Project...

Topic: Project... (Read 5154 times) previous topic - next topic

Project...

May 24, 2005, 01:05:56 AM

Well, since i like the cars and the computers, now i want to mix them in a form that i can get and PC (no laptop, i only have desktop pc´s) in to the cougar. I only want a pc for entertaining purposes , audio and video.

I need dissasemble the pc, and get the motherboard out of there. i need some help about a good place to put it in the car. I was thinking behind the dash.....

I want to add a DVD ROM, and my current opinion was in the place where the stereo is located. The question here ; is there an IDE cable enough longer or i need to build one ?

For the power supply, i need to change to other since its 127 V, but i can use an inverter ? or simply i need a 12 volt power supply ? from i can get one of these ?

Now for the Video Out. I know it is RGB. What i need for convert that signal to Composite Video ?
I have a video card (radeon 9200) and it has S-video out. If there are no other way, maybe i can use it...

What i can use for screen ? those 7´ screens are good, or i need a real PC monitor (lcd, eliminating the problem of the RGB, but i dont have one !) and that LCD carries another problem. Where i can find the power supply for that ?

Sorry, its a long post, but any oppinion would be very appreciated...

Re: Project...

Reply #1 – May 24, 2005, 08:15:49 AM

If you're using a regular pc, the motherboard might be too big to fit behind the dash, however you can always try. I personally recommend putting the unit in the trunk.

For a DVD rom, you can always get a usb powered one, with a USB cable extender to place it wherever you need to place it.

With the power supply you have to be careful, because there is that sudden power surge when you turn the key to start the car so I say you look around on the internet and find a suitable power regulator. (http://www.carnetix.com)

As for a monitor, Lilliput and Xenerac build 7" and also 8" monitors with VGA (Computer monitor outputs).

Re: Project...

Reply #2 – May 24, 2005, 11:27:27 AM

you came to the right place.
audio stuff
http://stores.ebay.com/www-cmttrading-com_Other_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQftidZ2QQpZ56QQtZkm
car monitor thingy(this is just for the name, the auction has ended.)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=67771&item=5763579320&tc=photo
car puter stuff
http://www.bastenengineering.com/
http://www.epiabox.com/solutions/carpc.htm
http://www.computergate.com/store/mini-itx/
http://stores.ebay.com/Audioforge-VIA-Mini-Itx-Car-PC_W0QQssPageNameZl2QQtZkm
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT3470636459.html
http://mini-itx.com/store/

Here are a few for eye candy.
http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives/spearhead/mini-itx/car-pc.jsp
http://mini-itx.com/projects.asp

Any questions or ideas, PM me. I am looking into doing the same thing.

Re: Project...

Reply #3 – May 24, 2005, 11:36:28 AM

p.s. a laptop slim drive, and a laptop hard drive is the way to go. But if you have way to much money for this, there is a 20gig ipod hard drive that will work as well. It was designed to function durring orbit on satilies. It can withstand 500gs. There is a link to that somewhere on the min-itx.com site. I think it is in the store. You really should pm me though I know alot on the subject

Re: Project...

Reply #4 – May 24, 2005, 11:53:13 AM

I've been running a 40GB iPod in the convertible for a couple of years now. If all you want is audio, that's the way to do it. Nice, simple, efficient system, and removable to prevent theft. However, video has its purposes and for that the iPod won't help one bit. A full-on mini form factor computer is perfect.

Re: Project...

Reply #5 – May 24, 2005, 12:51:24 PM

I am going to build the board inside of a tray so that I can just pull it out when I leave. I am not gonna pay $400 for a computer to not be able to use it at home.

Re: Project...

Reply #6 – May 25, 2005, 03:16:45 PM

Needless to say, the project cant be expensive (at least no more than the cougar....) but i have many spare parts. I have the MOBO, hard disk, Cdrom drive (waiting for the DVD rom), and other things. Here is my idea about the mouse. Dont laugh, please...

I want to add a mouse, but it will be attached to the steering wheel. Will be controlled by the finger like the laptops, where the horn is located(and i will chante the horn position, too), but if i cant use one of these, i will use a retrofited optical mouse, that can be controled by finger,too. I dont want to have the artifact fighting with the car....

But of course, any other idea will be appreciated...

Re: Project...

Reply #7 – May 25, 2005, 03:36:45 PM

How about a trackball in the centre console (if you have the full console) replacing the ash tray?
also you might want to look into a slot loaded cd player so you don't have to eject a tray and you can just put the cd in and out like a regular car deck. I know they have them using regular IDE ports but with a little searching I'm sure you can find one that's USB.

