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    Carputer System Plans...Advice?

    I've spent the past couple days researching around the net to put together preliminary plans for a custom carputer. Here's the system-

    Motherboard: VIA EPIA-M100000 Mini-ITX
    Case: Casetronic Mini ITX-2699R (http://www.directron.com/2699r.html)
    HDD: Maxtor 60GB UltraDMA 133 7200 RPM
    LCD Display: Lilliput 7" VGA Touchscreen
    Power Supply: Opus Solutions ATX DC-DC or this-http://home.comcast.net/~zootjeff/
    Memory: Kingston 256MB PC2100
    DVD: Lite-On Slimline 8x DVD-ROM
    GPS: DeLorme Earthmate GPS receiver w/ Street Atlas USA 2004 software

    I also put together this spreadsheet to aid the planning process-


    Any advice would be appreciated from anyone who knows a little about putting a computer in your car. To hook it up to the stereo I need a head unit with RCA inputs (AUX IN). I've seen some Pioneer and JVC HUs with adapters that provide these from the CD Changer connector. Is anything like this available for the stock HU in an '02 Protege? Finally, does anyone know how the DC-DC PSU connects to the battery?

    Long read, I know. Thanks in advance.

    #2
    Re: Carputer System Plans...Advice?

    Originally posted by Doodsmack
    I've spent the past couple days researching around the net to put together preliminary plans for a custom carputer. Here's the system-

    Motherboard: VIA EPIA-M100000 Mini-ITX
    Case: Casetronic Mini ITX-2699R (http://www.directron.com/2699r.html)
    HDD: Maxtor 60GB UltraDMA 133 7200 RPM
    LCD Display: Lilliput 7" VGA Touchscreen
    Power Supply: Opus Solutions ATX DC-DC or this-http://home.comcast.net/~zootjeff/
    Memory: Kingston 256MB PC2100
    DVD: Lite-On Slimline 8x DVD-ROM
    GPS: DeLorme Earthmate GPS receiver w/ Street Atlas USA 2004 software

    I also put together this spreadsheet to aid the planning process-


    Any advice would be appreciated from anyone who knows a little about putting a computer in your car. To hook it up to the stereo I need a head unit with RCA inputs (AUX IN). I've seen some Pioneer and JVC HUs with adapters that provide these from the CD Changer connector. Is anything like this available for the stock HU in an '02 Protege? Finally, does anyone know how the DC-DC PSU connects to the battery?

    Long read, I know. Thanks in advance.
    hey man.... i actually don't have a headunit right now

    the choice of mobo/case seems normal run of the mill itx stuff (good choice, if i ever get the money ill go that too)

    the power supply is probably the best on the market (again i didnt' do taht since i couldn't justify 200 usd on a computer power supply where i spent 50 for an inverter and i built the shutdown controller myself)

    as for the liliput. . .read more about them on mp3car.com (as you probably already have been, their quality control isn't as good as the xenarc/gain that i have and many have had complains of the touchscreen never working and the hardware buttosn now working at all after the display is on for a certain amount of time. alsom some say that since it is a brighter screen than the xenarcs, the lcd panel itself gets really hot)

    GPS (that's what i wanted to get. . . ...lol but i ended up getting the radio shack gps at i found it for 30usd and they are still on clearance now if you can find one at a local store (i bought 2) only thing is that you have to do a little modifiying to the connector as it was made for pda's, which is good since i have an ipaq that i used it for (hence buying 2) and i also had to buy microsoft streets and trips 2004 since it didn't come with PC software, since it was the pda version it came with that)
    2003 P5 Midnight Blue
    Buddy Club 2 Side skirts, DGM front lip
    OBX header, MAM SS midpip, HKS exhaust
    Racing beat sway, tokico hp's, tein stechs, gtspec tie bar, awr front motor mount
    sun ground kit
    5spd sunroof
    Carputer (DivX, MP3, NES, GPS, OBD-2 next)
    7in lcd molded to dash


    pioneer 3ways all around
    power acoustik 2.4f cap, power acoustik EQ, Power Acoustik A1800db
    6 RE 8's on the way

    Comment


      #3
      I have been researching this idea myself and would be interested to know how you are progressing. Where do you plan to mount the case? Will you use a shock absorbing pad of some kind? DVD roms are very fussy when it comes to vibration. I was cruising around with my laptop listening to an Ozzy DVD and it skipped like a M/F! You said you found a 12 power supply? Who makes this?
      95 LX goin turbo!!

