About to take plunge, need comments

**JPerkins** · 05-21-2004, 10:26 AM

Hi all, I'm about to take the plunge and order this stuff. Here's some background.

Car: 2004 Nissan 350z Touring Roadster
ME: I want MP3, WMP Visualizations, DVD, CD, GPS capabilities. FM is pointless as I have XM.

Here are the parts and my rationale is included if needed.

Display Xenarc 700TS USB $370.00
I want the Xenarc because I heard they are built better, have auto shut-off and on.
http://store.karpc.com/cgi-bin/cp-ap...lcdmonitor.htm

Cable Xenarc 700TS USB/VGA 16Foot Extension cable $40
PC will be in the back, monitor up front. Its a $40 add-on from the above website.

Motherboard VIA Epia MII 10k $175.89
Here's the crux of it. Will this processor have enough oomph for playing full screen visualizations and DVD's? Hopefully yes.
http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=6067

Case Morex Cubid 3677 Black 82.89
This case comes with a 62.5W power supply, IDE to laptop and slimline connectors. I'm hoping the power will be enough.
http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=5748

Memory Kingston 512MB 266Mhz DDR 99.89
This should be enough to power all my needs.
http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=1264

Hard Drive Hitachi/IBM 80GB 5400RPM NoteBook Hard Drive 194.50
More space, yes, thanks. I probably have about 20gb of mp3's. I only need about 40gb but its only like $30 more. Here's the rub: will it push my power supply over the top?
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...factory=BROWSE

DVD Lite-On LSC-24082 Slim 8X DVD / 24x24x24x CDRW 89.89 Black Color
Slim Line DVD, I may change this for an external dvd/cdrw later because getting to the loader may become a pain but for now I like the fact that it is internal.
http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=6167

Power ITPS 12V voltage regulator 39.00
Standard Shut down controller.
http://www.logicsupply.com/product_i...roducts_id/162

I am removing the factory head-unit and installing an amplifier to power the speakers (infinity or JL audio). I will also be installing an infinity basslink.

So for the computer parts, I come to $1092.06. Ouch. However, thats 512mb ram, 80gb laptop hard drive. I'm concerned that maybe I have the nice options but the motherboard/cpu isn't up to speed. This particular motherboard does have some nice options of pcmcia slot (for wireless net card) and compact flash (for transferring photos from my digital cam.)

Please help me here. I'm about to take the plunge and would welcome any feedback whatsoever.

edit: changed to 512mb per suggestions from other posters.

**fondoo** · 05-21-2004, 10:32 AM

Motherboard VIA Epia MII 10k $175.89

you can get it for $153 free shipping at:
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch..._Code=Mini-ITX

personally i like the morex 3688:
http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?item=47706
review: http://www.mini-itx.com/reviews/3688/

my morex3688 and epia-m10K
http://home.rochester.rr.com/fondoo/epia10k/

**JPerkins** · 05-21-2004, 10:48 AM

Hi Fondoo,

The motherboard you linked doesn't appear to have pcmcia and compact flash slots. I'm wondering if it is worth the extra $18 for it....I could always get an external CF reader but the pcmcia is a different story. I wanted to use a cheap pcmcia wireless net card there but I may have to go external usb for reception....

I'm pretty sure the 3677 and 3688 are the exact same case except the front panel is modeled differently. I think its a matter of personal taste but both are excellent cases for the epia m10k boards.

**Enforcer** · 05-21-2004, 11:26 AM

You don't need that much memory. heck even 512MB is more than enough. My current system has 512MB but the new one I will be putting in in it's place will have only 256MB.

In most cases having too much memory has no detrimental effect, however if you plane to use the hibernate function, then you will need to allocate more space for your harddrive copy of your memory. also having to restore 1gig of memory will add to your boot up time.

even if you are not going to use the hibernate function, your page-file will have to be bigger, which again takes up more HD space.

**brrman** · 05-21-2004, 11:33 AM

whats MB???
you seem to have left off your numbers, enforcer!

**fondoo** · 05-21-2004, 11:36 AM

i purcahased 512MB Crucial PC2100 DDR ram at eBay at $72.00 and 512MB is well enough.

**Enforcer** · 05-21-2004, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by brrman

whats MB???
you seem to have left off your numbers, enforcer!

Sorry spellchecker got above it's station and deleted the numbers

**Paul_BB_Guy** · 06-07-2004, 11:25 PM

Hey JPerkins! I've got the same car and I'm thinking of installing a Mini-ATX system in there. I'd like to follow your progress as closely as possible! Take lots of pics if you can. Thanks much!