DIY

Framework is raising laptop prices again as DDR5 RAM costs spike amid a global memory shortage, while unusually urging buyers to source their own modules if they can find cheaper deals. The company frames the move as a pass-through of supplier increases rather than profit-taking, warning of further hikes ahead and promising to lower prices once costs normalize.

The unprecedented memory chip shortage isn't going to end anytime soon, but that doesn't mean DDR5 RAM sticks couldn't be cheaper than they are currently selling for. Modders are now seeing the DIY method as somewhat of a viable approach.

The new C500 can apparently process a wide variety of materials with relative ease. This CNC machine promises many possibilities, such as the custom production of spare parts or even completely original creations.

The K-100 is a 3D printer that supposedly plays in a completely different league than typical 3D printers and should therefore be suitable for the production of high-quality components. The actual printing technology is hardly comparable to that of widespread 3D printers that use filament or resin.

A new 3D printer is launching with 12 nozzles and is primarily intended to offer advantages when printing with multiple filaments or different colors. It’s also supposed to be very precise and offers a relatively large build volume.

Lucas Sifoni built a pocket-sized, 3D-printed Dobsonian telescope around a 76 mm mirror, and was kind enough to detail its compact mechanical design, materials, optical testing, and limits, showing it is small but genuinely functional.

An enterprising developer has published a new free browser-based tool for splitting large 3D models into multiple parts, replete with a built-in jigsaw generator and an impressive number of quality of life features. The splitter is 100% free to use, and the dev says that it is also privacy-focussed, with all of the processing happening locally.

The GPD Win 5 has undergone major design changes compared to its predecessor, with the external battery being one of them. A modder who goes by PureDIY has now shown off a mod for the gaming handheld that fixes many design complaints.

Optimum, the YouTuber infamous for his minimalist gaming setups, has redesigned his custom 3D printed gaming mouse, the Zer0mouse, with all-new materials and a claimed massive increase in durability. The Zer0mouse project is still 3D printed on Formlabs printers, but the combination of structural tweaks and the new, more flexible printing resin, make it more durable.

OCuLink is very rarely seen even on high-end laptops, so it is quite impressive to see a member of the Framework modular laptop community making their own full bandwidth OCuLink solution for external eGPUs. With full PCIe 4.0 X8 speed enabled, the custom OCuLink module running an RTX 4070 desktop GPU is just 1-2% slower than the desktop implementation.

The Banana Pi BPI-CM6 is an SBC, precisely a compute module, which sports an octa-core RISC-V CPU and 8 GB of memory. Intended to be an alternative to the Raspberry Pi CM4, the BPI-CM6 might be a great choice for RISC-V enthusiasts.

This relatively affordable add-on kit allows users to effortlessly convert a conventional 3D printer into a metalworking machine. It uses a fairly straightforward process that doesn’t require hazardous chemicals.

The Dubai Police, in collaboration with Luke & Mike Bell, have broken the world record for the fastest ground speed by a battery-powered, remote-controlled quadcopter, achieving a top speed of 580 km/h (360.4 mph).

An insane DIY drone built by Ben Biggs has broken the unofficial world record for the fastest drone with a mind-boggling top speed of 603 km/h (375 mph), surpassing the previous record by 18 km/h (7 mph).

CheckMag Fans are already reimagining Valve’s new Steam Machine with creative, funny and throwback concept skins. From dynamic displays to meme cubes, these community-made designs are an indicator of how anticipation for the Steam Machine is high and live.

A custom Seiko mod called the "Tarkin Timepiece" features a handmade Star Wars dial, two-tone lume, lightsaber hands and an exposed NH38 balance jewel. Photos show the layered wafer-style design and the builder’s careful movement work.

While Android custom ROMs are becoming increasingly complex and scarce to install and run on modern flagship devices, old hardware can still be given new life with the help of a custom ROM. That is precisely what YouTuber Mark Watt Tech did to spare the Amazon Echo 5 from e-waste status and upgrade its feature set.

DIY engineer and YouTuber CNC Dan has made a major overhaul of a basic VR headset he built a while ago, adding 6 DoF and wireless controllers. While not perfect, the result is impressive.

A YouTuber has built a gaming PC inspired by the upcoming Steam Machine, trying to match its specs. Though not as powerful as the Steam Machine, the custom PC delivers solid gaming performance in Elden Ring, Spider-Man 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and others.

Awekeys looks to be planning to make a set of metal keycaps for low profile mechanical keyboards, which would provide a more premium, more durable keycap option for ordinary wireless low-profile keyboards and exotic ergonomic split keyboards alike.

DIY engineer Erik Spijk has successfully built and flown what he calls “the flying little brother of the Vegas Sphere” — a drone named Zippy. Zippy is a drone with a POV (persistence of vision) display.

JoeScotto, a YouTuber and mechanical keyboard enthusiast known for some outlandish keyboard designs, has revived T9 typing with a fully 3D-printed, hand-wired mechanical keyboard. The tiny project has been published online for anyone to build the project for free, and it uses free, open-source firmware to achieve the T9 dialling features.

The Arduino Nesso N1 is a new and compact development kit. This device comes with a touchscreen, its own sensors and various options for wireless connectivity.

