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# Building a cyberdeck --- A practical guide to building a machine to get you out of palantir's grasp # [Live, In-Class Dashboard](https://themultiverse.school/x/cyberdeck-companion#start) ☜ this will guide you during class <!-- toc:auto --> ## Contents - [Step 1: Materials](#Step-1-Materials) - [Single-Board Computer (pick your tier)](#Single-Board-Computer-pick-your-tier) · 1 video - [Screen (pick your size)](#Screen-pick-your-size) · 2 videos - [SD Card (your hard drive)](#SD-Card-your-hard-drive) - [Keyboard & Mouse](#Keyboard-amp-Mouse) - [Power](#Power) · 6 videos - [Look inside before you open it — iFixit](#Look-inside-before-you-open-it-—-iFixit) - [When the guide doesn't cover it — Restarters](#When-the-guide-doesn’t-cover-it-—-Restarters) · 6 videos - [What Can You Actually DO With It?](#What-Can-You-Actually-DO-With-It) - [The $0 Tier: Old Phone with postmarketOS](#The-0-Tier-Old-Phone-with-postmarketOS) - [Budget Tier ($30-80): Orange Pi Zero 3 / Zero 2W](#Budget-Tier-30-80-Orange-Pi-Zero-3--Zero-2W) - [Mid Tier ($70-130): Orange Pi 5B / Orange Pi 5 Pro](#Mid-Tier-70-130-Orange-Pi-5B--Orange-Pi-5-Pro) - [High Tier ($130-350+): Orange Pi 5 Plus / 5 Max](#High-Tier-130-350-Orange-Pi-5-Plus--5-Max) - [Budget Tier Builds (What Does It COST?)](#Budget-Tier-Builds-What-Does-It-COST) · 1 video - [The "Drawer Phone" (~$0)](#The-“Drawer-Phone”-0) - [The "$30 eBay Special" (~$30-50)](#The-“30-eBay-Special”-30-50) - [The "Starter Deck" (~$75-120)](#The-“Starter-Deck”-75-120) - [The "Daily Driver" (~$150-300)](#The-“Daily-Driver”-150-300) - [The "Serious Build" (~$300-500)](#The-“Serious-Build”-300-500) - [The "Bougie Deck" (~$500-1000)](#The-“Bougie-Deck”-500-1000) - [Step 2: Assemble Your Device](#Step-2-Assemble-Your-Device) · 3 videos *30 recordings across this guide. Sections with recordings are marked.* <!-- /toc:auto --> **Session recordings** — newest first - **Sat 22 Aug 2026** *(most recent)* · [▶︎ Recording](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O3bt-gsCYI9MS7HTc2z_vROkLMgD6Te9/view) - **Sat 8 Aug 2026** · [▶︎ Recording](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hxZZLlnCrTDJUY5Me7YsEmEObuQObM8y/view) - **Sat 11 Jul 2026, part 2: Build & Configure** · [▶︎ Recording](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rD38Bj-yKFN4GqHq2chE0NR2bzVhh-AP/view) - **Sat 11 Jul 2026, part 1** · [▶︎ Recording](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nmalVVk-XXNPv2EFHhoFOzEJqiwbQhTY/view) - **Sat 27 Jun 2026: Scavenge** · [▶︎ Recording](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B7DkSP1KOKQdg81HwhggV1k2dA2eCeLx/view) <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/844534dd1d1f44908083cecc7bd2a9f4">▶︎ Cyberdecks: What and Why</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/d8741c76feef498080add364d22553d4">▶︎ Intro to the Multiverse Platform</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/fa5f651e58364861b98dddab05beda35">▶︎ A Note To Beginners</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/0efff79432fa4d2e9761f7b8fccec017">▶︎ AI Coding Companions For Questions</a></p> ## Step 1: Materials [This instagram video will help you figure out what level of cyberdeck you want](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYk-EXhBnQj/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==) You will need at least the following components: ### Single-Board Computer (pick your tier) <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/439a05b2c5c04a478757d982e9968e68">▶︎ SBCs</a></p> > **Note:** Amazon prices for Orange Pi are 2-3x inflated vs direct/AliExpress. Budget accordingly. The official Orange Pi store (orangepi.net) currently does NOT ship to the US due to