Hardware decisions

**letsplayskatch** · 10-21-2006, 11:01 AM

Hello all! Another newbie here, so please bear with me!

Im having some issues with which hardware to purchacse.
Someone i know has the following set up for his Carputer:

Power:
- M2-ATX 160W Intelligent DC-DC PSU

Screen:
- 8" TFT Touch Screen

PC:
- AMD 64 3700 CPU
- 1GB 3200 DDR RAM
- 320GB SATA Hard Drive
- Gigabyte GeForce Motherboard
- DVD RW Drive
- DLink USB PC Radio
- Wireless Internet and Bluetooth

Id like to follow this sepecification as he's had no problems with it.
Though, id like to keep bluetooth, WLAN and GPS reciever integrated in the actual PC unit... and have some SD/MMC/spare USB slots up front in my centre console for easy media access options.

Though, my issues are: should i bother with a PCI card for the WLAN, or should i get it built into the motherboard, so its not an unremoveable card?
With the GPS id like, will a USB reciver be ok?

Could someone [a very kind someone, that is!] please help me out as to what processor, mother board and ancillary devices i sould get? I really know f00k all about what components are compatible with eachother

.

Kind regards!
Scott

**RedGTiVR6** · 10-21-2006, 11:24 AM

who knows what you should do? Only you know what's best.

I don't believe there are that many boards out there with wifi built in, are there? You can also get a USB hub and use a USB wifi dongle.

Regarding the GPS, the most popular antenna/reciever on this forum us the Bu-353, hit up the GPS forum and do a search on it.

If you don't really know how to build a PC, or what all goes into it, I really wouldn't suggest taking on a project like this. Especially if you're not willing to do the research yourself and find out what it's going to take.

Spoonfeeding will not get you anything but more problems, more questions, and a lot more headaches.

Perhaps you should look into the all in one solutions. They are made specifically for people like yourself.

Also, you will want to check here: New to CarPCs? Don't know where to start?

**letsplayskatch** · 10-21-2006, 04:36 PM

Not asking for spoon feeding, just some pointers. Y'know, thats why forums like these exist...

Anyway, the all-in-one solutions don't look too great. They seem over priced and the spec's don't grab me.
As for the WiFi, I know they dont come built in as such. Just a small card or the like will do.

**myzhi** · 10-21-2006, 04:42 PM

You are going to need a more power power supply. The Athlon 64 3700 uses 89W all by itself. For carpc, it's best to start out with cpu that only draws <35W. Just by quickly running the calculator below, I see that your computer will need at least 207W. It's also important to see how much power is drawn from each rail (12V, 5V, 3V). Suggest, you go look at power supple faq in The FAQ Emporium.

http://carpc.kyferez.com/Tools/PSUWattageCalculator.php

**letsplayskatch** · 10-22-2006, 09:21 AM

Ah cheers Myzhi, much appreciated! I did think that the processor he used was a little overkill. Ill have a look at what else is out there. Out of interest, which do you use? Ill look into smaller current-drawing devices from now on. Power consumption isnt the 1st thing people tend to think of when they go about looking for components.
Thanks dude!

**RedGTiVR6** · 10-22-2006, 09:24 AM

Actually, in this hobby, yes, it generally is the first thing that people look for....

**Vineet Singh** · 10-22-2006, 12:18 PM

If you want wifi and all that stuff built in, get a decent laptop (one with a broken screen is a plus, since it's usually cheaper). Anything over .8ghz PIII should do good, but shoot for 1.5ghz or higher with some of the newer flash based skins. Low power, easier than building something if you don't know how to do it all yet. It takes less complexity IMO, as I've done the full size PC, and 3 laptops now.

If GPS and a little MP3 is all you are after, a PDA would be ok too, but the screens are small. If you have tons of money, a UMPC like the sony UX180P or the samsung q1 would be a really easy deal, and removable, so you could use it in the house too. If you have enough to buy one of these, buy one for me

If you got one of these, a bluetooth GPS would make your GPS unit even portable, so you could take someone elses car, and still find your way.

Laptops are very flat, light, have the cooling built in, can withstand a little more vibration/abuse/temperatures than most PC's. Easy to hide, more efficient, but not easily upgradable. No PCI, but most have PCMCIA connectors, and USB2.0 ports can be expanded by using hubs. Almost every PCI device has a PCMCIA or USB counterpart. Get a minimum of 512mb of ram, more if the video memory is shared.

Get some ziplinq or other 5v USB auto chargers, rip out the guts, and you get 1a 5v power converters for powering your hubs, or any other 5v device.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...170&CatId=1737

7" touchscreens can usually fit in a double din area, 8" are a little harder to incorporate. There are also motorized and unmotorized single din slide out TFT's, just make sure it's VGA, and touchscreen.

**letsplayskatch** · 10-22-2006, 06:08 PM

Thanks for the detail Vineet Singh, much appreciated!
Sounds like the choice of processor is a crucial one then. Im just affraid of having an underpowerd system ... so thats why i thought of using that AMD 3700.
All i want the PC for is mainly MP3 playback [via HDD, SD and MMC storage devices] and for the system to support DAB radio, bluetooth and GPS 'plug in' dongles.
All of this will be built around a integrated VGA TFT touchscreen in the centre console.

**letsplayskatch** · 10-24-2006, 07:48 AM

Hello all again!
Just after a few tips/links to places whcih might sell these non-usb peripherals for WiFi and DAB etc. Or... do they even exist? Found a DAB USB dongle: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...ce=14&doy=10m8 ...but is there a non usb alternative? So i can keep it inside the computer case? Same for the WiFi and GPS receivers.
Scott