# Slurptop cyberdeck pairs power-tool batteries with x86 MiniPC for portable builds

> **Key takeaway:** The Slurptop is a practical cyberdeck built around a GMKtec x86 MiniPC that runs on swappable power-tool batteries and includes a mechanical keyboard and trackball.

**Published:** 2026-10-24T23:00:51+00:00 
**Source:** Hackaday Hardware 
**Category:** open-hardware 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/slurptop-cyberdeck-pairs-power-tool-batteries-with-x86-minip.html 

## Summary
Hardware hacker [Slurpburgers] has built the Slurptop, a cyberdeck designed for practical work rather than pure aesthetics. The device centers on a GMKtec x86-based MiniPC, chosen for its processing power but with significant battery demands. Power comes from swappable power-tool batteries, a novel approach that provides roughly four hours of runtime per pack. An Uninterruptible Power Supply module enables switching to wall current without shutdown, though batteries must be charged on their factory charger rather than in the device. The input setup features a mechanical keyboard and a trackball built from an old gaming mouse's internals, offering ergonomic advantages over typical laptop keyboards. The construction emphasizes off-the-shelf component assembly in the spirit of classic cyberpunk fiction.

## What powers the Slurptop and how it's built
- **Power source:** The system uses swappable power-tool batteries rather than custom lithium packs or standard laptop batteries, chosen for availability and the cyberpunk aesthetic of modular power.
- **Compute core:** A GMKtec x86-based MiniPC provides the processing platform; this x86 architecture is noted as power-hungry compared to ARM alternatives, driving the substantial battery requirement.
- **Runtime and swap:** Battery life is approximately four hours per pack; swapping requires a brief shutdown as hot-swapping is not supported.
- **AC fallback:** An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) module handles transition to wall power, allowing continued operation without battery when plugged in.
- **Input hardware:** The build incorporates a mechanical keyboard and a trackball constructed from the internal components of a repurposed gaming mouse, departing from conventional laptop input methods.

## Why it matters
The Slurptop demonstrates how open hardware culture continues to push practical, repairable computing form factors that resist the thin-and-sealed trend of consumer laptops. Its use of standardized power-tool batteries and off-the-shelf MiniPC components lowers barriers for makers who want a portable, powerful workstation without proprietary parts. For Linux users and developers, x86-based MiniPCs like the GMKtec typically offer broad distribution compatibility, making this build a viable platform for portable development or field work.