hardware check before buying

**elj4176** · 12-30-2008, 06:32 PM

I'm ready to order my equipment for the inital incarnation of my carpc and I just want to see if i'm overlooking something before I buy.
I want to run linux (linuxice probably) or xubuntu with nghost...something along those lines. I tried out an iso of linuxice on a laptop and it had a few issues. Which version is teh most stable/usable?

Atom 330, 2 gb ram, m2-atx, shuttle case, bu-353 (gps), kworld tv tuner card (already have it), dvd multidrive, 320 GB sata drive (already have it) and either the eby701 or 629 7" screen. I have both pci and usb wifi adapters available.

I already have a power distribution block and 4 amps and active XO installed so I'm hoping I just hook up the m2-atx like an amp - power, ground and remote turn-on.

Any opinions on which screen is better? I'm not looking for the super expensive sunlight readable screen at this point. I'll upgrade that later. I'm just trying to get started.
Thanks for any info/advice.

**tripzero** · 01-01-2009, 05:38 PM

if you do LinuxICE (which should support all your hardware just as well as xubuntu), You'll want to immedietly upgrade it to 8.04 (7.04 -> 7.10 -> 8.04: you can't just go from 7.04 to 8.04 without major problems).

If you do xubuntu, just add the nghost/linuxICE repo and install nghost and icepanel (optional).

**elj4176** · 01-02-2009, 07:03 AM

Ok - so the beta3-4 iso of LinuxICE is based on 7.04? Sudo "update-manager -d" should do the trick. I'll try it out.
Hardware is on the way already except for the screen - still can't decide which one I want to start with.

**tripzero** · 01-03-2009, 02:26 AM

i really like the xenarc motorized in dash. (forget the model no... it's in the mp3car store. Still, it has it's issues. I've seen some pretty bright lilliputs though.

**WuNgUn** · 01-03-2009, 07:50 AM

I'd seriously spend a little more $$ and get a better PSU...OPUS 320 is a very solid unit.

**elj4176** · 01-05-2009, 11:49 AM

$415 is a little more than I want to spend on a screen at the moment although I do like the in-dash better.

Why do you recommend the opus over the m2-atx? I'll take a look at them both and compare on my own too but I am curious why you like that one better?
I'm not interested in programming the psu at this point.

**2k1Toaster** · 01-05-2009, 11:56 AM

The M2-ATX is just fine for your computer. An atom draws almost nothing, and you wont be taxing it. When you overdraw an M2 it becomes flaky and worst case scenario it takes down other components.

If you treat it nicely and only power what you are supposed to they work just fine. Had mine installed for almost 3 years (this feb will be 3 years), no problems. I have powered everything from a M10000 to a Pentium 4-Mobile and now a Core 2 Duo. Never skipped a beat.

**WuNgUn** · 01-05-2009, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by elj4176

$415 is a little more than I want to spend on a screen at the moment although I do like the in-dash better.

Why do you recommend the opus over the m2-atx? I'll take a look at them both and compare on my own too but I am curious why you like that one better?
I'm not interested in programming the psu at this point.

Search for yourself, on the M2 and M4...you'll see the kind of problems they have...

**elj4176** · 01-05-2009, 12:49 PM

Thanks for the replies. I looked a bit in the power supply forum.
I'm not too worried about it for now. I can always upgrade later.

I just want to get something running to start with.

**WuNgUn** · 01-06-2009, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by elj4176

Thanks for the replies. I looked a bit in the power supply forum.
I'm not too worried about it for now. I can always upgrade later.

I just want to get something running to start with.

Your money and time...
If the M2 doesn't work, then you will have nothing running AND you'll still need another PSU...