In-Car-Compuer(Complete)-

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:53 am

Vid is on the bottom of page 7

In-Car-Computer. Thats my next job for this term. I'v drawn a few plans of what i've been thinking about achieving. I've thought about taking out the air vents and headunit slot, and creating one big space for the screen and linking all it's hardware :"hard-drive, motherboard, cd drive ect", through the glove box. By drilling a hole in the side creating a slot for where wires are able to be sloted through. The motherboard will also be equiped with a bluethooth dongle so when near my home will automatically connect to my home pc downloading music, videos ect that are not present of the car's hard-drive. I will be needing alot of help from you guys and girls as i'm not a specialist within the area of ICE . one problem that i dont seem to understand is the power supply to mother board and screen. would i need some sort of converter??. if so where would i be able to get one?? Also, would anyone know an estimated total costing for this to be done??

A Few Rough Sketches:

Post by **alexperkins** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:27 pm

Dont use bluetooth - it would be better to use pre-N wireless networking. Its a hell load faster, and the range is far superior to that of bluetooth.

Im currently playing with the idea of installing a Mac Mini in the car, and having a touch screen, or something with a mouse integrated somehow so I can have a 250gb music library installed and use Front Row to control it

You would need an invertor to power the motherboard. Something like this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Mod ... 23&doy=9m9
would be adequate to power the system. You would need to ensure of adequate ventilation too, which would probably entail forced extraction of the hot air from the system via a fan of some sort into the car (though if you really clever, you could install a 1 way diaphrapm valve so the hot air can be expelled to ouside the car

(all possible if you give it enough thought!)

You'd probably need to use a MicroATX or B-ATX board so you can
actually fit it in, and something like an intel core 2 duo mobile processor so you can keep the heat to a minimum.

As for storage, you could easily use a laptop optical drive and laptop hard drive without a problem as there are plenty of conversion cables about to do this - will save you alot of space!!

Hope this helps you out

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:12 pm

Right, i see thats alot of helpp. ahh yes i hadnt thought about that sort of wiresless networking just imideately wanted something cheap.Thanks mate. The MicroATX board i guess you can buy this at pc-world and any general computer stores, right??

Post by **alexperkins** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:18 pm

np, but noway would you buy that from a PC store - get it online you will save yourself a shed load. If you get the specs of what you want, I can probably do you a deal on a good setup

You got me very interested in this concept

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:37 pm

Indeed, the concpet of creating a In-car-comp is preety creative

Motherboard specs would invole what you suggested:
a MicroATX board
intel core 2 duo mobile processor
512mb Ram (2x256mb) and later on can upgrade
integrated graphics (not worried about the quality.)
Intergrated wireless LAN (would help instead of fishing out for a PCI card and consuming heat and space)
is this something on the lines of what board i should use:

http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default.as ... KEY=202668

if i've missed anything major out please add to what you think best

Screeening options:I actually have not yet figured about size, quality,ect but with my plans i'll be slotting the screen within the headunit and airvent slots but i will measure up on size and update tomorrow

The laptop hard drive and optical drive sounds very attractive but cost wise i'm not entriely sure. If you can get me a few deatils you may just convince me

Operating system has all been covered as i have a win xp-disk waiting to be uploaded. so software is pretty much covered.

Thanks Alot this is heling me out a great deal

Post by **alexperkins** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:21 am

Indeed - When i get home from work tonight, Ill do a bit of research into it

For OS I would use Windows Media Center - tis good for what youd want to use this system for!

Anyhow, ill update you tonight - pm me your MSN address if you have one

Cheers,

Alex

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:52 pm

Pm Sent

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:51 pm

Update: havent been on in a long time to update anything but here we go. I will be getting a black centre console thing (the bit where the vents are attached to) to chop up for a double di screen. However the componets will be as follows:

1x PCI- Express Main Board- Pentium D/Core 2 duo- Micro ATX
1x512Mb PC2-6400 DDR2 Dimm Memory (Ram) [was considering at the begining to have 2 x 256Mb sticks of ram. However this will take up room and create heat.
1xJeanTech- 300w Micro Atx Power supply
1x 300w 12v Dc to "40 Vac power invertor.

