Here are some of my LCD pictures, and computer setup:











The computer is a 1ghz, 512mb ram, 8x dvd/cd player; running Windows XP

 

The flash really makes the screen look bad; but it is very bright.

 

Looks great. nice and clean! i know nothing about this stuff, so is that a sterio face or a computer face/monitor?

 

It is a 7" LCD XGA Touchscreen, computer monitor. I run it to the computer (shown in the picture). I run the sound from either MP3's or via CD by the cd player in the computer. The computer runs the following items:

- Microtech EMS software
- Delou GPS system (AWESOME!!!!!!!! EVERYONE NEEDS THIS!)
- WIFI connecting to my home lan from my garage
- DVD player (ya! watching the fast and the furious is fun!)

 

eww microsoft......

 

Give me the same setup running suse linux, and I'll be happy.


Honestly, thats quite impressive. Very nice job.

 

I LOVE IT!! (and I usually don't like TV's in cars)
it's beautiful, very clean

nice work man

 

suse sucks btw.

 

Yet more reliable than both windows and the FD.

 

Not sure which distro this guy is running, but it's definitely a sweet setup nonetheless

Linux + Porsche

 

How much did all that cost you? Do you by any chance feel like posting parts and cost?

I like it a lot.

Amel

 

Very nice

I've been eyeing a double din screen like that for the daily beater, but damn they are $$$

 

very nice!!! however you gotta fix that shifter boot its killing the cleanness of your interior...lol.

justin

 

Nice screen! What shift **** is that?

 

How do you get radio stations?

 

so how did you connect the speakers to the computer? or do you still have a headunit hooked up or something?

 

To answer some questions..

I do not have a head unit in the car. Rather, I run the sound from the computer system. I have a Sound Blaster Audigy 5.1 card in the computer. I run the computer to an AMP which distributes the sound via to each speaker for Front/Back and Left/Right combination. To adjust the sound, I turned the windows volume all the way up and then adjusted the AMP volume to fit accordingly (to the point right before the Alternator whine comes in), then backed down the sound in Windows.

For radio stations, you have a few options. I haven't employed either yet, for I am not sure what I want to do (for I never really listen to the radio anyhow). But, the two options I considered were the following:

- USB radio antenna tuner card. This is basically a radio that is via USB into the computer. The software allows you to select from any of the local FM/AM stations it receives.

- Satellite Radio for the Computer. The satellite radio technology that you see in cars these days also have a system for a home computer. If you were to take this system, it could easily be converted for the car's computer. The only change in the kit that you would purchase, would be the antenna. The software that comes with the kit is really neat too.

I was looking into doing the second option, but I am never in the car long enough to really listen to the radio. Always listening to the engine/exhaust/fuel pumps.

I use an OPUS 90w power supply unit that I rigged inside the case, which connects to the battery and an ignition wire. The OPUS unit is very important, for the computer needs something to work through cranking voltage spikes. If you just put a converter, if you crank the car, often the computer will die do to the constant voltage spikes over and over before the car starts.

I will try to take some pictures of the hatch area, for I have a cover that goes over the back of the computer system. It matches the carpet in the trunk already, so it looks good. The center divider is also not attached more than the normal mounting points; in which I remove often to access the side cubby's for my software storage locations.

In the front section of the computer case, there is a flip down piece that allows access to two additional USB and Firewire connections; along with a microphone and headphone jack. I use this flip section to attach my micro keyboard (pretty cool, will take some pictures as well) to when needed.

The mounting of the monitor was the most difficult part, for I wanted the "factory" look. Most people who have seen the unit actually thought that it was factory. It is molded perfectly. In doing so, I had to have the entire console retextured to match the molding. This was the difficult part, for the sanding and painting was what took a long time. The actual screen hole into the double-din was near a perfect fit before any fabbing.

 

This computer system has been featured on "Pimp my ride" in the Scion xb.
G-net makes something similiar if not the same. Check it out. http://www.gnetcanada.com/vehiclepc-overview.htm

oh, and nice ride Red Rx-7

 

Thanks for the compliment. The system in my car is not of what you posted there, but simular. I built mine through computer parts (using simular parts as in the second example), and then slapped it all together.

Did you see the rest of my car?

You can view it in my personal garage at this link:

https://www.rx7club.com/vbgarage.php?do=view&id=26

 

That's a Sparco shifer, BTW not only you need to fix the boot but make it shorter too.

Other than that very nic set up

 

now I want one too..

 

Hey Red,

since your computer is windows based, did you ever think about hooking the PFC datalogit up to it? It would seem to be a nice seamless way to access the PFC and maps

 

Your screen saver could be a big digital boost gauge

 

I run a Microtech 4bar in the car. I do use the software provided with the Microtech to make adjustments when needed. A PFC couldn't run a 3 rotor, so that ECU wasn't even an option.

 

Saw the car in RX Tuner very nice.