Thread: CarPC build help

buying or building is your own decision-- some prefer to buy, some prefer to build, but either way, you can end up with similar results.

boot time varies widely-- if you cold boot it every time, it can depend entirely on what usb devices you have, and how many(rough estimate, around 2-3 min).

if you use hibernate, it can be a lot quicker(around 30 sec), or, if you use win7, you can setup hybrid sleep-- i don't use it but from what i have read, it allows you to let the computer to sleep for a certain amount of time, and if it stays sleeping long enough, will hibernate-- which can be nice for trips to the grocery store..

can't help you with centrafuse-- i don't run it

I've come up with a better idea. I have a vista machine laying around with 1g of ram, 120gb hard drive and all that. I'm going to build a few pieces of plywood for it to fit in my console. Now my questions are;
1). Can I just get a dc-dc power supply and use that? or what do I need?
2). do I need anything else to install this in my truck?

EDIT: Also installing a Lilliput monitor.

Measure out and be sure you have enough room in the dash. You'll need a DC-DC PSU, you'll want to add up all the devices that you're going to power (Motherboard, Processor, HD, CD-Rom, LCD, USB Devices, etc...) and purchase a power supply big enough to handle it.

There's a link to the FAQ in my signature. It's not a typical FAQ, it's actually loaded with good information!

If you have to be talked into a PC build, then I don't believe you're in the proper mindset to undertake such a project.

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

If you have to be talked into a PC build, then I don't believe you're in the proper mindset to undertake such a project.

Maybe I am deciding on whether to buy a in dash nav or do this build. This is one of 3 projects that I am trying to tackle and I'm hoping I can find enough reasons to do this and not go out and spend maybe a few hundred less on a navigation system.

Originally Posted by mtparker18

Maybe I am deciding on whether to buy a in dash nav or do this build. This is one of 3 projects that I am trying to tackle and I'm hoping I can find enough reasons to do this and not go out and spend maybe a few hundred less on a navigation system.

darque's point is that carputers are not something that you just install, and be done with it-- carputers are a hobby, and just like other hobbies, there is always something that needs to be done, weather it be some simple updates, or redoing the setup after realizing that you want something that your current setup won't allow, or fixing the things you break.

a car computer is very rarely as reliable as a all-in-one nav solution--there are people that have built systems that 'just work'... but my system is not one of them-- i (and many others) am always changing things, messing things up, and replacing things...

in cost comparison, a all-in-one unit will be cheaper, less stressful, but will do less...

a computer can do more, but requires more work, more stress, but be more rewarding when you get to tell people that you don't run a stereo, because you built your own computer

Originally Posted by soundman98

darque's point is that carputers are not something that you just install, and be done with it-- carputers are a hobby, and just like other hobbies, there is always something that needs to be done, weather it be some simple updates, or redoing the setup after realizing that you want something that your current setup won't allow, or fixing the things you break.

a car computer is very rarely as reliable as a all-in-one nav solution--there are people that have built systems that 'just work'... but my system is not one of them-- i (and many others) am always changing things, messing things up, and replacing things...

in cost comparison, a all-in-one unit will be cheaper, less stressful, but will do less...

a computer can do more, but requires more work, more stress, but be more rewarding when you get to tell people that you don't run a stereo, because you built your own computer

I understand what you're saying. I know it's not going to be a put it in and go. Not very many things I do are like that, lol. It's a pro-con thing. I'd rather be able to run a pc than a nav. I plan on doing all the required updates and all that. I was just saying. It seems better to have a pc and be able to do more vs a nav and do less.

I'm still learning everything so please bare with me, lol. I've already started messing with Centrafuse on my home pc, and I like it.


My biggest problem is I'm looking for a cost effective setup. I know that cheap isn't always the best. I've been looking into the Mobile Computing Solution pc's. Unless I can find a better priced system, this will be what I will go with. I'm worried about how my desktop will power down when the vehicle is off and such.

I do understand that I have lots and lots of research to do. I'm not going to jump directly into this. I'm just trying to get my foot in the water before I dive in

in case you haven't seen it yet, check out the faq's (link in darque's sig). and don't worry, these are better then your average faq's

otherwise, i kind of think that you can build your own computer for slightly cheaper then what you could buy, as long as you shop around for prices.. or, as a bonus, you know exactly how it all went together, so when part of it stops working, you have a idea what went wrong, and how to fix it..

for most carputers, the atom processor seems to have been ruled as the best balance between power and efficiency and cost, so i would recommend looking at those boards for starters.