Will be getting a hard drive and Cd drive from a computer scapper near me which will oly be a couple of quid.

The screening specs is on the hold at the mo just need to get a comformation from a mate of mines to see if he can hold a deal

Thats just about it more updates will be coming up soon so watch this space

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:06 pm

here's an idea, dunno it's what your looking for, but it's something i'd do if i were to ever have an onboard computer.

Why don't you just construct a computer as normal, but in a mini tower (the ones that are size of a shoebox), then mount that in your boot, obv include the power supply converter, and just extend cables to the front where you've got a touch screen monitor or whatever you require?

that way it's easy to remove if you require, there's plenty of boot space,(you could hide it in the first aid box compartment?) and you won't have any problems with it overheating or anything because it's in a ready made box for it with fans etc, it just needs ventilation (which you could easier do in the boot)

just a thought..............

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:11 pm

Ahh, thats what i forgot to write ye, Alex on here told me the same. Forgot to add,theres a change in plan for the setup, everything will be chucked in to the back and installed with cables running to the front to the screen. therefore as you sey alot of room is left and ventialtion isnt really a problem.Thanks mate

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:20 pm

ahh thats good, would save a helklk of a headache imo! I was looking to get a computer made to take to uni in shoebox sized tower, my mate quoted me Â£350 without a screen for a fairly high spec setup. Have a search through ebuyer and make a mock up list and see how much it comes to!

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:31 pm

haha...great minds think alike

, so far i've got a mock up list for a Micro AXT Board [Shoe Box Size ] for about Â£253.15, Exculding screen that is. Just changed my options again and have now decided to get a single din screen saves all that effort of chopping up the centre console. My old man is funding this so i'll be getting a good quaitly touch screen with a VGA pin and USB. BTW if any one has a screen that they want to get rid off, thats Single din with the has the 2 options of VGA pin and USB. I'll much appreicate it if you could give me a shout.

8080 · Post by **8080** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 5:04 pm

JWC on here was building an in-car computer, it looked like a great project. Don't know if he finished it

http://www.jcross.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=99

joejs90 · Post by **joejs90** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:38 am

hey buddy im abit of a newbie on here so il say hi!.
i used to dabble about with in car computers known as carputers.
im not such a wizz with the hardware but im quite good with the operating systems and display.

as for your operating system i would use windows XP (windows xp lite if you know where to get it) and strip it down so that its pretty much bare bones www.tweakxp.com is good for that.

Carputer at the moment is booming in america and there is endless stuff you can do. visit mp3car.com to see whats going on across the pond and whats being developed.

linITX.com is a uk based company that sells everything Carputer at awesome prices. the service is pretty good as i recall as my brother used them when building his!

User interface is one of the most important things fluxmedia have got what i think is the best one www.fluxmedia.net for them and have a look through their products. i dont recall them being available illegally for free but i think its worth the money.

good luck with it carputers are a pain in the ass!

Joe

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:37 pm

Well first of all welcome to uk-polos

. Thanks mate, some really helpfull info there. I was just surfing through the link that you gave me "linITX.com". I found a screen thats realitivly cheap acttualy quite cheap.I was just wondering if anyone knew if this was compatible with what i'm tryin to acheive is seys it has a VGA option which has ticked one box but not entriely sure if it is a usb interfaced one, from the pictures for back of the unit it shows it has a USB slot/wire but i'm not entriely sure if this is what i'm ment ot be looking for. Alex if you could just have a look please or anyone if that this is correct i would really appricate it.
the link is : http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=11155

BTW thanks to everyone for helping me. I really appriciate the help that i'm getting. Oh and applogies for not being able to update as i havent had the time to come online as i've had a load of course work deadlines to meet and have been jam packed to do any updating. But any info on the screen will be helpfull guys