mcnannay

After tossing around the idea of getting a computer in my car i've come to a decision of how to do it. I looked around at some 12 volt systems, TRC offers one for like $1300, and the specs were not very good. So what if i were to make my own...

-Use a shuttle motherboard ( they are smaller)
-Im still trying to locate a DC to DC power supply, can't fine one. If not ill just use an inverter
-Probably put in a 120gb hard drive for all my music and videos...
-Locate the dvd-rom up front (computer in back or glove box)
-6 or 7 inch monitor where stock radio is...
-Touch pad style mouse (like on laptops) mounted in console
-Small Keyboard mounted on glovebox door (for emergency use)


I could probably do all this for around $600, a little more than what i was planning on spending for a head unit and a decent equalizer which could all be controlled by the pc now...
From there you could do lots with it, GPS Navigation, on board diagnostics...wireless internet or whatever. I think it would be really cool to do...

So my costs would be like cut in half from the other computer, performance almost doubled...and one sweet system

slomo85

iTrader: (8)

I plan on using an epia micro motherboard, custom building it into the center console. What a fun project, huh? A lot of planning to be done there, with fitment and all. Hardest part? Making it look stock...later

mcnannay

haha, yeah i don't want to chop up too much, id rather modify the computer to fit the car, not the other way around, we'll see how it comes out

RotaryRyan

Thats a sweet idea. my bro had a laptop monted in his car for awhile

DCrosby

There are a couple of threads on this allready, most of which point to mp3car.com where most of your headaches have allready been taken care of...

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=carputer

Ingraham

I would like to do the same thing but be able to remove the computer amp and subwoofer for autocrossing. Was thinking about going with a mac laptop and usb to the lilliput touch screen. What do ya think

The Spyder

iTrader: (8)

Yeah I have done several of these is friends cars.
Heres what you need:

Via MATX 1gig motherboard (video, sound, nic, usb, firewire built in)($150)
512 mgs pc 2100 DDR ($67, mircon, crucial, corsair)
120gig Seagate Harddrive ($100- seagate= the best)
PCI wireless NIC ($30 linksys is good)
90w 12v powersupply ($cant remember theres a bunch out there)
7inch touchscreen LCD ($300)
MATX case $50 ish

Theres software you can use for the touchscreen.
a $50 GPS unit also works great for GPS navigation. Of corse you need the software.

The 7inch LCD will fit in the DD stereo location. Im fiberglassing the latest one in.

If you want help, just ask, I had to write this very fast.

SiGmA_X

Yup, Spyder did the fiberglass for my Jetta's LCD console That was my setup he listed, but I had a 80GB IBM harddrive cuz I had it lying around. The *best* PSU is the OPUS Solutions 150w 12v one. If you want shitloads of info, www.mp3car.com has it all

mcnannay

awesome guys, thanks for the info, that was definitly the kind of response i was looking for, and i think i remember reading that post on the carputer awhile back, should have looked into it more...


more to come when i get around to puttin it in

cosmicbang

You might want serial ports for cell phone, GPS, and EMS interface, unless you like using the USB converters.

Red-Rx7

Someone has some pictures of my setup... I saw many people snapping shots at RR.

I had my monitor molded into my dash din area, and have my computer molded in the divider. I have a 7" touchscreen monitor, and run a GPS system.

Go to www.deluo.com and speak to Paul. Tell him Mike with the RX-7 sent you. He will hook you up on the Deluo GPS system. It is great.

If I have some time, I will take some photos... but I know a few people did; just cant find them.

Magilla

I'm looking at doing the same thing eventually, but I think a laptop is the way to go - then you don't have as many problems with turning the power feed on and off. As for DVDROM, you're going to have to use USB or firewire external cases unless your mobo is less than 2 ft from the dvdrom

DCrosby

USB2 for DVD-Rom = 15 Ft Range...

