It CAN be done - The Potato PC

In It CAN be done - The Potato PC Linus Tech Tips pushes the boundaries of what counts as a computing build by sandwiching a Windows PC inside a potato. The team kicks off by reframing the challenge as a quest for the ultimate small form factor gaming rig, moving away from tiny Raspberry Pi jokes toward a real system in a tuber. They explain the constraints of potato size, IO access, and the need for effective cooling, setting the stage for a compact Minisforum EM680 as the core computer. The early discussion also leans into practical decisions about cooling options, with their choice to pursue a liquid cooling route and the exploration of conformal coating to protect circuitry from potato juices. This introductory portion frames the project as both engineering stunt and genuine exploration of how far APU-powered PCs can be pushed in tiny form factors. The second segment details the hardware selection and teardown, focusing on how the Minisforum EM680 delivers full PC horsepower in a palm-sized package. They highlight the EM680’s eight Zen 3 Plus cores, RDNA3 GPU, and the promise of support for a compact water cooling loop. As they disassemble and study the board layout, the hosts discuss the IO challenges and the feasibility of routing USB4 for essential connections. Importantly, they illustrate the balance between performance and size, noting that the goal is to fit CPU, memory, storage, and cooling into a potato shell without expanding the footprint. The dialogue emphasizes practical constraints and showcases the iterative problem-solving process behind a non-traditional build. In the third portion, they turn to the potato itself, selecting a suitable tuber and attempting to hollow it out without compromising integrity. They candidly admit earlier attempts at preserving a potato for hardware were unsuccessful, choosing instead to prototype on set. The team experiments with a homegrown cooling solution and then a crafted water block, built from copper and resin, to manage the thermal load. They discuss the engineering decisions around sealing, conformal coating, and the risks of potato juice exposure to electronics. The moment captures the tension between creative spectacle and methodical engineering as they test-fit components and consider airflow alongside liquid cooling. The fourth segment unfolds with the first live boot attempts, including power-up checks, leak trials, and the mounting of a dual 40 mm radiator to achieve passive cooling. After an initial leak, they pivot to resin-printed top parts and a reinforced seal, sharing triumphs and setbacks in equal measure. They reveal the challenges of IO access and port harmony, iterating on mounting holes and tube cutouts while maintaining structural integrity. The narrative here highlights the dramatic, hands-on nature of the project, from a shaky start to a functioning, albeit unconventional, gaming rig inside a spud. In the final stretch, the potato PC becomes demonstrably usable, with peripherals adapted to the tuber chassis and a hash of RAM, storage, and cooling all working together. They test Doom Eternal and Halo Infinite with surprising frame rates for such a compact rig, praising the APU-driven performance and the novelty of hash-powered novelty computing. The closing moments celebrate the community’s reaction, the display of RGB potato aesthetics, and the broader message that even quirky builds can illuminate available technology. The video ends with a nod to future creativity and a tease of related content, underscoring that experimentation and humor can coexist with genuine technical achievement.

Topics · technology · gaming · hardware · entertainment