothing. Worked a treat.

Edit: however, these were, with very minor exceptions, simple flights from point A to point B without having to worry about my bags making a transfer successfully.
 
Yes, I often checked my monitor with it lying on my pillow wrapped in a Geargrip LCD Wide inside a Samsonite Firelite. Might be overkill but it certainly survived and didn't get lost on many, many connections.
 
To avoid the 'lost checked baggage' argument, you could always just carry the power brick in your hand. Sounds dumb, but holding it or putting it in a coat/pants pocket (even just temporarily while being weighed) would get around the weight restriction
 
For what it's worth, I've never experienced people being that strict on the dimensions/weight of carry-on items. I think if you was using something that was obviously meant for hold-luggage, you'd get stopped. But maybe people here have differing experiences.
 
For what it's worth, I've never experienced people being that strict on the dimensions/weight of carry-on items. I think if you was using something that was obviously meant for hold-luggage, you'd get stopped. But maybe people here have differing experiences.

I travel a lot and it's the luck of the draw. Depends on if an attendant notices you really. Not trying to jam it in an overhead or fumbling around with it and drawing attention to yourself helps. Rolly bags are more scrutinized versus something on your back or carried like a small duffel. NEVER use the carryon baskets that purport to tell you the dimensions, those are smaller than you can get away with.

Something unusual like that monitor bag will definitely catch their eye though...
 
For what it's worth, I've never experienced people being that strict on the dimensions/weight of carry-on items. I think if you was using something that was obviously meant for hold-luggage, you'd get stopped. But maybe people here have differing experiences.

Guys... you have not been flying with enough airlines. Most of the time they will not bother with backpacks but rollers very often get sized up and there are some European low cost airlines which always tests your bags (unless you pay the extortion aka priority boarding fee).

NEVER use the carryon baskets that purport to tell you the dimensions, those are smaller than you can get away with.

Bollocks. The United sizers are 10"x15"x23", Delta is 9.9" x 14" x 23" while the published dimensions are 9"x14"x22". Ryanair sizers are 21,2 x 41,2 x 58 cm (a little less on the 58cm because of two rods on the bottom) a bit more than the published 20 x 40 x 55. Noone has smaller sizers than the published, it'd be a huge scandal. And if there's debate it's always the sizer that wins.
 
Bollocks. The United sizers are 10"x15"x23", Delta is 9.9" x 14" x 23" while the published dimensions are 9"x14"x22". Ryanair sizers are 21,2 x 41,2 x 58 cm (a little less on the 58cm because of two rods on the bottom) a bit more than the published 20 x 40 x 55. Noone has smaller sizers than the published, it'd be a huge scandal. And if there's debate it's always the sizer that wins.

Well, I did say "get away with." I'm not talking about the exact dimensions. If you're unsure or you know your bag is going to be a problem don't be the guy trying to stuff it in the basket. I've seen lots of people with what appear to be carry on sized luggage stuffing them in those boxes and told they need to check the bag, just because it didn't slide right in. You never know how eagle eyed your flight crew is going to be. Keep your head down and waltz onto that plane like you own the place!
 
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Well, yes, don't try to stuff your bag in front of the gate agents, that's stupid, but be aware that you can easily be made to do so.
 
Well, my Node 202 fits well into american tourister carry on case and I can wrap it up in some clothes for safety. With monitor though it looks like I'll have to put it in a protective bag and then in a large case with the rest if the clothes for check in. Should be pretty safe on a not long direct domestic flight.
 
i have a prototype carry-on *backpack in the mail for 24" monitor and a Console PC similar to the Node 202. I will take some pictures on how I'm packing.

You basically need a carry-on backpack to have enough space for 24" monitor and the Node 202. You can take a look at this backpack, it's expensive, but it should work https://www.tortugabackpacks.com/products/outbreaker-travel-backpack.

Wow, that is one heck of an expensive backpack. My cabin trolley costed a whooping $15 new from the store and it has wheels so I don't have to lug it around.
 
Wow, that is one heck of an expensive backpack. My cabin trolley costed a whooping $15 new from the store and it has wheels so I don't have to lug it around.

I have a better value alternative for SFF in the works ;)
 
Read down https://hardforum.com/threads/ncase...for-community.1800249/page-14#post-1042950162 wahaha360 says some bags worked for him. No bags ever worked for me for monitors really. Until I got fed up and got a customized Sky Train backpack from Red Oxx -- but what I carry is a Sharp LL-S201A which is only 18.25" across, it's a "20 inch class" aka 19.5" monitor. Plenty for me.

Just wanted to follow up.

This is the my carry-on bag protoype. You can see it below with the Asus VX24AH (2560x1440, IPS, 23.8"), M1 and monitor zipped up. Keep in mind, in order to fit a 24" monitor, there is minimum padding (~5mm), b/c there is no more space.


