Arnov Sharma's Custom Case Turns a VisionFive 2 Into a Battery-Powered, Portable Mini RISC-V PC

Maker Arnov Sharma has turned a StarFive VisionFive 2 single-board computer into a miniature desktop PC, designing a custom case inspired by Intel's Next Unit of Computing (NUC) family — and which includes an integrated battery for use in the field.

"[This is] a mini PC powered by the VisionFive 2 single board computer from StarFive, which is equipped with the latest RISC-V-based SoC [System-on-Chip] and runs Debian 11 [Linux]," Sharma explains of the project. "The whole build was constructed from scratch, starting with the model's design in Fusion 360, followed by the 3D printing of each component and assembly to produce a compact, square PC that resembles an Intel NUC."

StarFive unveiled the VisionFive 2 two years ago, promising an upgraded single-board computer built around its newer JH7110 system-on-chip — addressing many of the issues in its original JH7100-based VisionFive board. With four 64-bit RISC-V cores running at up to 1.5GHz and an Imagination Technologies IMG BXE-32-4, the board is ideal for both experimentation with RISC-V and general desktop use — which is where Sharma's build is focused.

The compact PC, which uses a custom-designed chassis 3D-printed in a mixture of transparent and grey PLA, houses a StarFive VisionFive 2 with a 5V fan in the lid to improve airflow for cooling. A look at the rear of the case, where the board's ports are exposed, reveals that the VisionFive 2 is actually lifted off the ground by some considerable distance — to make room, Sharma explains, for an integrated battery pack.

"[The] circuit is a power management board that contains four lithium-ion cell holders, each connected in parallel with a power management IC [Integrated Circuit, PMIC]," Sharma explains. "The board basically boosts 3.7 volts of Li-ion cells to 5 volts."

The build is documented in full, including a downloadable copy of the Fusion 360 design file for the case, here on Hackster.io.