Thread: Build vs Buy...

Originally Posted by plan_Z

"I remember when i was in your shoes...young...and didnt know much at all about carputers...but hopefully i can enlighten you"

.....ahhh, the blissful days of youth...means alot coming from a 19 year old SoCal guy in a Honda! Thanks for the info.

While I respect those who would build a system for the sake of the challenge and satisfaction of a job well done, I'm looking for a setup that's a little more functioning and a little less continual maintenance. Having worked in IT for the past 15 years, I'm all about calling 1-800-hey my stuff isn't working!

Keep the suggestions coming and I'll keep you posted on progress.

plan_Z

Peanut gallery here.....

Hear goes, I too just did my car computer and I am pretty mechanically sound when it comes to electronics.

I had a great experience with Roland at logic supply. He gave me some great input into my system and in no way was he pushy.

I took apart my car myself and planned out the project over 4 weeks. Running cabling, finding good ground points, and reducing audio THD and signal noise was important to me since I also am an audio buff.

2004 Chrysler Crossfire CarPC Finished!

Your dilligence early in the process and attention to detail will pay off. Don't rush the job.... and hopefully you have another daily driver so you can have the car down for awhile so you can work out the project to your level of detail.

Places not to cut corners.... Cable shielding, Gauge of power cable(s), Ground points, Shutdown controller, proven motherboard, good DC-DC powersupply, audio interface into existing audio system.

Mine is completely turn key and has an OEM quality feel and dependable performance which was important to me since my car is brand new.

Without this forum I would be nowhere with the project. So listen keenly to the big hitters here they know there stuff. This forum is more for the DIY crowd and not the pre-packaged end user. That however does not mean they too don't strive for a turn key approach like me.

Hope this helps, ChrisG

Originally Posted by Yuriy

I assume that you are asking because you are either lazy or don't have a lot of experience and have a lot of cash to spend. If that's the case then it would make sense to buy a pre-built one. However, if it was me with all that cash of yours I'd build my own system to suit my needs better.

Originally Posted by Yunusyu

and this 19 year old wishes you best of luck

maybe I'll just wait on my Social Security check and read the paper....these young whippersnappers are wearing me out!

plan_Z

ChrisG,

I saw your pics during my research.......that's EXACTLY what I'm looking to do! I don't want to appear lazy or non-entreprenueral, but scouring the boards thread by thread is a great way to get the foundation, but I like to ask specific questions. By reading the posts here, I'm convinced that the user community here is one of sharpest groups around (you should read some of the stuff the clowns on the 350Z sites are putting out) and am in no way discounting their input.

I have a TON of questions, so maybe we should take it offline...or if you think everyone would be interested (hehehe, see how I sneaked that in!), we could do it here?

plan_Z

Originally Posted by plan_Z

maybe I'll just wait on my Social Security check and read the paper....these young whippersnappers are wearing me out!

plan_Z

Most of them really know there stuff. Don't underestimate there knowledge cause they are a bit sarcastic. I too am a bit old here (35 yrs old).

Originally Posted by plan_Z

maybe I'll just wait on my Social Security check and read the paper....these young whippersnappers are wearing me out!

plan_Z

Geez, sorry man. Next time I'll try to stay out of your threads

no way dude.....speak up early and often!

I'm not hatin' on you guys in any way, so keep the input coming.

plan_Z

Plan_Z, I would say it all depends on what you plan on doing with it.

The Xenarc has an integrated video that can support up to 64 megs of video memory. I'm not sure how well the Intel integrated video is with FMV and DVD playback so you'll need to look into that.

The mini-itx Epia V10000 has an integrated video as well but also supplies one PCI slot for expansion of a better video card if needed. I like this idea so I'm not stuck with only integrated components.

Everything else can basically be an extension of the system via USB. Both items offer USB support which will basically open them up to limitless solutions.

A PC is a PC and whether you build one or buy one prebuilt, the OS and software are what makes the difference. Unless you plan on placing a pure breed P4 2.8ghz in the trunk then I'd think the mini-itx with the Via C3 Processor is just as good as the Xenarc that you're looking at.


