Building a Car Computer...

khaag · Post by **khaag** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 5:48 pm

Hey guys, I've never actually built a computer so I am going to need some help. I was inspired by Marshall, so I am going to install a carputer in my '89 CRX. I need some help with some choices.

How would this motherboard do? Will it run XP? All I want to do is play music, videos, and possibly some SNES emulation.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... :IT&ih=007

Is this a good PSU? I need it to power a HDD and the mobo.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/PicoPSU-120-120W-12V ... dZViewItem

Thanks for the help. If anyone knows of a better PSU that will work off of 12V let me know as well.

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 5:52 pm

'89 CRX? It won't make your veetak kick in any tighter, yo. (Sorry, generic cheap Honda bust

)

Yes that motherboard will run XP. If you want to cut out features you don't need, try making a custom install disc with nLite.

That power supply should work fine.

khaag · Post by **khaag** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 6:00 pm

I'm not sure what that mobo is actually worth... What should be my highest bid?

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 8:32 pm

khaag wrote:I'm not sure what that mobo is actually worth... What should be my highest bid?

Closest thing to it on mini-itx.com is $118, doesn't have any RAM, though. Keep in mind that the board on ebay is about 500MHz, so don't be expecting anything high res to play on it.

Adam G · Post by **Adam G** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 8:42 pm

khaag wrote:I'm not sure what that mobo is actually worth... What should be my highest bid?

Just snipe it? Last minute, not second (more time to increase if you're not winning), to be sure you get it.
http://damnsmalllinux.org/store/motherboards/EPIA_5000
They price it at $125, without memory and the memory is expensive (The 256mb 133mhz is $49.47 at the Mini-ITX store).

~Adam~

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 8:58 pm

For that motherboard, technology-wise I'd go around $50 at most. But considering its size (since smaller = more expensive, apparently), $75 is acceptable.

Adam G wrote:(The 256mb 133mhz is $49.47 at the Mini-ITX store).

Wow. They certainly rip you off. Or they charge an arm and a leg to measure how tall the module is.

You can get the same thing at Tiger Direct for <a href="http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 44">$30</a>.

You can always yank RAM out of an old throwaway machine... Most P2/P3 boards I've seen use PC133 DIMMs.

You know, you could always use a full size Micro ATX motherboard if you mount it in a box in the trunk like people do with subwoofers. They're only 10" by 10", and you can probably get a whole Pentium 4 machine, complete with hard drive and memory, for less than the mini motherboard alone. I mean, you can get a <a href="http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... pron-based bundle</a> with PCIe for $70...

khaag · Post by **khaag** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:01 pm

For that Sempron bundle, what kind of cooling would be needed for that? And what kind of powersupply is needed? Would a Morex 60W DC-DC one work?

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:16 pm

khaag wrote:For that Sempron bundle, what kind of cooling would be needed for that? And what kind of powersupply is needed? Would a Morex 60W DC-DC one work?

It will need the same cooling as a normal desktop. It'll also need a normal size PSU, 250W at the very minimum. Its kinda straying from the normal image of a carputer to more of a "desktop in your trunk" kind of thing. Same results, just ends up being cheaper, bigger, faster for your money, easier to upgrade, and more power hungry.

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:26 pm

Any Socket 754 cooler should work as long as you make a suitable enclosure. (Whatever you use, make sure it's properly vented.)

As for power, you may need a desktop power supply and an AC inverter...

Wait waitwait... Better idea. Get a used laptop with a dead battery off eBay and remove the screen...

You'd get a head start on the case, the parts are low power so you won't drain the battery if you use it without starting the engine, and cooling will be less of a concern. You can dash mount a small screen (maybe a touch screen), then extend the stock screen's cables, build it a custom enclosure, and ceiling mount it. It won't be as fast as the Sempron but even a P3 650 can emulate 16 bit consoles and run full-screen videos no problem...

Yeah that's probably a better idea.

EDIT: something like <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/COMPAQ-ARMADA-E500- ... m">this</a>, for example.

Post by **Triton** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:27 pm

89 CRX? It won't make your veetak kick in any tighter, yo. (Sorry, generic cheap Honda bust Razz

the CRX and Del Sol are the only hondas i like really! lol

good cheapish LCDs are lilliput and can be found on ebay for sub 200$ or search for the ebay seller 7sec4cyl to get the same lcd as me and marshall. for motherboards check into the mini itx ones, advantech and search for single board computers on ebay (aka SBCs or PC/104 motherboards)

Post by **marshallh** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:07 pm

If you're going to do anything besides just MP3 playing, you need faster than that board. I'd only pay $40 for that board at most. Keep looking - I got my 800MHz board with 1GB of memory, for $60.

Also, the picoPSU isn't bad - it's sensitive to temperatures, and it also needs a regulated 12v input.
The power coming out of your car's alternator is horribly noisy and the voltage jumps wildly.
Car off: 11v
Engine cranking: 7-8v
Idling: 14v
Highway speeds: 15-17v
As you can see there's no way you can run that PSU straight off your cigarette lighter. You need to get yourself a 12v DC-DC regulator - or find a different power supply.

I looked around and Logic Supply doesn't carry my 80w kit anymore, and I'd stay away from 60w - just not enough.
Spend some good money on your power supply - if you don't, it'll probably take the rest of your electronics with it when it fries.

This looks like your best bet:
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/m3_atx

I'd seriously consider a laptop with a broken screen - it will work right away and have all the essentials built in.

khaag · Post by **khaag** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:23 am

How would you go about powering the lappy? Just the AC adaptor and a car invertor?

EDIT: Wait. I want to hook up a USB GPS reciever, so I think I am going to go with something a little more versatile. I like the idea of that Sempron bundle. I bid on that motherboard, max bid of $38. We'll see what happens. If I win it, I win it, if not... that's kind of what I'm hoping for

EDIT EDIT: I've just been outbid on the mobo. Yessssss.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:37 am

Why not just buy an old 10" laptop? You're basically done right there. Fold it like they do for Digital Picture Frames, and if it fits in your car, that's the simplest, easiest route to take.

Another idea I had involves an EEE PC or similarly small laptop. It sits on rails that slide in to make the closed laptop flush with the panels, and slides out so you can open the top. Extremely simple, and all it requires other than mounting is a power supply.

How much space do you have to work with?

Post by **bicostp** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:14 am

khaag wrote:How would you go about powering the lappy? Just the AC adaptor and a car invertor?

That would be easiest, or depending on what voltage the laptop requires you could just use a DC-DC transformer.

EDIT: Wait. I want to hook up a USB GPS reciever, so I think I am going to go with something a little more versatile.

Um, you know laptops have USB, too...

I wouldn't recommend an Eee; its storage capabilities are too limited. (4 gigs maximum flash storage and SD cards? that's like a jumbo PDA...) Besides, for the price you can get a used laptop with more appropriate specs.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:42 am

I would never buy one personally. But if I had an old one handed to me for less than $100, that's what I'd do with it.