Upgrade CarPuter or not?

**Creoden** · 01-25-2005, 05:42 PM

I have been in the building stage for my CarPuter for a few years now... I purchased an ASUS CUSI-FX Mini-ATX motherboard about 2 years ago and last year upgraded the processor to a 1GHz Via C3 Ezra with a 100MHz FSB. The system was supposed to go in my vehicle, but got pulled in to doing the job of our router... after upgrading to a new router I got the computer back, but here is the question. Do I use it as a CarPuter, even though its slightly outdated? (Its FSB is 100MHz) or do I upgrade to the VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX Mainboard? The real dilemma is I don't know how much of a performance increase I would get for dropping $200cdn on a new motherboard and processor. Has anyone done any upgrade similar, or should I stick to the CUSI-FX for another year and buy a new system when Via or someone similar releases something better? here are the specs on the CUSI-FX http://www.baber.com/baber/411/asuscusi-fx.htm

Any help would be appreciated.

Creoden

Creoden

**Creoden** · 01-26-2005, 03:34 PM

I guess no one has any comments or answers...

**Jailer** · 01-26-2005, 03:43 PM

The M10000 has an onboard MPEG-2 Accelerator so you should see a performance increase in DVD playback. Also, how are you planning on powering the system? I used an Opus 90W DC-DC PSU with my Epia V8000 and had so many problems, due to a timing issue on the 3.3V & 5V lines, that I upgraded to an M10000.

**god_of_cpu** · 01-26-2005, 03:44 PM

If you need performance you should forget about VIA altogether and get a pentium 4 or athlon system. Even under optimal conditions the M10000 can barely match an 800 mhz pentium.

**MatrixPC** · 01-26-2005, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by god_of_cpu

If you need performance you should forget about VIA altogether and get a pentium 4 or athlon system. Even under optimal conditions the M10000 can barely match an 800 mhz pentium.

I am 2nd.

**Creoden** · 01-26-2005, 04:20 PM

Damn... ok thanks, guess its time to look for a SFF (baby,mini,itx, etc...) that will support a mobile athlon xp processor...

**BeaverWise** · 01-27-2005, 03:36 AM

I also 3rd God_of_CPU and MatrixPC suggestion. The Via boards are small, but the on-board video does not match the native resolution of the Xenarc/Luliput screens and the on-board audio will not impress you... My two cents, and by my sig I should know.

**Creoden** · 01-27-2005, 01:23 PM

yea, thanks for all the imput, looks like I will have to put an ATX computer in to the car, after talking with a few people, for the computer to handle what its going to be doing (Communications radio, scanner, lights, etc...) it will need to be a little beefier than the Via series of motherboards.

Conundrum