]v[akaveli

what about using a folding keyboard and have it fold away somewhere into the car itself? just an idea

djtwinky

I think I would use a laptop also, mounted closed somewhere in the back with a docking harness. Even with the touch screen I would still want a keyboard. Do they sell retractible folding keyboards for cars or would you have to make one?

Magilla

Not specifically for cars, but mini keyboards, folding keyboards and rollable keyboards are available

Red-Rx7

My keyboard sits behind the seat. But I don't use it. I have touchscreen.

spyfish007

You could look into Single Board Computers (SBC) and such. They get much smaller and they can pack a punch. Be careful when selecting a hard drive .... they don't really like to get shocked/bounced around.

mcnannay

yeah ive read something about using laptop hard drives cause they can take the shocks and stuff...

and as far as having a laptop, yeah that would be nice, but i want the integrated look, and after researching a bit, power isn't going to be a problem at all...the computer will shut down when the alarm is armed, so if i want to turn the car off and still have access to the computer without it restarting all the time i can, there are a few issues to work out but ill figure out i think

SiGmA_X

Laptop harddrives don't need to be used, but they do take better shock (Not like a 7 will give that type of shock, my Jetta did but not enough to hurt a desktop drive) but the key thing is they are SMALL.

If anyone wants some in-depth info on the process of building a CarPC, hit me up on AIM, as I'd perfer to talk to someone who is truely interested then waste my time spaming on here

cosmicbang

I would mount a laptop out of sight somewhere. (The laptop is closed, and out of sight, connected to a external dash mounted touch screen and other accessories by a cable to laptop's ports.) Therefore it would look just as integrated as anything else. The small ruggedized laptops already have temperature, humidity, moisture, and shock resistance. On top of that you could easily undock it for maintenance. It seems like a lot of trouble to build a PC inside the unfriendly environment of a car when a solution already exists, like reinventing the wheel.

SiGmA_X

I'd disagree. A PC can handle the shock no problem (Trust me, I'd know. I did some crazy **** with my Jetta, lol!) and is much cheaper and can be built to fit anywhere

cosmicbang

It handles the shock, and temperature, moisture, and humidity? You have more faith in those components than their designers/manufacurers do. Vibration can also cause cards to work their way out of slots unless they are secured. A ruggedized laptop would be much more reliable especially over long term. But anyhow if it has been working for you, congratulations.

The Spyder

iTrader: (8)

It can handle all of the above VERY easily!

The ideal system is a pIII or via cpu due to the low operating temperature and very very resiliant core!
These take abuse like no other I have seen!

Im afraid a p4 or amd would run much to hot and you could EASILY crack and ruin the cpu.

The proper way to mount the harddrive is either with rubber washers and long #6 screws- or 2 giant rubber bands as stupid as it sounds. Also- securing the ram and pci cards in place is VERY important-
A good small low form factor case is good for this-
I would recomment against building your own- rather find one you like and use it.

Im a hardware tech- and helped sigma with his. I can feild about any question you can through my way .

Oh and for you wanting to use a laptop? I strongly disagree- despite its "toughness" it is NOT meant to be used in this condition- laptops are MUCH more vulrable to shock- heat- and mositure due to their closed and bad airflow shell. Not to mention they cost more and lengthening the LCD cable is a hard and BAD idea due to fragile solder joints.

cosmicbang

Ok it sounds like it is working out for some people. The reason I favored a laptop is from designing a system with similar requirements for a military application. The shock, heat, and moisture requirements were more extreme than what you would expect to find in a car, so it would be slightly overkill. We considered custom PIII systems as well as existing hardware, and ended up picking a ruggedized laptop. Note I said "ruggedized" laptop with vibration, shock, and moisture resistance built in. It would have required a lot of engineering to achieve the same specs building our own computer from components. (The components are certified by their mfr's for certain levels of stress and It is necessary to add additional protection to match what the laptop already has.) As far as lengthening the LCD cable, I don't know where you got that idea but no one suggested it. And yes, many laptops have pretty bad heat dissipation--not even good enough for an airconditioned room much less a car.