Thread: Using defective laptop as carputer

Hey, that works but you will spend more money on a decent laptop with a defective screen then a new decent computer...you can build a small computer that is FAST, like put a xp 1800 in there for like.....$200. Rather go with the computer then laptop and if you ever need to upgrade then you can, and laptop you cant upgrade jack.

Check out my project, did exactly that
entire system cost (laptop, power, everything) $400

I dare anyone to build a box with similar power and durability for under $400.... I don't need to spend $200 on an opus powersuply all I need is a $5 small circut and a $35 car adaptor for the laptop. 850Mhz is more than enough power, 512 ram is pleanty, 32meg ati m4 is more than enough... and I have 2xusb, 2x pcmcia, firewire, s-video out, vga out, 802.11b, ethernet, dvd laptops are the way to go


Techno-Violet ///M(p)3 *Updated* 4-16-03

and seabass you can ungrade components on good laptops, I can swap out the ati m4 card for a mobile radeon, and my cpu is mmpga so I can swap it out for upto 1.13ghz and I can add ram and I can add bigger hard drives... what can't I upgrade?

Originally posted by Seabass
Hey, that works but you will spend more money on a decent laptop with a defective screen then a new decent computer...you can build a small computer that is FAST, like put a xp 1800 in there for like.....$200. Rather go with the computer then laptop and if you ever need to upgrade then you can, and laptop you cant upgrade jack.

Yes, but.. a regular computer will require a power supply with high power, so if i don't want to use dc-ac stuff that requires much space and power, i will have to buy an Opus, and that is 200$.. Now i can get a laptop with decent specs (though broken screen) for that price!

edit: techm3 you took the words right out of my mouth

Originally posted by decube
I got this crazy idea! What about buying an used laptop with a defective screen(connect tv-out to external 7" tft) for use as a carputer?

I would not call this a carputer. I would call it a ghetto-hack-attempt-at-carputing.

my advice, save save save and do it right!

do it right? maybe you should go read my project, more bang for the buck than any other setup

Techno-Violet ///M(p)3 *Updated* 4-16-03

techm3, do you have any images of the final product? did you have a vga touchscreen to access the laptop?

no pictures of the finished product because it isn't finished. I still ahven't purchased the touch screen because I'm getting married and I ran out of money (wedding is in 3 days actually) anyway It will be controlled by a 7" indash touchscreen (from digitalww) otherwise everything works I'll try and take some pictures when I get a chance but everything is really hectic right now because of the upcomming wedding. After I get back from the honeymoon I'll get back to work on the project with pleanty of pictures

Whats wrong with a car PC laptop?

Theres no right and wrong in making a car PC. As long as you build it within your required spec, so go for it if you think the price is right and its workable =)

Mine is based in a Compaq EVO N1000v motherboard on custom made case.

P4 2.0GHz (up to 2.4GHZ)
512MB RAM (up to 1GB)
30GB HDD
8X DVD ROM
ATI Radeon 7500 64 Bit - 32 MB
Onboard sound
2 x PCMCIA
2 x USB
Audio In / Out
Network
Modem
Serial Port
PS2
Firewire
Infra Red

Small casing, low heat, low noise, low power, HDD can tolerate bumps, no shut down during engine cranking, battery backup, can be placed somewhere hidden.

All for just about £250

Its obvious you cant butcher a new laptop, but if you can buy one with a cracked screen cheap then it make more sense.

Yes maybe the sound is not good enough for some but hey if thats a problem theres always a USB external sound card around such as the SB Extigy. Even a desktop PC wont have a good sound anyway unless you go for USB sound.

Beside desktop PC is not designed to run off battery...so ill say laptop spec parts is more suited for car PC.

And yes most laptop these days are uggradable for more power. When you upgrade a desktop PC for more power you find that the new parts wont work 100% on your old motherboard anyway. All you end up with is an old case, dusty PSU and the good old FDD which are hardly worth anything.

Wow it must be ugly seeing a tower/desktop PC in the car.

LOL just a thought...dont flame =)