why does everyone one use the lilliput monitors

**The Batfan** · 01-31-2004, 07:39 PM

I am in the process of my mp3 system the comp is made all now I have to do is decide on a screen, For the most part I see using a laptop tft screen with a digital to analog converter board is still cheaper and would give a better quality picture. you can buy a 10.4 tft lcd panel with inverter and all new for around 50 bucks on ebay, and get a convertor for 150-200 would the laptop screen not be a better choice or does the laptop not have the brightness and contrast for a indash installation.

Thanks
The Batfan

amd 2500+
200segate gb hd
1 gig of 3200 DDr
win xp antec
550 power supply
ati 9600 pro
Still deciding on monitor but will prob use a 10.4 or 11" tft

**R3l0ad** · 01-31-2004, 08:01 PM

you can normally control brightness and contrast on a laptop screen via the controller, if the controller allows it, so if you buy a cheap screen and controller... your going to get what you pay for.

As for the lilliputs... I love mine I bought the lilliput w/ touchscreen for $300 dollars from electronicar on ebay. He has great support too.,.. I just had a problem that I caused on my lilliput and he was willing to do anything he could to help me. He gave me a discount on the service payment. Luckily I found a great link on this site that helped me fix it myself.... but again the lilliput problem I had was completely my fault.

Either way your going to pay about the same... the only difference is the lilliput you can control all of the brightness and contrast and everything... don't know about the laptop tft panel.

**wizardPC** · 01-31-2004, 10:14 PM

its a size thing. and an ease thing, too.

You buy a lilliput for $300 and it works. Most of us have cars, and a 7in screen is the best fit. Mine is EXACTLY the right size for my dash, and before I decided to hack up the casing and make the install look pretty, it sat perfectly where my 1.5 din radio would normally go, held in by friction.

now, if you've got a truck with a lot of dash space, then a bigger screen would be good. I bought a 10.4 for my truck, but it was basically a giant lilliput--controller, screen, and touch kit all in one.

**BrUTaL** · 01-31-2004, 10:20 PM

550W PS? I think that is too much, you don't need that much. Have you thought how you will turn on your PC and shutdown the carputer? I think you should take a look at the forums about Power Supplies.

**The Batfan** · 02-01-2004, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by BrUTaL

550W PS? I think that is too much, you don't need that much. Have you thought how you will turn on your PC and shutdown the carputer? I think you should take a look at the forums about Power Supplies.

I am going to build a relay I am a MECP certified master installer and did car stereos for 7 years, my truck is now controlled by a remote start system I am going to relay the computer into the system so I can start it by remote when the vehicle starts and also have a control panel to do it manually. far as the power supply I would rather have too much than not enuff

Laterz

**robiewp** · 02-01-2004, 10:44 PM

just completely unnecessary to have a 550W PS. To give you some perspective: I have a server with two motherboards, the first a tyan tinger MP running AMD MP 2000s, the second being an earlier ITX system, then 18 fans, a network switch, and 6 hard drives! All of that's running off of a 550W PS!!!!

awgum. IMO max you would ever need is 200W.

**cdm** · 02-01-2004, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by robiewp

just completely unnecessary to have a 550W PS. To give you some perspective: I have a server with two motherboards, the first a tyan tinger MP running AMD MP 2000s, the second being an earlier ITX system, then 18 fans, a network switch, and 6 hard drives! All of that's running off of a 550W PS!!!!

awgum. IMO max you would ever need is 200W.

amen. People don't realize they are racking a hell of a power bill without using nearly all of what they are generating. power supplies are constant, so they output the rated power no matter what your usage is. complete waste imo. btw 18 fans and 6 drives.

**shchua** · 02-02-2004, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by cdm

amen. People don't realize they are racking a hell of a power bill without using nearly all of what they are generating. power supplies are constant, so they output the rated power no matter what your usage is. complete waste imo. btw 18 fans and 6 drives.

That's not quite true. The rating for PC power supplies denote the MAXIMUM power that they can supply. The input power is proportional (but not linearly) to the output power consumed and depends on the efficiency which varies with load. You can verify this for yourself if you measure the input current with a multimeter.

**Ormo** · 02-03-2004, 12:06 PM

Same goes for any power supply. When you think about it, if it was to constantly produce 550W of power while switched on, even when nothing was connected to it, then it would have to dissipate a heck of a lot of heat!

..and, if it were true, fitting power saving light bulbs in your house wouldn't work..