tariff changes. Amazon with US warehouse stock is the fastest reliable option. > **🔧 The $0 Option:** Got an old phone in a drawer? Flash [postmarketOS](https://postmarketos.org/) on it and skip buying an SBC entirely. postmarketOS turns old phones into real Linux computers — Alpine Linux, `apk` package manager, SSH, nginx, the works. Check if your phone is supported at [wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices](https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices). A [PinePhone](https://pine64.org/devices/pinephone/) ($150 new, cheaper used) is the guaranteed-works option. Your phone already has a battery, a screen, WiFi, and Bluetooth built in — that's most of a cyberdeck right there. **Budget (~$25-80 on Amazon):** - [ ] **Orange Pi Zero 3 4GB** — Allwinner H618, WiFi 5 + BT 5.0 built-in, Gigabit Ethernet — [Amazon $80.99](https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Pi-Allwinner-Computer-Bluetooth/dp/B0C9ZZKNL4) ✅ In Stock - [ ] **Orange Pi Zero 2W 4GB + Expansion Board** — smallest form factor (65x30mm), WiFi built-in, no Ethernet without expansion board — [Amazon ~$24-28](https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Pi-Zero-2W-Expansion/dp/B0CHS8CKYD) - [ ] **Orange Pi Zero 3W 4GB** — NEW (April 2026), octa-core A733, WiFi 6, USB 3.1, 3 TOPS NPU — most powerful budget option — [Amazon ~$50](https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Pi-Zero-3W-Allwinner/dp/B0GX6KZ9C7) **Mid-tier (~$130-230 on Amazon):** - [ ] **Orange Pi 5B 8GB / 64GB eMMC** — RK3588S, WiFi 6 + BT 5.0, 64GB onboard storage — [Amazon $226.99](https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Pi-Development-Compatible-OrangepiOS/dp/B0BYZDX3D6) ✅ In Stock (7 left) - [ ] **Orange Pi 3B 8GB V2.1** — RK3566, WiFi + BT, cheaper but weaker chip (no GameCube/Wii emulation) — [Amazon $136.99](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDP6R2XR) ✅ In Stock (2 left) - [ ] **Orange Pi 5 Pro 8GB** — RK3588S + WiFi 5 + NVMe + dual HDMI + LPDDR5 (best value if you can wait 2-4 weeks) — [AliExpress ~$80-94](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006925440157.html) > ⚠️ The Orange Pi 5, 5 Pro, and 5B 4GB are currently **out of stock on Amazon US**. The **5B 8GB ($226.99)** is the best available mid-tier on Amazon. AliExpress has better prices but longer shipping. **High-tier (~$130-350+ on Amazon):** - [ ] **Orange Pi 5 Max 16GB** — RK3588, WiFi 6E + BT 5.3, LPDDR5, compact form factor — [Amazon $346.99](https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Pi-Max-Development-Frequency/dp/B0GJS4VB67) ✅ In Stock (3 left) - [ ] **Orange Pi 5 Plus 16GB** — RK3588, dual 2.5GbE, HDMI input, 2x HDMI output — [Amazon $353.99](https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Pi-Plus-Frequency-Development/dp/B0GYCTT6YM) ✅ In Stock (5 left) - [ ] **Orange Pi 5 Plus 32GB** — maximum RAM for local AI — [Amazon ~$170-250](https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Pi-Plus-32GB-Development/dp/B0CKP353FY) - [ ] **Orange Pi 6 Plus 32GB** — CIX CD8180, 45 TOPS NPU, next-gen — [Amazon ~$249-269](https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Pi-Plus-Computer-Dissipation/dp/B0FX2MRWSJ) ### Screen (pick your size) > All recommended displays use HDMI video + USB touch — this is board-agnostic and works with any Orange Pi without special drivers. <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/77b494b9b6f44c67b300904e21d0d880">▶︎ Screens</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/a6e6194f3787491ea736ae0ad4147680">▶︎ Why E-Ink Is Gr8</a></p> **Small (3.5"-5"):** - [ ] **Elecrow 5" IPS 1024x600 Touch** — IPS, capacitive touch, headphone jack — [Elecrow.com $32.90](https://www.elecrow.com/5inch-ips-hd-display-c-10240-600-touch-screen-compatible-with-raspberry-pi-bb-black-etc.html) ✅ In Stock - [ ] **Elecrow 5" Touch** — 800x480, built-in speaker — [Amazon $39.99](https://www.amazon.com/ELECROW-5-Inch-Touch-Screen-Monitor-Touchscreen/dp/B07FDYXPT7) ✅ In Stock - [ ] **Waveshare 5" High-Brightness (800 cd/m2)** — best for outdoor use — [Amazon ~$45-55](https://www.amazon.com/Waveshare-High-Brightness-Compatible-Narrow-Bezel-Capacitive/dp/B0DC6N1HWX) **Medium (7") — THE SWEET SPOT:** - [ ] **GeeekPi 7" IPS 1024x600 Touch w/ Dual Speakers** — 500 cd/m2 (brightest 7"), Amazon's Choice — [Amazon $53.99](https://www.amazon.com/GeeekPi-Capacitive-Touchscreen-Dual-Speaker-Free-Driver/dp/B0CJWXWJ6K) ✅ In Stock - [ ] **Waveshare 7EP 1280x800 IPS Touch** — highest resolution 7", optical bonding, 10-point touch — [Amazon $102.99](https://www.amazon.com/waveshare-Capacitive-Resolution-Compatible-VisionFive2/dp/B0DGQC28C3) ✅ In Stock - [ ] **Elecrow CrowVision 7.0" Touch** — **powers your SBC through USB output** (one power source for everything!) — [Elecrow.com $52.50](https://www.elecrow.com/crowvision-7-0-inch-touch-screen-capacitive-portable-hdmi-1024-600-ips-lcd-monitor-rear-fixing-for-raspberry-pi.html) - [ ] **Waveshare 7" HDMI LCD (H)** — hardware brightness/contrast controls, largest community — [Amazon ~$55-65](https://www.amazon.com/7inch-HDMI-LCD-Resolution-Capacitive/dp/B077PLVZCX) - [ ] **Waveshare 7HP-CAPQLED** — quantum dot color, 92% sRGB — [Amazon ~$80-85](https://www.amazon.com/Waveshare-1024%C3%97600-Resolution-Capacitive-Toughened/dp/B08L7ZWJZB) **Large (10"+):** - [ ] **Elecrow 10.1" IPS 1280x800 Touch** — includes acrylic case, capacitive touch — [Amazon $69.04](https://www.amazon.com/ELECROW-Portable-Monitor-1280x800-Raspberry/dp/B0BHHQLKPY) ✅ In Stock - [ ] **Waveshare 10.1" CAPLCD Monitor** — aluminum case, optical bonding, 10-point touch — [Amazon ~$73](https://www.amazon.com/waveshare-Capacitive-Resolution-VisionFive2-Smartphone/dp/B0C2V6J4F9) - [ ] **SunFounder TS-10 10"** — **explicitly lists Orange Pi compatibility**, powers SBC via USB-C PD output — [Amazon $149.99](https://www.amazon.com/SunFounder-Raspberry-1280x800-10-Point-Speakers/dp/B0776VNW9C) ### SD Card (your hard drive) > **2026 NAND Flash Price Warning:** SD card prices have roughly doubled since late 2025 due to AI data center demand consuming global NAND flash. Buy now — prices are still climbing. - [ ] **SanDisk High Endurance 128GB** — 10,000 hours rated endurance, U3/V30. **THE RECOMMENDATION for cyberdeck use** — [Amazon $34.99](https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Endurance-microSDXC-Adapter-Monitoring/dp/B07NY23WBG) ✅ In Stock - [ ] **SanDisk Extreme 128GB** — A2 rated (faster app loading), 190 MB/s read, lifetime warranty — [Amazon $46.50](https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extreme-microSDXC-Memory-Adapter/dp/B09X7BK27V) ✅ In Stock (16 left) - [ ] **Kingston Canvas Select Plus 64GB** — cheapest reputable option, lifetime warranty — [Amazon ~$10-18](https://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Canvas-Select-microSD-100MB-Class/dp/B0FD16QM6Y) - [ ] **SanDisk MAX Endurance 128GB** — 60,000 hours endurance (pMLC mode), 10-year warranty, "set it and forget it" — [Amazon ~$35-70](https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Endurance-microSDXC-Adapter-Security/dp/B084CJ9T2R) > **Pro tip:** If your board has M.2 NVMe (OPi 5, 5 Pro, 5 Plus, 5 Max), boot from NVMe instead — 20x faster, vastly better endurance, ~$15-20 for a 128GB SSD. Use the SD card just for initial setup. ### Keyboard & Mouse - [ ] a keyboard that plugs in via USB (just for setup, not used after) - [ ] **Rii i4 Mini Bluetooth Keyboard w/ Touchpad** — BT + 2.4GHz dual