* I'm sure you noticed that the monitor stand is sticking out. For those using a monitor with VESA, it's less of an issue. For the Asus monitors, you CAN remove the stand, just follow this video guide. I'm going to remove the stand on my VX24AH and attempt to put a VESA bracket into the monitor, will make a video assuming I don't destroy the monitor and fail miserably.


Anyways, a carry-on backpack should fit a 24" monitor and console desktops like Node 202. The following image should help.


* The 15" MacBook Pro (w. Touch Bar) is an approximate size for PCX / Sentry / Node 202.
 
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I am not sure how tall order this is but if you travel with it, would you mind testing it in a few sizers to see it's carry on sized?
 
I am not sure how tall order this is but if you travel with it, would you mind testing it in a few sizers to see it's carry on sized?

I will do it at the airport and take pics, no problem.
 
Just wanted to follow up.

This is the my carry-on bag protoype. You can see it below with the Asus VX24AH (2560x1440, IPS, 23.8"), M1 and monitor zipped up. Keep in mind, in order to fit a 24" monitor, there is minimum padding (~5mm), b/c there is no more space.


* I'm sure you noticed that the monitor stand is sticking out. For those using a monitor with VESA, it's less of an issue. For the Asus monitors, you CAN remove the stand, just follow this video guide. I'm going to remove the stand on my VX24AH and attempt to put a VESA bracket into the monitor, will make a video assuming I don't destroy the monitor and fail miserably.


Anyways, a carry-on backpack should fit a 24" monitor and console desktops like Node 202. The following image should help.


* The 15" MacBook Pro (w. Touch Bar) is an approximate size for PCX / Sentry / Node 202.

The bag looks nice. I still don't understand why you want to carry the LCD. For starter, it is heavy. With the a 7kg Node 202 and 3 kg LCD you are at 10 kg. Anyone weights it, you have a problem. Also every hotel comes with LCDs. You can hook up your PC to those and save yourself from lugging 3 extra kg around extra carefully.
 
The bag looks nice. I still don't understand why you want to carry the LCD. For starter, it is heavy. With the a 7kg Node 202 and 3 kg LCD you are at 10 kg. Anyone weights it, you have a problem. Also every hotel comes with LCDs. You can hook up your PC to those and save yourself from lugging 3 extra kg around extra carefully.
Because 144hz gsync
 
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Because 144hz gsync
Oh I see, if it is not 144 gsync, you eyes will bleed and your brain will melt. Makes perfect sense now.
I'm always happy to see first world problems. Those mean that people have no real world problems anymore, which indicates that the civilization is going to the right direction.
 
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The bag looks nice. I still don't understand why you want to carry the LCD. For starter, it is heavy. With the a 7kg Node 202 and 3 kg LCD you are at 10 kg. Anyone weights it, you have a problem. Also every hotel comes with LCDs. You can hook up your PC to those and save yourself from lugging 3 extra kg around extra carefully.

I get what you mean about the LCD weight and limited selection. It's kind of a chicken or the egg problem. I want a 24", 2560x1440, 144hz, Freesync/Gsync monitor. But I can't talk to Samsung or LG unless I can proof there is demand. So I need to create a bag to show the possibility, so they will entertain the idea of making better 24" monitors. As consumers, we win by having more choices.

It's also for moving (university/college, btw apartments, btw filming sets). I can't speak for the Node 202, but this bag was created with 24" monitor + VESA mounted SFF in mind (*modified NFC S4 Mini , NCASE PCX). Wouldn't it be nice to drop a 24" Monitor + VESA mounted SFF into a bag and just be done.

A carry-on bag for SFF makes SFF more special compare to bigger cases.

Personally, I get the satisfaction of knowing you can't do this with larger mATX/ATX cases :)
 
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Airbnb and others. Not all the world is hotels.
For me, it is :). From 2012 to 2015 I literally spent 4-7 months in various hotels around the world per year. Then, in 2016, the company finally rented me an flat.

Moving (College, btw apts, btw filming sets), wouldn't it be nice to drop a 24" Monitor + VESA mounted SFF into a bag and just be done.
In the last 3 years, I moved 7 times between 4 cities and at least one or two moves are still upcoming for this year (that is not counting hotels). I have to commute 20.000+ km per month in order to see my family for a short time. A year ago, my whole life with all the stuff fit into a simple car. At this point, it fits into two checked in and one cabin bags. I have stuff scattered in three apartments on two continents at the moment. When I move to a new place, I bring the most necessary stuff and buy everything else locally. Stuff like bed, table, chair or LCD. Every apartment I have or spend time in for longer duration has all these facilities. I usually buy 2nd hand and when I move on, I just sell them or trash them. I only keep small items with high sentimental value (I have a mouse from every company I worked for and every site I was stationed at :D). Also, if needed, I store items at the workplace or in those public baggage lockers on train stations etc.
 
