Gadgets for deployment?

[attworth]

Hey guys. I'm closing in on about 6 months before deployment. I'm looking at picking up some gadgets to have over there so I don't go crazy. I'm not positive where I'm going yet, so I'm not real sure about even getting internet. If I do get it, it'll be relatively moderate in speed from what I hear.

Here's what I have now and what I do.

PS3 - I rarely play this anymore. I bore of console games, particularly when they have a set story that's really short. I'm more into online play
My gaming desktop - I play Guild Wars 2 almost exclusively right now. It's a massive online game with tons of interaction.

For space requirements, I can't take my desktop with me. I've thought about building a mini-itx, or getting a mac mini, then just buying a monitor and peripherals when I get down-range. I could also get a decent gaming laptop for around 1200$, but it might get trashed.

I've also thought about picking up another PS3 or an Xbox. I can play with buddies at work, or link up with friends back home if I get some decent internet.

Was also considering a PS Vita, but haven't had a handheld since the old game boys of the late 80s, early 90s.

I'll probably bring my cell phone for music while I sleep, taking photos, etc.

I know we have some tech junkies here, so let me know what you think.

[attworth]

So I decided what to do for now. This has been an idea of mine for a while, just haven't really known how to do it.

Take a pelican case. Put a computer in it.



That's an old laptop LCD.



And that's my current desktop.

I obviously haven't mounted anything yet. I'm planning a wood frame for the monitor up top, along with some small speakers. They sell adapters on ebay to convert the weird laptop LCD to an HDMI. Then I'll build an overlay around the monitor and wiring and other junk up top. Maybe some sheet metal, not sure yet. All the mounts will be isolated with rubber.

For the computer, I plan to cannibalize my case for the motherboard tray and power buttons. I think I'll mount the tray straight to the pelican case with rubber under the tray. I'm going to have to run a ground wire from the power supply to the board to ground it. I'm looking into smaller power supplies and probably getting a SSD to save a bit of space. I'm also going to need a small CPU cooler (thinking water cooled) and a low profile video card. The top of the computer area will be plexi glass of some sort. Still working out airflow, but it'll have some somewhere.

The idea is to not cut into the case at all and ruin it's water proof-ness.

The great thing is, the LCD will have HDMI with speakers hooked to it, so it'll be able to be hooked to a console or other gadget later on as well.

[Kitzy]

Though I like your way of thinking, I do believe you have too much free time on your hands.  Haha.  That's cool though. 

[attworth]

Though I like your way of thinking, I do believe you have too much free time on your hands.  Haha.  That's cool though.

I wish that was the case. Working 12 hour days right now, taking 3 college courses (8 week sessions, so very fast paced) and prepping for a new baby. I could use some free time.

I'm open to any suggestions. I think I'm going to swap the motherboard to the left side and the PSU to the right, that way I can fit the radiator for my CPU cooler in between the PSU and the HDD (or SSD).

[Too Stroked]

If you think you need more free time now, wait until the baby shows up!

[Blown F-150]

Looks pretty great. Not sure if they have the Horsepower you need for gaming, but I have seen some used toughbooks for a decent price.

[attworth]

Looks pretty great. Not sure if they have the Horsepower you need for gaming, but I have seen some used toughbooks for a decent price.

They're generally way out of my price range for good ones.