mode, rechargeable — [Amazon $24.99](https://www.amazon.com/Rii-Bluetooth-Keyboard-Smartphones-Mac-Black/dp/B07T13GLY3) ✅ In Stock - [ ] a mouse *or* touch screen *or* stylus screen & stylus ### Power <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/b9b954bc7bba4786ae07a3ec540585be">▶︎ Powering Screens and Handling Boards</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/e7a58fc06e5f4089ac1ed47393953057">▶︎ Power and Math</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/8932911ca208481b826d2f4e471e3e57">▶︎ Safety with Vapes and Lithium</a></p> - [ ] **Baseus 65W 20,000mAh PD Power Bank** — powers any Orange Pi + screen combo all day — [Amazon ~$35-55](https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Charger-Baseus-20000mAh-Charging/dp/B08THFDRSZ) ✅ In Stock - [ ] a way of powering the thing (USB-C cable + any phone charger works for basic setup) --- You should get these components (but you can add them later): <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/7e9856fe5543481db515cdc6ec9b258e">▶︎ Meshnetworking</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/2d00e5c0dc4045f1b797a41af421640c">▶︎ Off-Grid Mesh Networks: Flashing and Encrypting Meshtastic LoRa Nodes</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/8fea303661bc44cfb4193034673cc647">▶︎ Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) and Plasma Antennas</a></p> - [ ] **Heltec V3 Meshtastic LoRa Node** — ESP32-S3 + SX1262, OLED display, includes case + battery. Off-grid mesh networking! — [Amazon $28.79](https://www.amazon.com/Heltec-Development-863-870MHz-ESP32-S3FN8-902-928MHz/dp/B0D1H1FN9Y) ✅ In Stock - [ ] **Alfa AWUS036ACH USB WiFi Adapter** — dual-band, monitor mode + packet injection, Kali Linux compatible — [Amazon ~$65](https://www.amazon.com/ALFA-AWUS036ACH-%E3%80%90Type-C%E3%80%91-Long-Range-Dual-Band/dp/B08SJC78FH) ✅ In Stock - [ ] a container that would make someone say "ok obviously *you* put a cyberdeck in a *[noun]*" (Pelican 1150 ~$60, Harbor Freight Apache 2800 ~$30, or get creative) - [ ] **Samsung 30Q 18650 Batteries + Charger** — 3000mAh per cell, bundle includes charger — [Amazon ~$7/cell](https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Charger-Rechargeable-3000mAh-Samsung/dp/B0BSLT7L1K) ✅ In Stock - [ ] **18650 Battery Holder (2-slot)** — [Amazon ~$6](https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Parallel-Batteries-Soldering-Ltvystore/dp/B07CWK81BJ) ✅ In Stock You can, optionally, get these components: - [ ] **Mini Projector with Battery** — 1080P, built-in battery, Bluetooth — [Amazon ~$69-89](https://www.amazon.com/Projector-Portable-Bluetooth-Automatic-Correction/dp/B0F32MZZVB) ✅ In Stock - [ ] lasers - [ ] swords - [ ] laser swords - [ ] a flamethrower - [ ] **BME280 Weather Station Sensor** — temp/humidity/barometric pressure via I2C, tiny module — [Amazon $8.99](https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Atmospheric-Pressure-Temperature-Humidity/dp/B01N47LZ4P) ✅ In Stock - [ ] **Garmin inReach Mini 2 Satellite Communicator** — off-grid SOS + two-way messaging via Iridium satellite — [Amazon $249.99](https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Lightweight-Satellite-Communicator-Handheld/dp/B09PSKG7C3) ✅ In Stock - [ ] legs - [ ] arms - [ ] tank treads - [ ] a chain - [ ] a cool leather jacket - [ ] even more batteries - [ ] something to puncture the batteries to use as improvised projectiles - [ ] **Google Coral USB Accelerator (AI "Hat")** — Edge TPU for ML inference, plugs into any USB port — [Amazon $139.89](https://www.amazon.com/Google-G950-01456-01-Coral-USB-Accelerator/dp/B07S214S5Y) ✅ In Stock (16 left) - [ ] An actual hat (something jaunty that makes your cyberdeck feel fancy and smooth) - [ ] A hat you