HP Pavilion s7320n Slimline as a carputer?

**Chuckles** · 01-21-2006, 04:20 PM

So I just bought a cadillac cts a few weeks ago and I'm looking at adding a carputer to it. For the actual computer, I was wondering what people thought of the new hp slimline computers. They run on celeron m, so they'd have low power consumption, and since it's going to mount in the trunk, I could steal the dvd writer for my home pc. With the dvd removed, it would room for another hard drive (large mp3/video collection) or even a dc-dc power supply.

Here's info on the new hp slimline computers:

HP Pavilion s7320n

It doesn't seem bad for $430 - $500 for all you get (celeron m 1.6ghz, 200gb hd, 1gb ram, dvd dl rw, etc.)

What do you think, good for a carputer? Do you think it would be easy to use a dc-dc power supply instead of what's already in there?

**DarquePervert** · 01-21-2006, 04:39 PM

It would work.
A DC-DC power supply will be fine, so long as the motherboard is ATX-compliant. Then swap the existing PSU with a DSATX, M-series or Opus.

**jmartens** · 06-29-2006, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

It would work.
A DC-DC power supply will be fine, so long as the motherboard is ATX-compliant. Then swap the existing PSU with a DSATX, M-series or Opus.

Please dont flame me, I just searched HP on the specs of these machines and could not find out if it is atx-compiant. Where else can I search for that info?

**PootsworthIII** · 06-29-2006, 07:35 PM

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...name=c00590366

Looks like it'll be fine.

Although, I built my own using this case. I couldn't find the size specs on the HP, but it looks about the same. The case I showed will take any micro-ATX motherboard. You might come out cheaper by peicing together a system off eBay. Leave a little more room for upgrades. Just my two cents. I understand the appeal of an "all-in-one" package.

**jmartens** · 06-29-2006, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by PootsworthIII

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...name=c00590366

Looks like it'll be fine.

Although, I built my own using this case. I couldn't find the size specs on the HP, but it looks about the same. The case I showed will take any micro-ATX motherboard. You might come out cheaper by peicing together a system off eBay. Leave a little more room for upgrades. Just my two cents. I understand the appeal of an "all-in-one" package.

obviously I did not search very well!! Thanks for the help, it is GREATLY appreciated and thanks for not flaming me!!

**PootsworthIII** · 06-29-2006, 07:48 PM

NP. Flaming is a waste of everyone's time. I trust you looked.

BTW, I have a pentium 3 1 Ghz w/ motherboard and RAM if you're interested in starting out real cheap. It's not blazing fast, but it'll fit in that case I showed ya and it'll get the job done.

Just glad to see someone else going the ATX route instead of ITX

**jmartens** · 06-30-2006, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by PootsworthIII

NP. Flaming is a waste of everyone's time. I trust you looked.

BTW, I have a pentium 3 1 Ghz w/ motherboard and RAM if you're interested in starting out real cheap. It's not blazing fast, but it'll fit in that case I showed ya and it'll get the job done.

Just glad to see someone else going the ATX route instead of ITX

Thanks for the offer, but I think I am going to the HP. There is one at BestBuy that has a 15" monitor with it and I can use that for my daughters computer in the house. And although I would really enjoy building my own machine, I simply do not have the time right now.
You have any pics of your set up you could post? I am curious as to what power supply you ended up using.

Thanks again.

**breaker021** · 06-30-2006, 01:28 AM

Absolutely you can use the slimline. I considered this on one of my older posts:

Forget mini itx cases + mobos....

I see no problem with running 2 drives in it and removing the DVD burner/optical drive.

I was actually looking at the slimline also - it's a pretty high end box with a nice and small footprint. The only 'hassle' i see is wiring the power button onto your dash somewhere, but that's about it. Take a look through this site at mounting options that people have used for PCs/slim/thin client style PCs.

good luck man. ;]
- sh00k

**jmartens** · 06-30-2006, 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by breaker021

Absolutely you can use the slimline. I see no problem with running 2 drives in it and removing the DVD burner/optical drive.

I was actually looking at the slimline also - it's a pretty high end box with a nice and small footprint. The only 'hassle' i see is wiring the power button onto your dash somewhere, but that's about it. Take a look through this site at mounting options that people have used for PCs/slim/thin client style PCs.

good luck man. ;]
- sh00k

Hey you have the xB right?? That is what I have, I just got a new '06 and freaking love it. There is so much room in there its like the circus with all the clowns coming out!! ha ha.

I think I am go with the HP slimline, OPUS 150 watt DC-DC power Supply
and just need to find a monitor. You think the opus is a good choice? Also why would you take out the DVD burner/optical drive, personal preference?

**breaker021** · 06-30-2006, 11:36 AM

Hey man, yeah I have a 2006 white xB that I got in january and I love the thing like crazy!!!

Yeah, personal pref. about taking the drive out. Almost all the movies I have are on my hard drive, so what I do now with the tablet laptop (which by the way does NOT have an optical drive) is just bring over my 1 gig usb thumb drive with the movie i wanna watch on it. I turn on my car, turn on the tablet, copy the movie over and that's it. The copy takes like 2-3 minutes for a full movie - not bad since in that time, im also warming the car up ;] I personally don't see a need to have a CD drive in the car. Maybe if someone brings in a DVD i won't be able to watch it, but with over 100 simpsons episodes on tablet, I think they'll forget about the DVD and just watch that ;]

This is a pic of the 256mb thumb drive. I have the same exact one with the exception that mine is 1 gig of storage.

No harm in keeping the dvd rom inside though. i think that it DOES use more power though even if you dont have a CD/dvd in the drive. Not that it makes a huge difference, but it's somethign to think about. I would run the slimline with a single huge (200+ gb) drive in it and that's it. No second drives, no dvd/cd drives, not a single luxury ;]

ps - check out www.scionlife.com to see what other people have done to their boxes!!! that site is nuts!
- sh00k