For me, it is :). From 2012 to 2015 I literally spent 4-7 months in various hotels around the world per year. Then, in 2016, the company finally rented me an flat.


In the last 3 years, I moved 7 times between 4 cities and at least one or two moves are still upcoming for this year (that is not counting hotels). I have to commute 20.000+ km per month in order to see my family for a short time. A year ago, my whole life with all the stuff fit into a simple car. At this point, it fits into two checked in and one cabin bags. I have stuff scattered in three apartments on two continents at the moment. When I move to a new place, I bring the most necessary stuff and buy everything else locally. Stuff like bed, table, chair or LCD. Every apartment I have or spend time in for longer duration has all these facilities. I usually buy 2nd hand and when I move on, I just sell them or trash them. I only keep small items with high sentimental value (I have a mouse from every company I worked for and every site I was stationed at :D). Also, if needed, I store items at the workplace or in those public baggage lockers on train stations etc.

Then you would know it's b**tch to move with a desktop.

I also do bit of traveling myself. I have 15-22 hours flights. My laptop is great for a lot of things. But the fans are also loud when I'm trying to do CAD renderings or play some games.

I also have a problem with my laptop storage in general. I have multiple VMs, and MacBook storage upgrades prices makes me cringe.

The way I see it, if I need to get something like Alienware 17 R4 or Acer 17X to get desktop-ish performance, I might as well just get a SFF + monitor.
 
Those were the days... I filed for immigrant visa for Canada 2006 November then packed up and left Hungary, and lived out of two suitcases for almost two years, changing cities, countries, continents every 2-3 weeks. My rolling carry on had a GTR Tech GT3 SFF case in it, it was a 13L full ATX (!) case -- at 15.6"x4.25"x12.5" it was a good fit. I also had a tiny, crappy 14" LCD monitor with me. Fun fact: GTR Tech was created by an ex-AMD Sr. Server/Workstation Product Marketing Engineer, Sean Hall.
 
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Then you would know it's b**tch to move with a desktop.

I also do bit of traveling myself. I have 15-22 hours flights. My laptop is great for a lot of things. But the fans are also loud when I'm trying to do CAD renderings or play some games.

I also have a problem with my laptop storage in general. I have multiple VMs, and MacBook storage upgrades prices makes me cringe.

The way I see it, if I need to get something like Alienware 17 R4 or Acer 17X to get desktop-ish performance, I might as well just get a SFF + monitor.
Sometimes I do some programming but mostly just sleep or watch something. Recently I started to use a BoboVR Z4 to watch my stuff on the plane. It works great :D. Like a blindfold and a big screen TV at the same time. It is much more relaxing to travel without seeing the herd of people inside my personal sphere. I would not even dare to do any CAD-ing without a proper mouse and enough space to move it. Just No. I just pack my 10.5L 3.8 kg SFF case (no LCD, keyb or mouse) and I'm done. There is always an LCD, a keyboard and a mouse at my destination. I make sure of that.


Those were the days... I filed for immigrant visa for Canada 2006 November then packed up and left Hungary, and lived out of two suitcases for almost two years, changing cities, countries, continents every 2-3 weeks. My rolling carry on had a GTR Tech GT3 SFF case in it, it was a 13L full ATX (!) case -- at 15.6"x4.25"x12.5" it was a good fit. I also had a tiny, crappy 14" LCD monitor with me. Fun fact: GTR Tech was created by an ex-AMD Sr. Server/Workstation Product Marketing Engineer, Sean Hall.
LOL, It is fun to see that the nomadic traditions of the Hungarians are still pretty much alive. For the last two years I have been commuting between Budapest and Johannesburg (9 hours flight + 5 hours wait + 7 hours flight there and a little less wait back). Before that between Budapest and Paris (by car 15 hours with 2 refuel stops). I still don't know about the next year. I was contemplating Los Angeles but my wife is pretty much against it. Dubai is a possible destination, too but it is just freakin HOT there.
 
I get what you mean about the LCD weight and limited selection. It's kind of a chicken or the egg problem. I want a 24", 2560x1440, 144hz, Freesync/Gsync monitor. But I can't talk to Samsung or LG unless I can proof there is demand. So I need to create a bag to show the possibility, so they will entertain the idea of making better 24" monitors. As consumers, we win by having more choices.

Wait, doesn't Dell make one of those?
 
which dell?
The Dell S2417DG I mentioned in the other thread. It's basically a 24" version of the S2716DG.

1440p 144Hz Gsync ULMB.

Personally I'd want something even smaller for traveling but there's absolutely nothing out there.

Ideally someone would make an eDP-DP adapter for one of those 17" 120Hz Gsync panels, or someone would make a laptop with said panel that has a socketed desktop CPU, no built-in GPU (I don't think MXM is worth it), and an external GPU enclosure w/ full 16x PCIe connection and DP.
 
