CarPC Specs ... not a mobile pc

I have some preliminary specs for a carpc that I want to build. This would be simple except that I want more power than a mobile cpu and mobile pc can handle, unless I'm wrong, you guys tell me.

I'm building a carPC to basically run Emulators of the PS2 and Wii, later on I'll add Emu's for PSP and xbox. The following are my specs:

1) ZOTAC GF8200-C-E AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Mini ITX AMD Motherboard - uses desktop CPU - 8GB max DDR2 - pcie 1x - geforce 8 onboard - integrated wifi

2) AMD Phenom 9850 2.5GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core - need the power because some emu's need the gfx to be done by software and not hardware

3) TOSHIBA MK3265GSX 320GB 5400 RPM 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook - plenty of space for iso's and roms.

4) M350 Universal Mini-ITX enclosure by Mini-Box - will it have the space for the cpu fan???

5) a power supply that handles 200w.


The cpu is 125w, the hdd is 8w that leaves 60w for everything else.

My questions are:
1) Do I have the power requirements right?
2) How do I handle cpu cooling or does the regular cpu fan fit inside??
3) Do I need extra fans inside?

Any other suggestions would be appreciated!

what kind of power supply do you have?

is it an ac/dc power supply?

i doubt its dc though...

The M350 is a good choice if your drives and maybe the power supply in a separate case. You will need one or two extra fans. I've had a stock intel fan fit in the case, but I don't know about AMD.
Personally, I would have chosen a 75W TDP processor.

h

h?

Really?
OK. I'll play along...

i

:laugh:

That CPU is a 125w unit.
That power draw is going to be difficult to power in the car. Also, the heat it generates could cause problems with cooling, especially during the summer months.
You're already aware of this, but there are things you have not taken into consideration.

1 - A PC power supply outputs three voltages: 12v, 5v and 3.3v. You can't simply calculate total wattage output, as the PSU outputs different amperages on the different voltage rails. You need to make sure your system won't overtax any one of the three rails, lest your PSU won't work.

2 - The CPU needs more cooling than you'll be able to cram into the M350 case. I've used the M350, and it is VERY tight on space. The cooling hardware needed for a 125w TDP processor won't fit in that case.

sorry about the "h", I was trying to post from my phone but it didn't work out well lol.

I was trying to post that I saw a carputer psu for 200w.

So, what you're saying is that a psu takes the 12v from the car and regulates it into the three voltage rating you mentioned and also at different amperages? If the CarPC requires more power than the psu can give out then it'll just shut down, is that right? With regards to the psu, I thought the 200w psu designed for a car would handle it all ... but maybe not? I guess I was thinking of the 200w as being enough since amp x volts is watts ... but I guess I didn't calculate every little detail.

So, if I go down to a 75w tdp, as someone else suggested, I shouldn't have as many problems with cooling, but what about the processing power I'll need for the emu's?

p.s. the psu is a 200w dc psu as advertised on ebay.

what about using a TEC Thermoelectric Cooler Peltier 12V http://www.sureelectronics.net/goods.php?id=373 to cool down the pc?

What is the 200W PSU? Is it a PW200M, perhaps?
If so, avoid this little thing like the plague. They aren't meant for car use.

AMD doesn't make a socket AM2 in a 75w TDP flavor. There are 65w (even better) and 45w CPUs (even better still!) fr socket AM2/AM2+.

If your PSU can't supply enough power, the PC simply will not power on. It's also possible you can damage the PSU.

I'd suggest perusing the FAQs here. Lots of good information to be had.

how much processing power, and graphics power do the emulators really require?

i am running a dual core pentium in the car, with audio processing(extremely processor heavy--a atom setup couldn't take it..), and have not had any problems so far...


one of the hardest things to get used to in carpc's is that you don't need as powerful of a setup for the car as you do at home, because you can't always have captive attention on the computer, esp. at 65mph on the highway...

well, I'm going to do more research on the ps2 and wii emu's but .... on a dual core amd around 3gh I think and 2gb with a 256/512mb vcard I can get about 35-40 frames sometimes 25 frames .... on my quad core amd 4gb and 1gb of vcard I can easily get 60 .... but it also depends on the games etc ... like I said I need to do more research but the more power I have the better off in general I am, or so I thought.

soundman, do you have a post here with your pc rig?