      Bouah ha ha ha ha!

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by warrenj27
        I have been researching this idea myself and would be interested to know how you are progressing. Where do you plan to mount the case? Will you use a shock absorbing pad of some kind? DVD roms are very fussy when it comes to vibration. I was cruising around with my laptop listening to an Ozzy DVD and it skipped like a M/F! You said you found a 12 power supply? Who makes this?
        there are a couple 12v power supplies that are available for computers. . .the best IMO (also the most expensive) is from OPUS solutions and they make one that has an integrated shutdown controller to turn the computer off with ignition and a battery low voltage cutoff so you would never have to worry about leaving teh carputer on and killing your bat the price on this last time i checked was like 150 for the 150watt and liek upwards of 200USD for the 250 watt (this is just a PSU)

        another one that is available is the mpegbox atx power supply that is made by jeff mucha, it's more of a home grown operation and shipping on stuff can be really slow at times but he always seems to come through from what i know. this is a little cheaper than the opus but is still around a hundred dollars

        thrird, there are the DIY dc/dc kits that are called SPROGGY psu's, these are usually just purchased as a kit witha PCB and you have to find all your components and solder them all together yourself. this option is much cheaper than the first two

        then there are the ones that use the supplied EPIA dc/dc power supply that comes with most mini-itx cases and put on a voltage regulator on the 12+ line since that is the only voltage that isnt' regulated so they wouldn't fry all their stuff with puttting the psu directly to the car. that happens since the car isn't exactly the most electrically sound machine since there are so many voltage fluctuations there. this is probably the cheapest method if you go with the epia route

        now there is the whole inverter crew. ..you can use your stanrd run of the mill atx power supplies (so pretty much no power limit) and hook it up to power inverter. i have a 400 watt rms inveter taht i got for 40 USD and i can also power other things up in my car at the same time since the max my carputer can pull is 180 watts (i used one of those e-machines psu's)


        as for the dvd issue i have never had a problem using my pioneer slot load dvd whenever i do actually use it while driving. . .. .but usually i just watch divx off the hard drive since that's easier
        2003 P5 Midnight Blue
        Buddy Club 2 Side skirts, DGM front lip
        OBX header, MAM SS midpip, HKS exhaust
        Racing beat sway, tokico hp's, tein stechs, gtspec tie bar, awr front motor mount
        sun ground kit
        5spd sunroof
        Carputer (DivX, MP3, NES, GPS, OBD-2 next)
        7in lcd molded to dash


        pioneer 3ways all around
        power acoustik 2.4f cap, power acoustik EQ, Power Acoustik A1800db
        6 RE 8's on the way

        Comment


          #5
          Hmmm must be ly laptop. The DVD drive is modular so it must have an issue. Send me some pics if you can of your setup so far and any other info would be greatly appreciated.

          Thanks man!

          P.S. I am a computer support specialist by trade(Big friggin whoop!) LOL. The best streaming media player O/S to date is Windows 2000 pro. It does most of what winxp does but with a lot less overhead. Try it for youself... run a divx movie on a fully updated win2k box. It screams! Also have you considered a wireless internet solution? It's a bit pricey but pretty cool nonetheless.

          TTYL
          95 LX goin turbo!!

          Bouah ha ha ha ha!

          Comment


            #6
            hmm. .actually i had win2k on my carputer for a while. . .but winxp boots faster and hibernates faster and stuff genreally seems to be faster and more stable than 2k...it might just that i have more optimized drivers for my stuff for 2k

            i only moved to xp just to try it out in my car. ..as for work. . i hate xp cause it has to many frills and i use 2k at home for doing my work. . i tried xp pro for like a day and then swtiched back to 2kpro

            i used to have a wifi card in my carputer since a lot of places i go have hotspots. .and my university has wirelss all over campus

            but for internet on the go. . i dont think ill need it

            i have gps if i ever get lost and a cell phone so i thought be cool
            2003 P5 Midnight Blue
            Buddy Club 2 Side skirts, DGM front lip
            OBX header, MAM SS midpip, HKS exhaust
            Racing beat sway, tokico hp's, tein stechs, gtspec tie bar, awr front motor mount
            sun ground kit
            5spd sunroof
            Carputer (DivX, MP3, NES, GPS, OBD-2 next)
            7in lcd molded to dash


            pioneer 3ways all around
            power acoustik 2.4f cap, power acoustik EQ, Power Acoustik A1800db
            6 RE 8's on the way

            Comment


              #7
              I hear ya. I have a few people up here in Canada who would be very interested in seing any pics or advice you may have in routing cables, pc location, power supply issues etc.

