Mounting Suggestions?

**mechmyday** · 07-29-2006, 05:36 PM

First of all, this is a carputer on the cheap. I got the PC free from work. It's a Gateway Profile 3 all-in-one PC, pretty much a 15" FPD with drives, MB, etc mounted on the back. I've did some measurements and found out with a little bit of modding, the whole thing fits somewhat nicely.

Here's a pic of the open space

Ideally, this is the position of the computer when I'm not using it.

And I would like the whole thing to slide up and out to this position.

For reference, here's the back of the machine.

The machine typically sits on a stand and has about 30° of motion. I've looked at standard VESA mounts for monitors, but most seem to large to work well.

Any ideas?

**parksgm** · 07-30-2006, 03:15 AM

Your comment concerning the size of the VESA mounts makes me think you're looking for a bolt-in/zero mod solution...which I doubt exists.

I noticed this is your first post...although you've been a member for a few months...do you have experience with this sort of thing/carpcs in general?

**mechmyday** · 08-20-2006, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by parksgm

Your comment concerning the size of the VESA mounts makes me think you're looking for a bolt-in/zero mod solution...which I doubt exists.

I noticed this is your first post...although you've been a member for a few months...do you have experience with this sort of thing/carpcs in general?

I'm not really looking for a zero-mod solution, because I really doubt one exists, I'm just looking for suggestions on a good place to start, ie using mounts from a slide-out keyboard from a desk, etc.

This will be my first carPC, its kinda a test run I guess, since the car I'm putting it in isn't really that great, (as is the PC going into it). I'm just trying it out to see what functionality I would really like in a carPC. Once I get a decent enough vehicle, then I'll have a little bit more experience with the install/use of a carPC.

**Friedrice** · 08-21-2006, 12:40 AM

A good point of ref might be looking how a car trunk opens up. Imagine the top of the trunk being your carputer in the "unused" position and try to mod from there. maybe a slide out railing then the cartrunk mechanism type hardware will push the screen to your desired position. Or you can go the way of some actuators, step motors or servo. Check out some other posts through search. Lots of ideas you can start with and mod as needed.

**~Rob** · 08-21-2006, 08:47 AM

If it was me, I'd put the PC in the trunk and run a VGA + USB cable to a touchscreen up front somewhere reachable. Where you propose to put it will make it a nightmare to use with a mouse, especially if you're on the motorway

**DeltaFX** · 08-21-2006, 03:21 PM

Rob, watch carefully : No VGA output.

if it was me, I'd first open the beast.

**~Rob** · 08-21-2006, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by DeltaFX

Rob, watch carefully : No VGA output.

oops! Who's bright idea was it to colour the serial port blue?

I bet there's a VGA header of sorts on the mobo though!

**Shadow** · 08-21-2006, 05:37 PM

and I bet that monitor's plugged into it.

**mechmyday** · 08-22-2006, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by Friedrice

A good point of ref might be looking how a car trunk opens up. Imagine the top of the trunk being your carputer in the "unused" position and try to mod from there. maybe a slide out railing then the cartrunk mechanism type hardware will push the screen to your desired position. Or you can go the way of some actuators, step motors or servo. Check out some other posts through search. Lots of ideas you can start with and mod as needed.

Interesting,I didn't think about using pneumatic pistons. I'll have to take a look at that. Thanks for the suggestion.

Originally Posted by ~Rob

oops! Who's bright idea was it to colour the serial port blue?

I bet there's a VGA header of sorts on the mobo though!

While I haven't ripped too much into the thing, I'm pretty sure the LCD is hardwired to the mobo, similar to most laptops.

**Sly1990** · 10-16-2006, 06:49 AM

I already opened one of those.

1st, No PCI expansion or AGP slot and YES, the LCD is hardwired to the mobo.
If you try to fiberglass it, you'll reallise that everything was holding on the facade and the CD drive was on the side. In other words, It's not really "builders friendly".

Second, You will never be able to run this PC on something else than its own screen. Useless if you plan to add Headrest or Trunk LCD in the future.

Personnaly, I would go with flat recycled Desktop PC (Ex: Dell GX240, Compact etc) in the trunk with a TS Monitor. Since you already have the CPU, HDD and Memory, only buying the used Case and a mobo would be cheap. (under 50$)

Having a Touchscreen monitor, will make it stronger because of the thick glass over it. It's nothing to compared to the breakable, scratchable, low angle vision All-in-one PC screen you own.

My 2 cents