how powerful of a mini do I need for a car install

**pedro_sandchez** · 09-24-2005, 10:09 PM

So I'm planning my carpc install in my new Audi A3 and I think I want to use a mini since I happen to have a compartment in my glove box that is almost the exact dimensions of a mini and it will fit so cleanly in there.

For you guys that are using minis in their cars, how much ram, what processor and stuff like that are you running. I'm wondering if the cheapest of the minis is powerful enough for a good carpc. I'm really only using it as an mp3 and dvd player and I may see if its at all possible to run VAG-COM (vw/audi's computer diagnostic software) on it.

Is the base mini powerful to do these things efficiently? My only concern is with the VAG-COM since it would require PC emulation (is that the proper term) to run since there isnt a mac version of it.

thanks guys
pedro

**iamgnat** · 09-25-2005, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by pedro_sandchez

Is the base mini powerful to do these things efficiently? My only concern is with the VAG-COM since it would require PC emulation (is that the proper term) to run since there isnt a mac version of it.

For the basics, it should be fine. For emulation, you'll need VPC in which case you'll need to upgrade the RAM to 1GB. I have never found VPC to be usable with less than 512MB (the max) assigned to it. No matter what, VPC is slow though (I notice little difference between my 800mhz PB, dual 800Mhz G4, and my 1.8Ghz G5).

I am planning to go with the 1.4 simply because I always buy the biggest I can

I am also planning on having real time processing going on which will probably require a network of minis down the road (more redundancy and specialization than a need for raw power).

-dave