Trunk mount PC with dash mount optical drive, USB, and monitor...

I have a smaller car, and not a lot of options for mounting the PC. I was looking to use my rather large glove box, but it is going to be barely too small lengthwise. So, it is back to the trunk idea. Anyway, I need (want...) to run an optical drive, possibly even Blu Ray at some point, in the dash where the radio will be removed from. I can do this via USB 3.0, but I believe that will be too far of a run for a USB cable. I also want a dash mounted USB port or 2 for connecting thumb drives and such.

I have seen USB/Cat5e extension systems, but none that expressly say USB 3.0. I don't think USB 2.0 will let a regular DVD drive run efficiently, much less a Blu Ray. Does anyone make a USB 3.0 extender, or can I just run a cable? It would be about a 15'-20' run by the time I snake around the car. I can shorten that some by running it strait up the middle, but would obviously have to put it in some sort of sleeving to keep it from getting smashed and abraded.

Sorry, I am kind of new at this. I am an IT professional, but my expertise is in systems security for the last 8 years, and I have kind of fallen out of touch with the hardware world, so I really don't know the specs on anything any more. The standard I read for USB 3.0 is 9.8' (3 meters), or up to 50/60 feet using cable/hub/cable/hub/cable... configuration (assuming no cable is longer than 3 meters). That may be my solution, too. I can take a single cable to a hub mounted under the back half of my console (around a 6'-8' run by the time I route around stuff, the console is hollow). Then 2-3 cables up to the dash (another 5' or so), one for an optical drive another one (or 2) for available ports.

Thoughts on this? I won't deny that I am new at this, and I may be missing something.

USB 3 is a gimmick, don't bother with it. There isn't any hardware out there right now that even remotely uses that speed. Your hardware won't even max out USB 2 speeds.

Depending on the car you have you could use the glove box if it is close.. It is very simple to cut the box as long as you have room. If you are using a small case you might be able to find a place up on the fire wall under the dash you could mount it. Also if you do not have power seats you could possibly sneak it under one of the front seats. Look at car audio installs for your car and look for places people have put amplifiers.

As far as USB 3.0. It is backward compatible with 2.0 so you could get a 3.0 board and just run 2.0 extenders without issue but it would be 2.0 after that point. You COULD go with USB 3.0 extenders but I don't know that it will be an issue. USB 2.0 works fine with DVD. I have not tried it with Blue Ray. Since all of the USB 2.0 stuff is pretty cheap it wouldn't take much to get the extenders you want and try them out and see if they work.

Personally I will be getting a small case and a 65w i7 for my machine. And I most certainly will have USB 3.0 for future expansion.

Bluray data transfer speeds are about 72Mbps, USB 2 data transfer speeds are 480Mbps. Like I said, forget USB3, it's worthless. USB 2 will do everything you want it to do.