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Barebone Laptop — Build Your Own, Your Way

A barebone laptop is a laptop you build yourself. You get the chassis, motherboard, screen and battery, and you choose the processor, memory, SSD and operating system. You pay only for what you actually need, you can upgrade later without hassle, and you don’t get a preinstalled Windows license you didn’t ask for.

At Laptop with Linux we sell Clevo and TongFang barebones: ODM platforms designed to be modified by the end user. From €588 for the Clevo V640AU, up to €2,358 for the high-end TongFang X6 AMD.

Browse all barebone laptops →

What's included in a barebone?

What’s included in a barebone laptop?

Every barebone we sell includes:

  • The chassis with hinges, casing, cooling and all ports (USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, etc.)
  • The motherboard with the chipset and integrated graphics controller
  • The screen with connected cables and bezels
  • The battery with charging controller
  • The keyboard in your preferred layout (US, US-international, UK, DE, FR, ES, NL, etc.)
  • WiFi/Bluetooth module (separate or integrated, depending on model)
  • The webcam (or a webcam-free variant on request)

What you add yourself or have us add

  • Processor — on Clevo and TongFang often via a mobile socket or as a BGA variant
  • RAM memory in standard SODIMM slots — not soldered, so always replaceable
  • NVMe SSD in an M.2 slot — most models offer two slots
  • Operating system — choose from 16 Linux distributions, or install Windows yourself

That’s exactly why a barebone is cheaper: you only pay for the components you actually want, in the specs you actually need. No 16 GB RAM in a laptop that does 8 GB workloads. No 1 TB SSD where 256 GB is plenty.

Why a barebone instead of a brand-name laptop?

1. Freedom in components

On a Dell or HP you often get soldered memory, a single SSD slot, and a battery glued in place. With a Clevo or TongFang barebone, you get standard SODIMM slots, two NVMe slots in most models, and a battery you can replace with a screwdriver. 16 GB today, 64 GB in two years. No new laptop required.

2. No Windows tax

A brand-name laptop has the cost of a Windows license baked in, whether you use it or not. With us, you pay for the hardware only. Want Windows after all? Buy a license yourself. Want Linux? We install it for you, or pick “No OS” and do it yourself.

3. Repairs stay possible

Our barebones come from Clevo and TongFang — manufacturers who openly share their designs with service partners worldwide. Spare parts remain available for 5 years after each model’s release. You can have it repaired at any laptop repair shop, not only at the original retailer.

4. Two-year warranty, even with your own components

Building it yourself with your own RAM and SSD? Your warranty stays valid. Opening the laptop does not void it — that’s what Right to Repair looks like in practice.

Which barebones can you configure with us?

We offer nine barebone models, from an entry-level 14-inch ultrabook to a 16-inch workstation.

For daily use and students

  • Clevo V640AU — 14-inch ultrabook, 1.45 kg — from €588
  • Clevo V650AU — 15.6-inch entry notebook, 1.8 kg — from €598

For developers and home office

  • Clevo V560EU — 16-inch with AMD Ryzen, up to 96 GB RAM — from €729
  • TongFang GX4 — 14-inch metal chassis, 2.8K display — from €958
  • TongFang GX5 — 15.3-inch metal chassis, 180 Hz screen — from €1,058

For light gaming and CAD

For privacy-focused users

  • Clevo V560TU — 16-inch with Coreboot firmware — from €1,388

For workstation work and high-end gaming

Not sure which model is right for you? Every barebone is fully configurable through our online configurator. Call or WhatsApp us at +31 85 06 06 000 (Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00 CET) and we'll help you choose.

Frequently asked questions about barebone laptops

What does the term "barebone" actually mean?

A barebone is a laptop that's been "stripped to the bone" — only the essential components that aren't usually replaced (chassis, screen, motherboard, battery) are included. The components you'd typically want to choose or replace yourself (CPU, RAM, SSD, OS) are added by you or by us during configuration.

Is a barebone laptop the same as a laptop without an operating system?

Not quite. A laptop without an OS can be complete (with RAM and SSD installed) but without a preinstalled operating system. A barebone is one step earlier in the process — it also lacks RAM, SSD, and sometimes even the processor. You complete it yourself.

Can I supply or install my own RAM and SSD?

Yes. Send them with your order, or install them yourself after delivery. Opening the laptop does not void the warranty.

Will any Linux distribution work on a barebone?

Practically every modern distribution works. We test each laptop with the distribution you choose before shipping — Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, Manjaro, Debian, Kali, and more.

Do I get a warranty on a barebone I assemble myself?

Yes. We provide a 2-year warranty on all barebones, even when you install your own RAM or SSD. The battery has a 1-year warranty, and a 30-day dead-pixel guarantee applies on delivery.

How long does a barebone laptop last?

That depends on how you use it and how the components age, so we can't guarantee a specific number of years. What we can offer: a 2-year warranty, a battery covered for 1 year, and replacement parts kept available for up to 5 years after each model's release. Because the RAM, SSD, and battery are all user-replaceable, you can extend the laptop's useful life well beyond the warranty period if you choose to.

Who is a barebone laptop intended for?

Anyone who wants control over what they buy. You don’t need to be a developer or a tech expert to buy a barebone — we assemble, install, and test the laptop completely for you. The choices you make (which processor, how much RAM, which SSD, which distribution) you don’t have to execute yourself. We do that in our workshop in the Netherlands.

People who want to supply their own components. Some customers buy RAM and SSDs separately — from us or elsewhere — and either send them along with the order or install them themselves after delivery. That’s possible without voiding the warranty.

People who plan to upgrade later. A barebone is a long-term investment. Start with 16 GB RAM and a 500 GB SSD; double it in two years if your workload grows. With sealed brand-name laptops that means a new laptop. With us it means a screwdriver and an hour of your time.

People who want a Linux laptop that just works. Installing Linux on a random Dell, HP or Lenovo often causes friction — suspend that doesn’t work, a WiFi card that drops connection, a touchpad that only does half the job. Our barebones are tested with the Linux distribution you choose before they’re shipped.

Linux Laptop Assembly And Installation

Ready to configure your barebone laptop?

Browse our full range of Linux laptops, or jump straight into configuring a barebone to your spec. Every order is hand-assembled, tested, and only then shipped from our workshop in the Netherlands via DHL Express — worldwide.

Browse all Linux laptops → Browse Mini Computers →

Need personal advice? Call or WhatsApp +31 85 06 06 000 on weekdays between 9:00 and 18:00 CET, or email our customer service.