I am looking for the parts to build my own laptop as I have done for
many years with PC's. I can only find hard drives, memory, mobile
processors, etc. but I CANNOT find the cases and the motherboards to
fit them. Where can I buy these parts?

Hi -

Probably because they don't exist?  As far as I know, typically the
most you can "custom build" w/ a laptop/notebook is
processor/memory/drives/video card.  Cases/motherboards/screens are
typically proprietary/custom fitted.

You can talk to a rep from http://www.ithinkcomputersinc.com for more
info.

jbf777-ga
GA Researcher

Hi, bmz-ga:

It's a good question, but I suspect jbf777-ga's analysis is correct. 
Fitting screen, motherboard, case, and keyboard is an engineering feat
in a laptop & hence more suited for mass production than for a one-off
operation.

Here's another site that may shed some light:  a well-known
motherboard manufacturer in Taiwan (ASUS) that has recently moved into
laptop production.

http://usa.asus.com/notebook/nbindex.htm

regards, mathtalk-ga

These comments are correct. Unlike a desktop case, where the case is
ATX (or maybe Micro-ATX, etc.) and you simply by standard components
that fix that case size, in a notebook, the motherboard and case are
made by the notebook manufacturer custom to that model. If you want a
more clear example, buy a couple of dead old notebooks. As long as
they're from the same age range, and different brands/models. Take
them apart, and you'll quickly see how each case is customized to the
components in it.

I don't think there is anybody making and sort of empty case and
standard mainboard for notebooks. You can find companies that will
build to order with the specs you want, though. And I have heard of
peolpe painting or modding their cases.

Sorry.