can wear the computer in (like google glass but more cyborg and less insufferable) - [ ] **Muse 2 Brain-Computer Interface (USB-C)** — EEG headband, neurofeedback, meditation tracker (check stock — sometimes OOS) — [Amazon $249.99](https://www.amazon.com/MUSE-Meditation-Biofeedback-Responsive-Neurofeedback/dp/B0FG8KSDRL) - [ ] **NeuroSky MindWave Mobile 2** — single-electrode EEG with developer SDK, cheaper BCI option — [Amazon $129.99](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CXN8NKX) ✅ In Stock - [ ] **F450 Quadcopter Frame Kit** — mount your SBC on a drone — [Amazon $21.99](https://www.amazon.com/YoungRC-4-Axis-Airframe-Quadcopter-Landing/dp/B0776WLHX7) ✅ In Stock - [ ] A skateboard - [ ] **Rotary Encoder Wheels (KY-040, 5-pack)** — for custom scroll wheels, volume knobs, etc. — [Amazon ~$8-10](https://www.amazon.com/Cylewet-Encoder-15%C3%9716-5-Arduino-CYT1062/dp/B06XQTHDRR) ✅ In Stock - [ ] A remote control for the skateboard - [ ] A camera (to see where you're going on the skateboard) - [ ] A pole that can extend and retract to put the camera on - [ ] Don't forget the flamethrower from before (gotta protect that skateboard and the "hat") - [ ] A database of your enemies faces and the information you got from your osint research - [ ] ROMs from GoG — DRM-free retro games, legal and ready to emulate — [Browse GoG.com](https://www.gog.com/) - [ ] Ageless Linux — privacy-focused distro — [Visit agelesslinux.org](https://agelesslinux.org/) Many of these items can be [scavenged](https://docs.themultiverse.school/BvvEwvSUTyeMpfJw6ssqYA) ### Look inside before you open it — iFixit Someone has already taken your exact model apart and photographed every step. Read the teardown *before* you commit a screwdriver. - **[Teardowns](https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown)** — step-by-step photos of what's inside and how it separates - **[Device repairability scores](https://www.ifixit.com/Device)** — 1–10. Decide if a cheap broken unit is worth buying *before* you bid - **[Repair guides](https://www.ifixit.com/Guide)** — free guides for screen, battery and port swaps - **[Right to Repair](https://www.ifixit.com/Right-to-Repair)** — they're the advocacy org behind the laws, not just a parts shop Two things a teardown tells you that decide a salvage job: whether the battery is **glued or tabbed** (which decides how dangerous it is), and whether the screen is a standard **eDP/MIPI panel** you could drive with a ~$15 controller board, or something proprietary you can't. ### When the guide doesn't cover it — Restarters **iFixit is the documentation. [Restarters](https://restarters.net/) is the people.** With salvaged hardware the guide usually *doesn't* cover your particular fault, and what you actually need is someone who has met it before. Run by The Restart Project — free, global, no group membership required. 150,000+ items fixed so far. - **Forum + repair wiki** — post your symptom and get diagnosed by people who fix things weekly. The fastest route when a board powers on and shows nothing. - **Find a repair group near you** — community repair events have the hot-air station, the multimeter and the bench supply you don't want to buy. - **Log what you fixed** — feeds right-to-repair advocacy with real failure data. Your dead phone becomes an argument. <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/6f72201cc3284eb0b19567f605656fda">▶︎ Legal: Right To Repair</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/904f81ce2bcb4b1d9841da65bb00447a">▶︎ On Sourcing Materials</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/b12b897103934fcc9cc169507df5482e">▶︎ On Ethical Sourcing</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/ad9efaa5e5104f69bd3afab1032f6256">▶︎ Community Sourcing and Shared Resources</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/2c52ed5cb7d04ae6995b948a4ea8a621">▶︎ Cannibalizing Hardware: Dangers and Cooling</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/d6eb119fb28d4ea689f84d3c4cf54695">▶︎ Student Workshop QA- OS Options, 3D Printing Cases, Device Scavenging, Thermal Airflow, Drive Recognition Errors</a></p> --- ## What Can You Actually DO With It? ### The $0 Tier: Old Phone with postmarketOS **Operating Systems:** [postmarketOS](https://postmarketos.org/) (Alpine Linux — real Linux, real package manager, real services) **What it does well:** - Local web server (nginx, Python, Node.js) — serve community hubs, offline wikis, Kiwix - SSH server — remote into your phone from a laptop - Mesh networking companion — pair with Meshtastic, run as a gateway node - Always-on service box — plug it in, forget about it, it serves pages forever - Battery-backed server — power goes out, your phone keeps going **What it doesn't do:** - No emulation (this isn't what it's for) - Slower than an Orange Pi for compute-heavy tasks - WiFi hotspot mode is device-dependent (use a travel router for the AP) **Best for:** Headless infrastructure nodes, community servers, companion devices in a cyberdeck build. Pair a postmarketOS phone with an Orange Pi — the phone handles comms and local services while the Pi handles the display and heavy lifting. > **The pitch:** You already own the hardware. It's in a drawer. Flash it, and it's part of your cyberdeck. ### Budget Tier ($30-80): Orange Pi Zero 3 / Zero 2W **Operating Systems:** [Armbian](https://www.armbian.com/orangepizero3/) (best), [DietPi](https://dietpi.com/) (lightest, 32 MiB idle), Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12 **Emulation (Allwinner H618 / Cortex-A53):** | System | Performance | |--------|------------| | NES, GB/GBC, SMS, Game Gear | Perfect | | SNES, Genesis, GBA | Perfect | | PS1 | Good (most games full speed) | | N64 | Partial (Mario Kart OK, GoldenEye struggles) | | Dreamcast | ~9 games playable | | PSP | Light titles only | | GameCube/PS2/Wii | Not viable | **Best emulator setup:** [Batocera](https://batocera.org/) community image or RetroArch on Armbian ### Mid Tier ($70-130): Orange Pi 5B / Orange Pi 5 Pro **Operating Systems:** [Armbian](https://www.armbian.com/orangepi5/) (Standard tier, 14+ images!), Ubuntu Noble 24.04, [DietPi](https://dietpi.com/) ("fastest SoC tested"), [Batocera](https://batocera.org/) (official support), [FydeOS](https://fydeos.io/) (ChromeOS), Android 12 **Emulation (RK3588S / Cortex-A76 + A55):** | System | Performance | |--------|------------| | Everything through PS1 | Perfect with upscaling | | N64 | Perfect at 1080p with 3x upscale | | Saturn, Dreamcast | Full speed | | PSP | **Perfect at 4x resolution** (God of War at 1080p/60fps) | | GameCube | Good at native res (Wind Waker, Smash Bros full speed) | | Wii | Good (most titles full speed) | | PS2 | Mixed (Persona 3 perfect, Gran Turismo unplayable) | | 3DS | Game-dependent (Zelda OoT 3D at 60fps, Pokemon Sun/Moon 25-30fps) | **Emulation tip:** Use Dolphin standalone (not RetroArch core) for GameCube/Wii. On RK3588, Android often gives better emulation performance than Linux for GPU-heavy emulators. ### High Tier ($130-350+): Orange Pi 5 Plus / 5 Max Same emulation as mid-tier (same RK3588 SoC), but with: - 16-32GB RAM for local AI models (Qwen2.5-7B at 5-7 tok/s, 14B at 2-4 tok/s) - NVMe storage (20x faster than SD card) - Dual displays, HDMI capture (5 Plus), 2.5GbE networking - 6 TOPS NPU: YOLOv8 at 65 FPS, Piper TTS at 6.7x real-time **Best OS:** Armbian with KDE Plasma or GNOME (8GB+ handles full desktop easily) --- ## Budget Tier Builds (What Does It