Proposed Newbie Build

**unstatusthequo** · 12-06-2005, 01:37 PM

Ok, so I'm finally going to sack up and install my own car pc. I'm doing it because it will cost FAR less than adding a BMW factory Navigation system or third party nav sytem, and will hold music and movies, and can play dvds or music from the DVD rom drive as well...

Here's my proposed build. Any of the experts have any suggestions. My main problem is the auto on/off controller. I definitely need suggestions that will work with the setup below

Here's what my plans are:

POWER PRODUCER:
Vector 700watt continuous / 1400watt peak DC-AC inverter with dual plugs. (http://www.vectormfg.com/catalog/vec...ter-p-303.html)

SCREEN:
Xenarc 7" Touchscreen USB 700TSV Silver (http://www.xenarc.com/product/700ts.html)

CASE:
Shuttle SN25P (http://global.shuttle.com/Product/Barebone/SN25P.asp)
(going with AMD based so it runs cooler... plus the x64 support is nice.)

PROCESSOR:
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 1GHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103535)

EXTERNAL MEDIA BAYS:
LITE-ON Black IDE DVD Burner (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106988)
NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Model FD1231H-302 - OEM (you don't need a link and you know it... I may actually be able to do without this if I dont' go RAID... only reason I ever have floppy drives is for the stupid *** F6 Windows install problem...)

INTERNAL STORAGE:
(here's where I need some suggestions. As it will be in a sports car, it's not exactly going to be an ultra-smooth ride, especially on the crappy streets. So, I need suggestions on a VERY VERY shock tolerant hard drive... I'm thinking something like the following

Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3300831AS 300GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148064)

I'm not exactly sure what the G-Force protection is on that... anyone know, or have suggestions.

GPS NAVIGATION INTERFACE:
DeLorme Earthmate. Not sure, but I'm thinking the USB may be less fussy... (http://www.delorme.com/earthmate/default.asp)

GPS SOFTWARE:
Street Atlas USA® 2006 Plus on DVD (http://www.delorme.com/streetatlasplus/default.asp)

COOLING ADDITIONS:
Dynatron Exhaust Blower (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835888602)

VIDEO CARD:
ASUS EN6600/TD/128 Geforce 6600 128MB 128-bit DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121180)
That may be an overkill, I haven't decided. What I do know is I don't want to use crappy shared memory video cards. BLEH!

MEMORY:
GeIL Value 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820144310)
Used this mem before, I'm rather impressed, and I like the price.

KEYBOARD:
None, yo! It's the on-screen WinBlows keyboard through the touchscreen. (for the win!)

MOUSE:
ditto.

CAR AUDIO INTERFACE:
Soundgate AUXBMW (http://www.soundgate.com/index.php?r...&usereferrer=1)
It connects to the factory pre-wired CD changer input. Nice that I don't have the changer, so now I can use an conversion cable for the audio out from the box to this unit, and have the sound play right through the car speakers.

Any suggestions?

**DarquePervert** · 12-06-2005, 02:00 PM

The Athlon64 in the car is a waste of computing horsepower and drives your budget excessively high. There's not a single reason you need a 64-bit CPU in your vehicle.

There's also the potential heat issues from that powerful a CPU.

The inverter is more likely to induce RFI and noise into the audio portion of the setup.

**unstatusthequo** · 12-06-2005, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

The Athlon64 in the car is a waste of computing horsepower and drives your budget excessively high. There's not a single reason you need a 64-bit CPU in your vehicle.

There's also the potential heat issues from that powerful a CPU.

The inverter is more likely to induce RFI and noise into the audio portion of the setup.

Ok, the 64 bit may be an overkill, but I'm definitely going AMD because they run cooler, generally.

What do you recommend to clean up the audio signal and keep the inverter from messing with the sound setup?

**DarquePervert** · 12-06-2005, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by unstatusthequo

Ok, the 64 bit may be an overkill, but I'm definitely going AMD because they run cooler, generally.

Going with a mobile CPU makes 'em run even cooler. If you've got the bucks to spend, a P4-M is the way to go, in my opinion. Others are looking at Athlon64-M setups. That might be pushing it, but I don't know.

What do you recommend to clean up the audio signal and keep the inverter from messing with the sound setup?

DC-DC power supply.
Check the store here for several different models. Be prepared to scale back your proposed setup to meet the limited power output of the available power supplies, though.

My setup is an AthlonXP mobile 2400+ in a Shuttle SFF box (chopped down to about 3" tall) with a 1u cooler on it.
I'm torn between the tried and true Opus 150w PSU or the newer DSATX 220w one. I'll likely go with the latter to allow for future upgrades.

Oh, and be prepared for some sticker shock. You think that beefy Antec PSU is pricey? Think again....

**MatrixPC** · 12-06-2005, 03:29 PM

AMD XP Mobile with Barton core is a way to go.

**Civic03** · 12-13-2005, 10:10 AM

What do you guys think about this system? http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...&sku=A457-6006

Would a Opus 150 power work with it? I'm torn with VIA and the Shuttle Pentium M type system. I need speed and don't want to deal with slow GPS system and chopping MP3. I know others have said they run fine and I was thinking about getting a MII 12000 or SP13000 board.

Thoughts?

**viper24** · 12-13-2005, 12:48 PM

In my experience, AMDs run a TON hotter than intels. I am a huge AMD fan and have rarely ever get anything elso other than AMDs but For power consumption and heat I would say AMD is at the top of that list.

I had the same idea you had on my first carpc model. I soon found out it is much easier and more reliable to run the computer off of 12v instead of using an inverter. you generate audio noise with inverters and it takes alot of inverter horsepower to run everything in the vehicle. I would consider looking at 12 PSUs and if you are using anything else thats 120v, then figure out what power it actually needs and find a 12v PSU for it. Good luck bo, sounds like a killer setup.

**tja** · 12-13-2005, 02:46 PM

if u want power to spare and cool runnings.. Dothan Core pentium M for sure! even Dothan celeron M!
good reading:
Pentium M vs Centrino M;
Pentium M for desktop computing

either of which will run fine off a opus 150

Originally Posted by viper24

In my experience, AMDs run a TON hotter than intels.

back in the old days!