Re: Project...

Reply #8 – May 27, 2005, 12:53:06 PM

Wow, that idea about the trackball in the center console looks pretty good. Definitively im going to change to this....

About the slot loaded cdrom, i have seen these only in HP machines. Really they are rare here, and rarest those with usb. But ill keep my eyes open....

Thanks. Any other ideas would be appreciated....

Re: Project...

Reply #9 – May 27, 2005, 03:34:00 PM

Well that's pretty much what I got in terms of putting a PC in a car. I haven't really given much thought into installing a carPC before, but the basics are basically there. I find things never turn out the way you plan, so my advice is.. you have a general idea of what you want. so start doing it and build it as you go along..

Re: Project...

Reply #10 – May 28, 2005, 10:40:26 AM

Quote from: MexCougar

Needless to say, the project cant be expensive (at least no more than the cougar....) but i have many spare parts. I have the MOBO, hard disk, Cdrom drive (waiting for the DVD rom), and other things. Here is my idea about the mouse. Dont laugh, please...

I want to add a mouse, but it will be attached to the steering wheel. Will be controlled by the finger like the laptops, where the horn is located(and i will chante the horn position, too), but if i cant use one of these, i will use a retrofited optical mouse, that can be controled by finger,too. I dont want to have the artifact fighting with the car....

But of course, any other idea will be appreciated...

I think that you should look into this board or one similar at the site. It looks like it will do everything that you need it to and it is fairly cheap. You may want to just use your main board but this one would be perfect(and small) http://koonline-inc.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_43&products_id=543

Re: Project...

Reply #11 – May 30, 2005, 01:15:50 PM

Yesterday i have did a bunch of electrical experiments. I get a multimeter and did some measurements. My battery is not in a good condition, and i will be forced to change it at the next months.

I need some more info:

What is better, the Desktop Hardisk or the Laptop Hardisk ?

Agains, what´s better, the laptop cd rom or a "normal one" ?

I like the idea of a slot loaded Cdrom , but is hard to find, and maybe harder to find a laptop slot loaded cdrom....

Re: Project...

Reply #12 – May 30, 2005, 03:32:12 PM

Quote from: MexCougar

Yesterday i have did a bunch of electrical experiments. I get a multimeter and did some measurements. My battery is not in a good condition, and i will be forced to change it at the next months.

I need some more info:

What is better, the Desktop Hardisk or the Laptop Hardisk ?

Agains, what´s better, the laptop cd rom or a "normal one" ?

I like the idea of a slot loaded Cdrom , but is hard to find, and maybe harder to find a laptop slot loaded cdrom....

laptop hard drives are slightly slower at getting information depending on what speed they are. Usally around 4200 rpm vs a pc at 5400-7200. You prolly wont notice much (if any )diffrence. But the laptop hard drives are desinged to obsorbe shock. The pc ones, the wrong thud could end its life. Laptop cd rom, pretty much the same thing. But laptop components will use less power and are generally tuffer. The laptop cdrom also has more skip protection. Depending on what you are going to run, I would just get two batteries, one up front, and one in the trunk. And then do a 3g alt conversion. Slot loaded arent to hard to find here......I have never seen a slot loaded laptop anything.

Re: Project...

Reply #13 – May 30, 2005, 08:49:23 PM

I've got a Matshiznita DVD-R UJ-816 in my Apple Powerbook and it's slot loading. This drive will burn a DVD as well as a CD, and plays just about anything. Any Apple Powerbook has a slot-loading optical drive, and so does the Mac mini since it uses all laptop components. There should be a driver for XP to use one of those drives...I don't see an issue there. The only thing you have to remember with a slot-loading drive is that you cannot put smaller or irregular-sized discs in or you will ruin the drive. You can only put CD's and DVD's in there, blank or recorded.

All of Haystack's other comments are very true. You can buy some fairly quick laptop drives now (some are spinning at 7200) but most are stuck in the 4800-5400 rpm ranges. That drags out your access time. It's not really that big of a hassle for normal things (playing music, etc.). However, faster drives are always better...and you will pay dearly for having a fast laptop drive.

Re: Project...

Reply #14 – May 31, 2005, 09:52:58 PM

I didnt read all of the replys, but just a heads up for a monitor, LCD's can freeze, i personally have not had a problem with them, but i have seen them freeze in peopel cars during the winter (here in MI)