The Dell S2417DG I mentioned in the other thread. It's basically a 24" version of the S2716DG.

1440p 144Hz Gsync ULMB.

Personally I'd want something even smaller for traveling but there's absolutely nothing out there.

I didn't look into TN panel, this this monitor looks nice.

Ideally someone would make an eDP-DP adapter for one of those 17" 120Hz Gsync panels, or someone would make a laptop with said panel that has a socketed desktop CPU, no built-in GPU (I don't think MXM is worth it), and an external GPU enclosure w/ full 16x PCIe connection and DP.

Someone from SFFN mentioned this:
DIY Perks made a 1080p screen using a 15.6 laptop panel. So I was looking into making maybe a 17.3 inch 4k diy screen, but because there are no forerunners I don't know which lcd controller boards on ebay to use. All the controller boards that can do 4k are chinese, and there is no info on the input lag etc.

There is one custom made Godlike controller board that can do 270hz 1080p -144hz 1440p - 4k 60hz and freesync, from a guy on Hardforum, but he can barely make 3-4 boards at a time. plus they are a bit expensive for some1 to use in a DIY project with no prior experience.

If you want a monitor inside a wheeled carry-on, I think 17" makes sense. I think it will be a neat research project - finding out the MOQ and cost of getting this 17" made. I like dual screen setups anyways, maybe I can do 2x17" monitor in my carry-on...lol

Should we start a separate thread for this 17 monitor idea?
 
Re: S2417DG - yes it is TN, but at least it is 8-bit, has good color reproduction and horizontal viewing angle. Vertical is not as good, but that's a trade-off I'm willing to make for the sake of fast response time.


My (admittedly limited) understanding of eDP is that, besides powering the panel and backlight, the controller board just forwards the DP signal from the GPU to the LCD. There are a few cheap controller boards for the retina iPad LCD.

Cirthix probably the guy making the "Godlike" controller board: https://hardforum.com/search/3492039/ - no idea about pricing or availability, I basically only just found out about this.

I'm actually not really sure if a 17" mobile G-sync display is worth going after. The main thing is that mobile G-sync is completely different from desktop G-sync. While desktop G-sync requires a separate controller (FPGA w/ its own RAM) in the monitor, mobile G-sync is similar or even based on DP adaptive-sync. I doubt any desktop nvidia GPU can drive a mobile G-sync display. Maybe AMD GPUs can? Mobile G-sync also doesn't have ULMB.

Maybe it'd make more sense to make a custom enclosure for the S2417DG instead? Ideally it'd add protection without making it wider and taller.
 
Re: S2417DG - yes it is TN, but at least it is 8-bit, has good color reproduction and horizontal viewing angle. Vertical is not as good, but that's a trade-off I'm willing to make for the sake of fast response time.


My (admittedly limited) understanding of eDP is that, besides powering the panel and backlight, the controller board just forwards the DP signal from the GPU to the LCD. There are a few cheap controller boards for the retina iPad LCD.

Cirthix probably the guy making the "Godlike" controller board: https://hardforum.com/search/3492039/ - no idea about pricing or availability, I basically only just found out about this.

I'm actually not really sure if a 17" mobile G-sync display is worth going after. The main thing is that mobile G-sync is completely different from desktop G-sync. While desktop G-sync requires a separate controller (FPGA w/ its own RAM) in the monitor, mobile G-sync is similar or even based on DP adaptive-sync. I doubt any desktop nvidia GPU can drive a mobile G-sync display. Maybe AMD GPUs can? Mobile G-sync also doesn't have ULMB.

Maybe it'd make more sense to make a custom enclosure for the S2417DG instead? Ideally it'd add protection without making it wider and taller.

Don't want to derail this thread, let's discuss on the bag thread instead.
 
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Just wanted to follow up.

This is the my carry-on bag protoype. You can see it below with the Asus VX24AH (2560x1440, IPS, 23.8"), M1 and monitor zipped up. Keep in mind, in order to fit a 24" monitor, there is minimum padding (~5mm), b/c there is no more space.

W5mQRWZm.jpg
mx9z0zdm.jpg

* I'm sure you noticed that the monitor stand is sticking out. For those using a monitor with VESA, it's less of an issue. For the Asus monitors, you CAN remove the stand, just follow this video guide. I'm going to remove the stand on my VX24AH and attempt to put a VESA bracket into the monitor, will make a video assuming I don't destroy the monitor and fail miserably.


Anyways, a carry-on backpack should fit a 24" monitor and console desktops like Node 202. The following image should help.

AnDmw1Rm.jpg

* The 15" MacBook Pro (w. Touch Bar) is an approximate size for PCX / Sentry / Node 202.

What was the bag used here?
 
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