My Future Car-PC

**cla1067** · 10-24-2010, 03:23 AM

2002 Honda CIVIC EX (Coupe) | Live in FL, so hopefully I won't have a heat issue.

Well hopefully it is about time for me to get my first carpc finally. On a budget though, so I'm gonna have to get some of the extra things over-time.

Currently have:
FE: Roadrunner w/DFX 5.0.3 skin
OS: Windows 7 32/64bit
GPS: BU-353
OBII: OBDLink Bluetooth
Bluetooth: random USB dongle I had laying around
Radio: Directed HD

What I'm looking at getting:
Hardware:
Screen: Lilliput 669GL-70NP/C/T-HB-RV 7" and buy a double din for it.
PSU: M4-ATX 250W
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H
CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 240e 2.8GHz
Ram: G.SKILL ECO Series DDR3 1333 (2 x 2GB)

Cables & Hub:
HDMI: Nippon Labs 15 ft.
USB 3.0: Nippon Labs 15 ft
Hub: USB 3.0 (compatible w/ 1.0-3.0)

Sound:
AMP: Kicker 10zx350.4

I took a guess at the 15ft cable and will do some measuring before I order. The carpc will be located in the trunk w/amp. The amp I'm pretty sure won't have a problem powering 4 speakers inside the car.

I am a little worried if the PSU can power the computer without any issues because I decided against the atom and even a mini-itx bored. I will be using a normal 2.5 laptop hard drive until I can afford a SSD drive. I will also be using onboard audio unless I have issues with it. I'm also planning on down the line adding a second monitor dedicated just for navigation that will be hidden and come out of dash when navigation is being used (but that is later down the line). Yes I will be getting fusion brain v6 at some point (that is gonna be pretty fun). front aux/usb, space navigator, and all that stuff will come at a later date as well.

Anyways please read over what I listed and let me know if anything can be improved, forgot something, or something might not work correctly. I'm new to carpc, but have computer experience.

Thanks!

**DarquePervert** · 10-24-2010, 04:16 AM

You should have no problems with the M4 providing enough power for that system.
The CPU is an excellent choice. Those 45w Athlon IIs are nice CPUs.

And for compatibility reasons, I'd go 32-bit for the OS.

**cla1067** · 10-24-2010, 02:47 PM

The atom just seems to weak to me for future additions and if the CPU is to powerful I can always underclock it a little. I'll go with the 32bit for compatibility as you said (plus wouldn't really benefit with 64bit).

**cla1067** · 10-26-2010, 06:28 AM

What would be the cheapest way to get power to this hub? The plug says its output is 5v and 4.0Amax. I'm gonna get the m4-atx, but the computer will be in trunk and hub in center console.

edit: what about this? I don't know if there is anything cheaper, but I plan on using a dvd rom as well.

**Cabe** · 10-26-2010, 08:32 AM

The 4Amps max seems a bit high as each USB port can only use 500mA or a total of 2Amps. (unless USB 3.0 has changed the specs).

I would guess that PSU would be more than capable for a DVD drive and assorted other gadgets.

**cla1067** · 10-29-2010, 05:12 PM

Not sure the exact specs, but I know its carrying more power. I would be using it for usb 2.0 things anyways, so I wouldn't get that high. Still wondering if there are any point of loads as good or better for a better price.

The Lilliput 669 comes with a HDMI to HDMI-USB cable. Would I really have to run there cable to plug the usb to the usb hub that would be located right next to it and then run an extension HDMI cable? Why wouldn't they make the usb separate, so I could just run one hdmi cable from the monitor to the computer in the trunk and then one usb cable for the monitor to the usb hub right behind it? Anyways is there is a better solution then running there hdmi-usb cable and an extention hdmi cable?

**soundman98** · 10-29-2010, 05:40 PM

after some research. yes, you could plug the usb directly into the hub right near it, and you would need to run the hdmi all the way back to the pc.

though i recommend running both video (weather it be vga, dvi, or hdmi), and usb all the way back to the pc to eliminate issues with control if the hub ceases functioning for one reason or another..

**cla1067** · 10-29-2010, 05:45 PM

I just hate extension cables, but I guess it really doesn't matter to much.

**tripzero** · 10-29-2010, 07:07 PM

so why is it that the atom isn't powerful enough for you?

**cla1067** · 10-29-2010, 07:50 PM

This is going to be phase 1 and I don't want to have to upgrade my cpu and motherboard later down the line. The first phase an atom would be able to power, but then second phase (not planned out yet) will consist of one or two cameras, two monitors, fusion brain, extra aux, and what else I decide to add.

I think the atom later on in my build will start getting bogged down pretty easy. I won't have a head unit, so the computer will have to run everything. I will be running windows which takes more to run then linux (I like linux and have a linux server, but for at least my first build I want to run windows). Since sound and video are onboard the cpu has to do all the work. mini-atx boards have more room for growth. Those are some of my unorganized thoughts. I am mostly focusing on right now, but still always think about the future as well.

Wifi
Bluetooth
phone
gps
obd II
two monitors
sound system
aux
hd radio
fusion brain
dvd rw
cameras
might steal HiJackZX1 mirror idea

(way later though)
and so on

This is just explaining why I don't think an atom would be the best decision and I'm not even in the planning stage for some of these things because they require more money then I currently have.