Thread: New Build - Looking for help.

i got a little sidetracked, so some of this info might have already been posted...

so far, it looks like you are on the right path, the fuse size really depends on the electrical load of the devices that you will be hooking up.

the muliple fuse idea is cheap insurance for having more than one piece of equipment on the same wire-- for instance, a simple setup: a dsatx(integrated 25amp fuse), and and a 4x75 watt amp(integrated 25 amp fuse) the fuse by the battery would be 50 amps, and the fuses at the distrobution point would be 25 amps for each device. this way, if anything were to happen to the wire(pinched/cut/sheared) in between either the battery, or from the distrobution block to the device, you will not have to worry about electrical fires.

as for the hdd, i would say that there are good and bad arguments for, and against, every type of hdd currently available. so, with that in mind, go with what you feel best fits your budget, and install.

for the touchscreen, i have a convertible, and have been using the lilliput 629 w/ led backlight, and while it is not the best screen for sunlight readability, it works for me--i have increased the visibility slightly by using dark icons, and white text. so i would highly recommend that screen if you dont have the budget for the mp3car transflective(hands down, the best sunlight readable screen).

for the amp, it really depends on the car, if you have a factory amplifier(i can't be sure but i think that model does) you might be able to use that instead of having to buy another amp.

For the fuses - let me see if I have a good picture:
(wire run)
Battery to 50 amp fuse to distribution block - (this now splits to carpc and amp) 25 fuse then the carpc then a second from the block 25 fuse to amp
?

Pictures are worth 1000 words

is this a little better?

I am a n00b to car electronics...the distribution block "accepts" fuses? In that I put them in?

And that pic looks great!

mspaint rocks!!

there are distrobution blocks that accept fuses, otherwise, you can always use a non-fused block, and put the fuses in right after the distrobution block.

I don’t Post ever but I remember when I was Right where you are right now Ok lets start with this does your factory stereo system have a compact disk add option being a 09 model the answer is yes so I would do this and save a ton of headache and money This suggestion is a car stereo to pc interface I found doing research http://indashpc.org/new/ what it does is it allows you to keep your stock head unit amp and speakers it integrates the pc through the compact disk setting I personally have one in my cl600 Benz I have installed this interface on over 25 cars works great now that your sound end of the system is in place its time for a car pc purchase mp3 car has all the components needed you already know what you want in the system lilliput monitors are standard and they offer many different options I haven’t seen your model auto so I will not suggest mounting options. The motherboard this will be your most important selection as I have a whole grave yard of motherboards that lets just say don’t work. My suggestion is an Intel atom for several reasons cost and they really work. Anything comparable is going to require a high dollar motherboard and a purchase of a low power CPU. Here is a low cost board that I have been impressed with Intel D945GSEJT mini-ITX it has the power supply on board its ultra thin and it works well music, video, gps heck even any wifi internet with an additional purchase of a USB wifi modem. The only down fall I can find is it’s a single core CPU. Plus you have to use the front speaker inputs with your stock sound system it does supply line out for more complex applications than your stock radio supplies so all this means is purchase a case with the front jacks supplied to plug onto the motherboard front panel sound interface connector. Or check out this motherboard its the best atom on the market( my opinion)Zotac ION mini-ITX Dual Atom N330 spec: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M- 1 VGA/ DVI / HDMI- 6x Rear USB 2.0 - 1x eSATA - 1x PCIe- 2x DDR2 667 RAM - up to 4GB - 1 x 1x 10/100/1000 Mbit LAN - High Definition Audio- Power: 20 Pin ATX- RoHS compliant. Use at least a 150 watt smart psu (Pico) and another suggestion buy a amplifier install kit it has everything needed for the PC hardwire I hope this helps with your first build
PS pay attention to the power requirements of each item you add to your system. An under powered power supply is frustrating and sometimes disastrous. When it comes to the power supply more is better.

surfpangea - Thanks for the information - as for that Zotac - that is one of the models I am looking at. I am either going to go for the Atom 330 (which is Dual core) or the other Zotac-ION that I supply the proc. which I was thinking of a 2.0GHz Intel, with a low thermal design power. As for the PSU - would you opt for something a little more power - I am not one to calculate the "needs" of the system - just up the wattage...I was looking at the mp3 shop and saw a 250 watt psu.

The amp install kit you talk about - that has the power wires, fuses, etc...is that what you say when it has everything I need?

Picking up the car next week sometime - I believe it have an AUX in for the head unit - what are peoples' thoughts on using that for the PC out?

Originally Posted by surfpangea

I don’t Post ever but I remember when I was Right where you are right now Ok lets start with this does your factory stereo system have a compact disk add option being a 09 model the answer is yes so I would do this and save a ton of headache and money This suggestion is a car stereo to pc interface I found doing research http://indashpc.org/new/ what it does is it allows you to keep your stock head unit amp and speakers it integrates the pc through the compact disk setting I personally have one in my cl600 Benz I have installed this interface on over 25 cars works great now that your sound end of the system is in place its time for a car pc purchase mp3 car has all the components needed you already know what you want in the system lilliput monitors are standard and they offer many different options I haven’t seen your model auto so I will not suggest mounting options. The motherboard this will be your most important selection as I have a whole grave yard of motherboards that lets just say don’t work. My suggestion is an Intel atom for several reasons cost and they really work. Anything comparable is going to require a high dollar motherboard and a purchase of a low power CPU. Here is a low cost board that I have been impressed with Intel D945GSEJT mini-ITX it has the power supply on board its ultra thin and it works well music, video, gps heck even any wifi internet with an additional purchase of a USB wifi modem. The only down fall I can find is it’s a single core CPU. Plus you have to use the front speaker inputs with your stock sound system it does supply line out for more complex applications than your stock radio supplies so all this means is purchase a case with the front jacks supplied to plug onto the motherboard front panel sound interface connector. Or check out this motherboard its the best atom on the market( my opinion)Zotac ION mini-ITX Dual Atom N330 spec: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M- 1 VGA/ DVI / HDMI- 6x Rear USB 2.0 - 1x eSATA - 1x PCIe- 2x DDR2 667 RAM - up to 4GB - 1 x 1x 10/100/1000 Mbit LAN - High Definition Audio- Power: 20 Pin ATX- RoHS compliant. Use at least a 150 watt smart psu (Pico) and another suggestion buy a amplifier install kit it has everything needed for the PC hardwire I hope this helps with your first build
PS pay attention to the power requirements of each item you add to your system. An under powered power supply is frustrating and sometimes disastrous. When it comes to the power supply more is better.

i agree with most of what you said, but from what i understand, the intel board with the integrated power supply requires regulated 12 volt input, and doesnt fare too well with more voltage. not a huge problem, just something to remember if you choose to go this route.

if i had to do it all over again, i would have probably gone w/ a zotac board, and a better processor than the atom--but, i am using my computer for [heavy] audio processing (and have never had very good luck with intel boards), so your mileage may vary..

the amp kit can make it very easy, it typically includes everything you would need-- fused power, ground, signal, and rca cables.

using the aux into your radio would prabably be the easiest way.

Originally Posted by soundman98

using the aux into your radio would prabably be the easiest way.

How about quality? My wife isn't an audiophile but I don't want it to sound like $hit either. if you know what I mean.