What is the best complete(ready to install) car computer on the market right now?

**BEHMER** · 07-11-2006, 06:47 PM

Title says it all. I did a bit of searching but I figured posing a thread is my best bet to find out about leading edge hardware. FYI this will hook to a XENARC 7"TSV flush mounted in my dash..

I am looking for a computer that can handle it all. I am mainly concerned with having a top end sound card. My complete stereo is based on sound quality and I want the best possible output to my pre amp..fiber optic?. I also want a fast machine. Plenty of hard drive space (100+gigs). Good video card too for visualizations.

Here is what I want the computer for.

I want to have a nice main program “front end”? with a BMW skin

I would like links to the following from the front end..

-GPS program- Tracking, Detailed maps, Voice, etc.

-Phone Control- Blue tooth connection to my Motorola SLVR, Dial from computer, picture id, etc.

-PC XM radio- Fast and clean interface for XM radio

-PC radio tuner- Fast and clean interface

-Whatever else I need to play DVD’s, MP3’s, DIVX, etc..

Thanks for any input guys. I want top end but I would also not like to pay a ridicules price. I was ready to build my own(Still got the best OPUS PS), but I just have limited time right now. Thanks for any leads on this. I am ready to order and play

-Sean B

**DarquePervert** · 07-11-2006, 07:36 PM

Built it yourself to get the best of the best, really.
I'd say the AOpen Pandora is a good unit at this point and time. Powering it is pretty simple with a Carnetix P1900.
I don't know how they hold up to heat, though.

**BEHMER** · 07-11-2006, 08:07 PM

Hmmm... F it maybe I should just put the time into building my own... I will need a bit of help from you guys though.

Right now I have an Opus 150W 12V DC-DC power supply.

Can you help me fill the rest of my basket?

I dont feel like making my own case though. What is a good car case with a good cooling system already installed? I would like to keep this as small an powerful/effective/reliable/shock resistant as possible. Its going in a stiffly sprung M3 powered race/show car.

Lets see...1 gig of ram, at least. Type(Does it even matter)

Hard drive(s)(At least 100+ gigs total) Should I go with slim laptop HD's ? Type?

Sound card(External W/Fire wire or USB?) I want to minimize any sort of noise and maximize a clean full range signal.

Video card(Something powerful yet not to power consuming) Only having a 150W power supply kind of sketches me out. How can that power any legit video card actually?

Mother Board(Nice n small, USB's, Firewire, Built in wireless?, Pentium/Celeron?, Cooling?) I have no clue about mobo's.?.?

Processor (Powerful, low temp) Again I have no idea.

Should I get a USB wireless internet setup? or an internal card? thanks

Anything else?

I plan on mounting the CPU in the trunk. I want to be able to upgrade my components too if needed.

Thanks a million for any help. This should be fun. I am ready to start ordering stuff right now. Lets make this system bad ***.

-SeanB

**breaker021** · 07-11-2006, 08:36 PM

If you're lazy like me and have money, you can get a tablet laptop or a regular - nice and small/light - laptop.

Check out the link in my sig to see what I'm doing.

Yeah, it doesnt look factory. yeah i have to take it out and put it back in when i leave the car - this idea does have its up and downs. but, by far, this is the EASIEST way to get all the benefits of a carputer minus the $$$ you gotta shell out, the hassle of running wires, worrying about heating, etc etc etc.

I'm lazy, cheap and dont like to work MORE THAN I HAVE TO to get what i want. so i bought a tablet.

;]
- sh00k

**Rafster** · 07-11-2006, 11:37 PM

Something to help you also.....

Click the big link in my sig.

Peace,

Rafster

**RedGTiVR6** · 07-12-2006, 07:52 PM

looks like you essentially just posted the exact same questions over again in a new thread....brilliant!

**Wiredwrx** · 07-12-2006, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

looks like you essentially just posted the exact same questions over again in a new thread....brilliant!

:wsh:

Also, you are living in a LA LA land if you think that "I need the most powerfull system, and gobs of memeory, and the best video card, and the best soundcard"blah blah blah.

You are constrained by several things in a car setup. The most notable is power. DC-DC power supplies are not as powerfull as AC-DC units. That means gobs of ram and superduper video card and a superduper top of the line 3.0 gig CPU are out of the question. You have to read up on why.

Want the best soundcard, be prepared to shell out big bucks. At least to me, it is big bucks, too you, an audiophile building a race/show car (HAHAHAHAHA, hear that all the time, and yet, anyone will tell you, a show car is a trailer queen/*****, and a race car is made to go fast, **** the looks, it is all about function and going fast, but whatever) it might not be too expensive.

Oh ya, and you want it small. So tell me, how many superduper, powerfull MBs do you know that are small, and have room for a massive video card, and a super duper sound card. Catch my drift, small is not conducive to super duper, super duper is not conducive to powering it.

What you are asking for is basically in apposites, and also, you are asking us to SPOON FEED YOU the answers. Oh ya, and you want it to be something you can just buy. Well, in that case, find the best most superest, duperest desktop you can find, and put it in your show/race car (giggle giggle, cause it is too funny to say with out laughing) Try powering that unit with a 150 watt OPUS, which I might add, probably isn't the BEST PS, though it is a very good PS. You know that the DSATX can supply 220 watts (read up on the PS FAW to understand what that all means, because I am almost sure you don't know what it really means when they say 150 watts/220 watts and the requirements of your MB) and then of course, you want the best, and don't want to pay a lot.

Here are your 3 options, Small, Powerfull, Cheap, pick 2

Make up your mind what you want to acomplish, set your budget, and then shop within those requirements and budget, all the while being concerned with how you will power it.

In order to do that, READ THE FORUMS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

Read ALL the FAQs,

AND STOP DOUBLE POSTING.

Michael

**Rafster** · 07-12-2006, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Wiredwrx

In order to do that, READ THE FORUMS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

Read ALL the FAQs,

Oh, and once your done reading the forums and the FAQs once, do it again, cuz I'm sure you're gonna miss something and then ask another question that's already been answered 5 Million times.

Peace,

Rafster

**ppgt94** · 07-12-2006, 11:18 PM

Any old PIII (hell even some PII systems) can handle the majority (including everything you mentioned) carputing needs today. Good, expensive sound cards are mostly CPU independent so that's no worry. You don't need much of video card for good winamp visualizations. Practically any 3D contemporary card will do. I also ditto WiredWRX about the current power/size/super-duper trade-offs. You can't have it all - and eat cake... or something - like that.

**kevinlekiller** · 07-12-2006, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Rafster

Oh, and once your done reading the forums and the FAQs once, do it again, cuz I'm sure you're gonna miss something and then ask another question that's already been answered 5 Million times.

Peace,

Rafster

Lol , they should make a sticky thread in every section with arial black fonts with the B thing and text at size 7 that points to that thread in your signature.