The Makera Z1 is an entry-level desktop CNC machine designed for cutting softer materials, like wood, plastics, composites, and softer non-ferrous metals. However, as a challenge, and to show what the Z1 is capable of, Makera released a video showing the Z1 machining a titanium part surprisingly effectively.

Sora 2 builds on OpenAI’s text-to-video foundation but adds sharper motion tracking, more coherent lighting, and stronger “world simulation.” In simpler terms: it’s much better at making objects behave as if they belong in the same physical space.

Most DIY laptops, palmtops or cyberdecks require significant engineering skills to build. However, this DIY palmtop looks to fix all that with off the shelf parts and a minimal, simple design that could be achieved by anyone with a 3D printer.

The Open Book Touch is a new e-reader with a built-in backlight. The relatively compact device has physical buttons and is supposed to convince customers with its open architecture.

A fan decided to create a first-person view mode mod for Silent Hill 2 and while the game already sports rim atmosphere in third person, adding this feature makes for a terrifying result.

The Kode Dot is a new handheld device that can be used as a kind of digital toolkit and is extremely versatile. The device also allows external sensors and actuators to be connected.

A post on Reddit has shown an Asus Astral RTX 5080 GPU being used as a skateboard. There is very little information about the state of the GPU itself, but the skateboard seems to work well.

CheckMag Grok’s Imagine app turns static photos into six-second AI videos that range from mind-blowing to mildly disturbing—and it’s free to try. Notebookcheck did just that. Update: Edits made in response to readers' comments.

A Reddit user has given the PlayStation 3 Slim a fresh lease of life with a hand-built “PS3 Slim Pro” mod. Blending creative engineering and silent performance, the build has caught the attention of the r/PS3 community.

CheckMag Wooting recently released the Lekker Tikken switches, the world's first closed-bottom Hall effect switch with a full 4 mm of travel. In this mini switch review, we compare the Lekker Tikkens to the Lekker V2 switches in the Wooting 80HE to see if the new Lekker Tikken switch is a worthwhile upgrade.

A 4K texture pack is available for free for Resident Evil 5 and offers numerous improvements. However, you will need to follow the installation steps carefully to avoid any problems.

The versatile XLaserlab E3 is designed for a wide range of materials and is supposedly beginner-friendly at the same time. The laser is relatively compact, offers modern specs and is currently available at a launch discount.

A gaming PC that doubles as a kitchen appliance? SignalRGB has built a fully functional all-in-one rig inside a microwave, and it’s giving the $2,000 RGB-packed machine away to one lucky winner.

Tech YouTuber Macho Nacho Productions has brought the legendary 2000 Xbox prototype back to life – this time as a fully functional console rather than just a glowing aluminum shell.

Reddit user bharms27 is reviving cassette nostalgia with a 3D-printed NFC player. Tapes trigger Spotify playlists via tags, while the phone is the actual player. The project features custom shells and app, open hardware roots and retro styling.

YouTuber Chris Doel has managed to build a battery pack out of lithium batteries from 500 disposable vapes, and successfully used it to power his house. He built the battery pack using 3D-printed frames, with inspiration from an EV battery pack lying in his workshop.

Fast travel is out, and the open road is in. A new Skyrim mod transforms the way players journey through Tamriel, finally allowing players to sit back and take in the views on their way to their next quest.

DIY engineer and YouTuber Mike Bell has successfully built and flown a drone powered directly by solar energy, with no batteries or any form of energy storage device. He achieved this by attaching a slat made up of 27 individual solar panels onto a carbon-fiber drone.

YouTube channel Not From Concentrate (NFC) has unveiled the Tiny PS5 Redux, a refined and compact redesign of Sony’s console that fans can now build themselves. The project focuses on better thermals, portability, and accessibility, with a step-by-step guide available through the NFC store.

Prusa, in partnership with Filament2, has just announced a revolutionary 'liquid filament' and toolhead for its Prusa XL 3D printer that allows it to print using fluid materials like silicone, epoxy and even chocolate, at a vastly lower cost than existing alternatives. The demo shows it printing flexible silicone parts with a standard filament spool and printhead setup, with the same precision as seen in typical FDM printing.

A DIY camera built from an optical mouse sensor can capture 30x30-pixel grayscale images. It has 64 color modes, multiple photo styles, FRAM memory, USB dumps, and boasts hand-packed construction using 3D-printed parts.​​

YouTuber Hoarder Sam, known for his DIY drone-building projects and drone reviews, has uploaded a video of a functional semi-autonomous drone equipped with GPS and compass. The drone cost about $220 to build, save for some 3D-printed parts a servo.

Prusa has announced a new 3D printer called the Core One L as well as a limited-edition Signature Oak edition of the Core One. The former is a larger variant of the Core One with some improvements.

A Reddit user has given their Game Boy Advance SP a massive battery upgrade by connecting it to a DeWalt power pack from a cordless drill. The handheld now looks like something you'd find on a construction site – and can theoretically run for almost 17 days straight.

A Framework user built a great-looking custom gaming console from a 13-inch mainboard, Oculink eGPU, and 3D-printed case. It's a great representation of how modular DIY design and active cooling can turn mystery parts into a powerful, portable PC.