              Thank you for your time.

              CHOW DOOD
              95 LX goin turbo!!

              Bouah ha ha ha ha!

              Comment


                #8
                well here you go

                Mazdas247 is an independent community featuring Discussion Forums, Classifieds and Resources for Mazda vehicles.
                2003 P5 Midnight Blue
                Buddy Club 2 Side skirts, DGM front lip
                OBX header, MAM SS midpip, HKS exhaust
                Racing beat sway, tokico hp's, tein stechs, gtspec tie bar, awr front motor mount
                sun ground kit
                5spd sunroof
                Carputer (DivX, MP3, NES, GPS, OBD-2 next)
                7in lcd molded to dash


                pioneer 3ways all around
                power acoustik 2.4f cap, power acoustik EQ, Power Acoustik A1800db
                6 RE 8's on the way

                Comment


                  #9
                  Thanks man! enjoy your mobile theater/office/party spot/etc.

                  CHOW DOOD
                  95 LX goin turbo!!

                  Bouah ha ha ha ha!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    no problem man
                    2003 P5 Midnight Blue
                    Buddy Club 2 Side skirts, DGM front lip
                    OBX header, MAM SS midpip, HKS exhaust
                    Racing beat sway, tokico hp's, tein stechs, gtspec tie bar, awr front motor mount
                    sun ground kit
                    5spd sunroof
                    Carputer (DivX, MP3, NES, GPS, OBD-2 next)
                    7in lcd molded to dash


                    pioneer 3ways all around
                    power acoustik 2.4f cap, power acoustik EQ, Power Acoustik A1800db
                    6 RE 8's on the way

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Haven't visited this forum in a while, but my project has been put on hold and I probably won't have all the parts until Christmas. I opted for a high-end Sony Head Unit and added several other parts so it'll take longer to get the money.

                      The current plan is to not buy the mini-ITX case and instead custom-build a glove compartment (with the help of a friend) to serve as the case. The front will be made out of plexiglass with areas cut out for lighted 80mm fans and a standard 5.25" DVD-ROM. Hopefully inside it'll also have a cold-cathode light and UV reactive IDE cables.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        im jealouse. I thought I was the only person with plans for a carputer. Minez will p0wnz j00 all!! LOL j/p I plan on getting a shuttle case though. I have a question though. What about the keyboard? I know you can get a touchscreen so that takes care of the mouse, but how are you going to type?
                        My OLD Car

                        Comment


                          #13
                          i got a touchscreen. . and a keyboard. . .there is always the on screen keybaord
                          2003 P5 Midnight Blue
                          Buddy Club 2 Side skirts, DGM front lip
                          OBX header, MAM SS midpip, HKS exhaust
                          Racing beat sway, tokico hp's, tein stechs, gtspec tie bar, awr front motor mount
                          sun ground kit
                          5spd sunroof
                          Carputer (DivX, MP3, NES, GPS, OBD-2 next)
                          7in lcd molded to dash


                          pioneer 3ways all around
                          power acoustik 2.4f cap, power acoustik EQ, Power Acoustik A1800db
                          6 RE 8's on the way

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by icynelly
                            im jealouse. I thought I was the only person with plans for a carputer. Minez will p0wnz j00 all!! LOL j/p I plan on getting a shuttle case though. I have a question though. What about the keyboard? I know you can get a touchscreen so that takes care of the mouse, but how are you going to type?
                            2003 P5 Midnight Blue
                            Buddy Club 2 Side skirts, DGM front lip
                            OBX header, MAM SS midpip, HKS exhaust
                            Racing beat sway, tokico hp's, tein stechs, gtspec tie bar, awr front motor mount
                            sun ground kit
                            5spd sunroof
                            Carputer (DivX, MP3, NES, GPS, OBD-2 next)
                            7in lcd molded to dash


                            pioneer 3ways all around
                            power acoustik 2.4f cap, power acoustik EQ, Power Acoustik A1800db
                            6 RE 8's on the way

                            Comment


                              #15
                              or you could get a wireless keyboard at walmart for $20.. and I mean how often are you really gonna type unless you are like sitting still so it wouldnt be that big of a deal

                              Comment

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