hi guys, was reffered to here.

**ares** · 03-08-2003, 11:38 AM

guys over at clubsi said this was the place for help. I guess we'll see.

Im looking to add a computer into my 350Z, it does not have factory nav, so that is the area Im intending to use for the screen.

thats the area for the screen, except it does not have any of the stuff in there obviously, just the outside area, then a deep hole with the cover on it. right now its gum storage... what can I say, I like gum.

so I was thinking of using the xenarc 7" screen, looks to be a great application for it, assuming it will fit, which Im still investigating.

the question relies sorta outside that tho, in the setup of the computer itself.

I plan for a p3 1ghz processor, 512 sdram, gforce 4 ti4200, creative audio, a 40gb slim hd, slim DVD rom, and lots of USB ports for lots of stuff. Id like to remote mount the DVD, usb, and a ethernet jack into somewhere near the front of the car, but I dont know where exactly...

for the USB ports my idea was to put them in a third switch place that has no use in my car, there are 3 spots, 2 are for heated seats, the third I assume would be used in the rhd version, you can barely see them in this picture, but they are in the center console, you can see 2 switches and a third spot you think I could mount 2 USB ports in that spot?

other than that, I think USB devices would not need to be displayed prominantly in the cabin, so they could have their hookups concealed behind the scenes, the USBs that are exposed or mainly for USB data storage since there is no writable drives... the ethernet hook up would be the other method of retrieving info from the computer.

as for the DVD player, Im at a loss of good places for it, so I figure either flush mounted in the rear wall between the seats(dont have a picture of that, but its there, or inside the center console, just mount it on the floor of it, there should be plenty of room for it to open and close in there, but then you can really put anything in there, so Im leaning towards the rear mount, even tho something in front of me would be nicer.

and tricks of the trade kinda suggestions you can make? I am in college right now, and spring break is in a week, so thats my planned date of installation, giving me about a week to order the parts I need and design the lay out.

oh one last question... power supply, what do you guys use for a computer powersupply? dc-ac-dc, or do you go straight dc-dc? the latter seems more direct, but it also seems more expensive, am I missing something?

**ddt** · 03-08-2003, 02:30 PM

That's a lot of questions and welcome to the board.

First off search and browse the forums. Tons of info here.

Secondly... you might want to speak with Alphared (board member) he's doing a 350Z install and you could probably bounce ideas off each other.

**SuperMatty** · 03-09-2003, 12:12 AM

" the latter seems more direct, but it also seems more expensive, am I missing something?"

Sorry, couldn't help myself, but you're in college and ALSO bought a brand new? Does expensive really mean anything to you?

Does money?

**cproaudio** · 03-09-2003, 12:20 AM

You can also talk to g35c. He just got done putting a capachino PC in his Inf G35 Coupe. It's basically a souped up 350Z. His link is The computer is in! G35 Coupe and http://www.unc.edu/~inorkuo/g35/

**Alphared** · 03-09-2003, 02:11 AM

Originally posted by cproaudio
You can also talk to g35c. He just got done putting a capachino PC in his Inf G35 Coupe. It's basically a souped up 350Z. His link is The computer is in! G35 Coupe and http://www.unc.edu/~inorkuo/g35/

the g34 coupe isn't a souped up 350Z. The 350Z is a sports car, the g35 is a luxury coupe with less horsepower and torque.

**cproaudio** · 03-09-2003, 10:07 AM

ohh you're one of those people who gets offended when someone calls your GMC truck a chevy truck, or an ES300 a Camry, or a RX300 a Harrier, or a I35 a Maxima, or a Sable a Taurus. They have simular interior therefore installation should be almost the same. Installing a car PC has nothing to do with engine horse power or torque. I thought it's a G35 coupe not a G34. What I meant to say is that g35c has done a PC install in his G35 coupe which is a simular car as the 350Z

**mikeinsanmarcos** · 03-09-2003, 01:32 PM

Welcome to the board... Sweet car, good luck on your install (I wish I had a big *** pocket like that in my car).

Mike

**ares** · 03-10-2003, 12:14 PM

hey thanks for the replies, I actually managed to find the proper layout for the PC, gonna use a custom box, and basicly remotely mount all the components in little pockets of space... only way.

however, 2 question remain, and Id guess you guys to be the most informed on them.

first.

the screen I will be using is a xenarc 7inch touch screen, you might be familiar with it, if not www.xenarc.com and just click on the touchscreen link on the left. any good stores to purchase such an item from? your typical computer stores dont carry it, and electronic stores are a dime a dozen and itd be nice to get a refferal to a good shop with good prices(should be between 550-600$)

and second

My car has bose sound system, any tricks on how to get a lead into it? the only way so far is with an FM modulater, which is ****ty since I have mp3 and dvd sound knocked back to FM quality... any solutions there? somehow wire it into the cassette player wires or something?

I have money, but not unlimited, so a new head unit is out of the question.

**SuperMatty** · 03-10-2003, 12:21 PM

Does the head unit have 'soft' controls? I am not famliiar with it. A guy I work with has an AUDI TT, and he got the protocol for it and used some hardware (a microcontroller) to work with the cd changer input. He was then able to change tracks and things in winamp using the buttons on the stock head unit. Was pretty nice.