Keep in mind that alot of issues with either solution will revolve around software related problems.

Originally Posted by mdrt4me

Peanut gallery here.....

Hear goes, I too just did my car computer and I am pretty mechanically sound when it comes to electronics.

I had a great experience with Roland. He gave me some great input into my system and in no way was he pushy.

I took apart my car myself and planned out the project over 4 weeks. Running cabling, finding good ground points, and reducing audio THD and signal noise was important to me since I also am an audio buff.

2004 Chrysler Crossfire CarPC Finished!

Your dilligence early in the process and attention to detail will pay off. Don't rush the job.... and hopefully you have another daily driver so you can have the car down for awhile so you can work out the project to your level of detail.

Places not to cut corners.... Cable shielding, Gauge of power cable(s), Ground points, Shutdown controller, proven motherboard, good DC-DC powersupply, audio interface into existing audio system.

Mine is completely turn key and has an OEM quality feel and dependable performance which was important to me since my car is brand new.

Without this forum I would be nowhere with the project. So listen keenly to the big hitters here they know there stuff. This forum is more for the DIY crowd and not the pre-packaged end user. That however does not mean they too don't strive for a turn key approach like me.

Hope this helps, ChrisG

Maybe im just a bit old school, but in terms of cutting corners, a shut down controller and dc-dc psu are more like icing than core components, atleast to me, but you're certainly right about not skimping on the cabling/sheilding/grounding.

Thanks Station Rocket for the plug even though we will not peruse sales on this form. As for as the price. I agree. I think it is expensive too. I also think the Japan companies who make all the alpine and Sony etc system that don’t include we you guys have and what we have is the real companies who have been ripping everyone off with old technology and just change colors and face plate. Retail store charge up to 4500 for a pioneer loaded out with XM gps DVD etc and it dose not have what we have. I think as far as the market goes we are right in line. Remember I did say in one reply that we have a full operational office with techs, installer, reps etc we handle our business just like a car audio factory. Just to give you guys some incite one general business. When a factory builds a electronic type product they normally mark it up 50 present to the distributor and they rep it to the retailer for a commission of 3 to 8 % then the retailer usually get about 40 points for the sale over the counter in his store. I had 3 audio stores in for 13 years. This is the way it works. Now if you break that flow but selling your product for cheap to kick al the other companies to the curb well that doesn’t work. SO maybe you ask why...well as soon as you go to low even if you product is top of the line the consumer think that it is not just cheap but also junk. We as Americans in the retail world can not conceive and top of the line product for cheap. I mean a Rolex tells the time... right... well so do the cheap imitation but the Rolex is 10,000 dollar. I would never pay for a 10,000 for a watch but they got so real unique people who do. Why are spinning rims so expensive? You can buy cheaper spinning rims that are just as good but then you won’t feel that you have the best. The truth is that we had this product since 1997 yes 1997 I heard someone comment about that but yes in 1997 we have a very small incar PC and by 1999 it was ignition controlled 12v tax with wide volt input. we even should it at the CES show in Las Vegas under the company called ADS which use to make Orion PPI etc car audio and now owed buy DEI (viper). It was called D.V.A.S (Digital Video Audio System). We sold many for these thing for $5900 just because it had the name ADS which is known for high end audio speakers etc. Unfortunately, ADS sold out to DEI in 2001 and I took my work with me because they broke the contract I had with them. So you say what is the point? Well I tried to market the product for cheap before I had a big name and well known. I could move sell anything for even 1700 because people was think it was to good to be true. AS soon as I move the price higher people started buying. So you tell me what would you do?

Well I should not be type all this stuff any way but it is late and I am waiting on the emails and I was bored. But mainly it was still just to say thanks to the plug from Station Rocket. And as far as the software not being that impressive well maybe maybe not be the truth is that everything works and it dose anything that you would want and incar player to do. Not to mention over 12000 units sold and only 2% repair cost of business which is pretty good considering the **** our customer do with our product


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