COST?) <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/3bf5beffefbb42dd861c2cad5085e2b4">▶︎ Budget Tier Builds</a></p> ### The "Drawer Phone" (~$0) Old phone from your drawer + postmarketOS + a keyboard. The phone already has a screen, battery, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Flash postmarketOS, plug in a USB keyboard, and you have a pocket Linux computer. No purchase required. Add a travel router ($20) for WiFi AP mode and it's a community server. See the [Solarpunk Automation](https://docs.themultiverse.school/solarpunk-automation) course for what to do with it. ### The "$30 eBay Special" (~$30-50) Used Zero 2W 1GB + used 3.5" SPI screen + used 32GB SD + phone charger. Runs Linux CLI, emulates through PS1. Barely usable but it boots. ### The "Starter Deck" (~$75-120) OPi Zero 3 4GB + generic 7" HDMI + Samsung EVO 128GB SD + power bank + mini keyboard. Browses the web, emulates through PS1/N64, all-day battery. ### The "Daily Driver" (~$150-300) OPi 5B 8GB + Waveshare 7" touch + 256GB SD + Baseus PD power bank + active cooling. GameCube/Wii emulation, real development work, touchscreen interaction. ### The "Serious Build" (~$300-500) OPi 5 Max 16GB + AMOLED display + NVMe SSD + mechanical keyboard + Meshtastic node + Pelican case. Local AI, mesh networking, field-deployable. ### The "Bougie Deck" (~$500-1000) OPi 5 Plus 32GB + 14" OLED + 1TB NVMe + RTL-SDR + Alfa WiFi + Meshtastic + 8BitDo controller + dual power banks. The war machine. Runs 32B AI models, captures HDMI, dual 2.5GbE, radio monitoring. --- ## Step 2: Assemble Your Device Now that you've concocted some sort of questionably safe object in your mind, let's make your mad scientist dreams come to life! <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/bdb2ded69a55474dbdefb3cc1d6b1f39">▶︎ 3D Printable Components</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/c97e48c03efe4dd0b2e1e500368ec463">▶︎ Wiring</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/1507f82a364146cd98016580f9556e9b">▶︎ Cables</a></p> #### Step 2a: How Do You Want It To Look? You'll need to figure this part out ON YOUR OWN because that is THE ART: 1. Where is the screen going? 2. Where is the battery going? 3. Where is the single-board computer going? 4. How do you protect the sensitive parts of it from being squished accidentally by the other components? 6. How do you keep your keyboard and mouse handy? You'll need to assemble, glue, or stitch together your computer. #### Step 2b: Let's Hook It Up! Most of the time, you just plug the single board computer into the USB power supply, and the screen into the same power supply. **Connector notes:** - Budget boards (Zero 2W, Zero 3) have **micro HDMI** — you need a micro-HDMI to HDMI adapter (~$5, [search Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=micro+hdmi+to+hdmi+adapter)) - Mid/high boards (5, 5B, 5 Pro, 5 Plus, 5 Max) have **full-size HDMI** — direct cable connection - All displays recommended above use **USB for touch** — plug-and-play, no drivers needed on Linux - Some displays (CrowVision 7", SunFounder TS-10) can **power your SBC through their USB output** — one power source for everything! Keep a handy extra cable for charging a wireless mouse and keyboard! <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/19c74f3dbf3741aeb742f2a83c2a6726">▶︎ Hardware Setup: Displays, Adapters & Wi-Fi Pre-Configuration</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/44fa9c671a364b39a9997b41f00b53c6">▶︎ Hardware Troubleshooting: Boot, Display & Touchscreen Setup</a></p> #### Step 3: Turn it on! Ok, we're halfway there! Now we just have to configure the operating system. <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/eb03b4ce5ee44b1e82ef087f1f15e03e">▶︎ Choosing an OS for Your ARM Cyberdeck</a></p> **Recommended OS by board:** | Board | Best Desktop OS | Best Headless | Best Gaming | |-------|---------------|---------------|-------------| | Zero 2W/3 (H618) | Armbian XFCE | DietPi | Batocera (community) | | 5/5B/5 Pro (RK3588S) | Armbian KDE Plasma | Armbian Server | Batocera (official!) | | 5 Plus/5 Max (RK3588) | Armbian GNOME | Armbian Server | Batocera (official!) | | **Old phone (postmarketOS)** | **Phosh / Plasma Mobile** | **Alpine Linux CLI** | **Not applicable** | **Where to get OS images:** - [Armbian for Orange Pi](https://www.armbian.com/download/?tx_maker=xunlong) — community-built, always up to date - [DietPi Downloads](https://dietpi.com/#downloadinfo) — lightest possible Linux - [Batocera Downloads](https://batocera.org/download) — boots straight into retro gaming - [Orange Pi Official Images](http://www.orangepi.org/html/serviceAndSupport/index.html) — vendor Armbian fork (community images are usually better) - [postmarketOS](https://postmarketos.org/) — real Linux on old phones (250+ devices). Flash with [pmbootstrap](https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Pmbootstrap). Your phone becomes a pocket server with a built-in battery, screen, and WiFi. > **Tip:** Avoid Orange Pi vendor OS images when possible — they're an outdated Armbian fork on stale kernel 5.10. Use community Armbian or DietPi instead. <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/53677ffae9c3456d88f57f8242f4c6f2">▶︎ AI Terminal Commands for Media Flashing</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/f7c5ae343a4b4984ad64d26fba30d521">▶︎ Installing PostMarket OS on a Pixel 3 XL & Debugging Mindset</a></p> #### Step 4: Make it cute ✨ Ok arguably the most IMPORTANT step to making your computer look COOL: setting up a SWEET THEME on the operating system. That's what makes it look like the movies! [A bunch of inspiration for you!](https://docs.themultiverse.school/eYN6JGTASnGGYRTjALsuuw) #### Step 5: Install cool open source stuff! - [openalternative.co](https://openalternative.co) — discover open source alternatives to every commercial app - [RetroArch](https://www.retroarch.com/) — unified emulator frontend for all retro systems - [Batocera](https://batocera.org/) — dedicated retro gaming OS (boots straight into EmulationStation) - [Armbian](https://www.armbian.com/) — the best Linux for ARM boards - [llama.cpp](https://github.com/ggml-org/llama.cpp) — run local AI models on your cyberdeck (use `-t 4` for A76 cores only) - [Piper TTS](https://github.com/rhasspy/piper) — text-to-speech that runs on the RK3588 NPU at 6.7x real-time - [faster-whisper](https://github.com/SYSTRAN/faster-whisper) — speech-to-text for ARM (2-3x faster than whisper.cpp) - [Cloudflare Tunnel](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/connections/connect-networks/) — expose your cyberdeck to the internet from behind any network, no port forwarding. Add [Cloudflare Access](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/access-controls/applications/http-apps/self-hosted-public-app/) to control who can reach it. Free tier, automatic HTTPS. <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/2d651643ad7f410c97ef3cadc79c29f8">▶︎ Student Workshop QA: Home Assistant, SSH, Local AI & Case Design</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.loom.com/share/b5fb62bf44af4e52b93b46bf004cfd85">▶︎ Q and A</a></p> # Step 🏴‍☠️ Stop paying peter thiel any money! Steal this whole curriculum and turn it into zines and friendship Teach everyone they're free and always have been Make more cyberdecks with your friends who are living in the past BUY ONLY INDIE GAMES YALL THERE ARE A BILLION INDIE DEVS YOU NEVER NEED TO PAY ANY OF THESE JERKS AGAIN