Thread: A Real Car PC - 1999 Honda Accord Ex project

I agree with all above. Most people here do this as a hobby and spend allot of time building them and then building another. When you come here saying "I have yet to see a real carpc on here" it's like me telling you to get a real car!

We are here having fun and the best way to get help is being nice.

Your original post was modified, now I look even more like a jerk

Here's my thoughts....

Do not use a glidepad, most monitors are touchscreen. Anti-glare screens can cause issues with the responsiveness of yoru touchscreen. Buy a transflecticve one.

Atom based PC's may look nice, but their lack-luster performance doesnt make up for it. If you plan on using something for gauges (palmerperformance.com - verify it will work with your car), you will need more horsepower. Get at least a dual core AMD or Intel. Use a Micro-ATX or mini/pico ITX. Get an SSD HD, you'll thank yourself later. Since your a "techie" then build your own PC, dont wste your money on the one you mentioned. Get a DC power supply. I have build several carPCs for others, so I suggest getting an M4-ATX.

If you want this all to work fluidly, I suggest you pic a front end. If you dont like the look of it, you can modify it as I and others have done, to your liking.

To give you an idea of boot times, with no peripherals plugged in (NIC, BT, car2PC, XM, KB, OBDII reader, and touchscreen) its 5.24 seconds from BIOS to Full interface with my setup. With it all plugged in, its about 11 seconds.

Originally Posted by intrygue83

screen: Lilliput 8" open frame touch screen
http://store.mp3car.com/Lilliput_8_4..._p/mon-117.htm
(I need help with the framing it. like what do I need to do? I want a factory look)

http://www.mp3car.com/fabrication/85...ory-bezel.html

http://www.mp3car.com/fabrication/36...dvd-drive.html

Originally Posted by intrygue83

buy a gps receiver for my phone for Car GPS [USB]

Your phone should already have GPS, but you're better off using the same round black GPS unit that everyone else on here seems to love, considering you want your CarPC to be UI for the GPS (for the life of me, I can't remember what it's called)..

Originally Posted by intrygue83

install a switch in the dash for comp on/off. not auto with ignition start

Run a momentary button from the pins on your mobo to the new location. Quick and dirty, but effective. If you want it to be more clean, wire it into a 1/8" TS or TRS jack in the case, and run a second audio cable up with it.

Originally Posted by intrygue83

any suggestions on how I can do my power? high performance battery? mouse options? EQ's for car audio?

http://store.mp3car.com/Power_Products_s/2.htm

A newer battery would help, if you're looking to run subs and other high watt amps. Personally, I'd run a capacitor just for the computer, too, but I'm paranoid of power sag effecting my computer.

You shouldn't need a mouse with a touch screen, especially if you install a virtual mouse for your right click, but you can put a USB port in your cab and just hook up a mouse when you need it. For volume and stuff, if you want an actual knob, look into Fusion Brain and Phidgets.

For EQ, considering you're bypassing a standard interface, consider Wow Media Player from SRS audio (http://wowmediaplayer.srslabs.com/)

Originally Posted by MatneyX

Sounds like what you want is what we've all been calling CarPCs for years.

Centrafuse and RoadRunner, and possibly many others, allow for complete customization (using real programming languages, like C+ and C#, in addition to scripting languages like AS3). There are existing plugins for both of those interfaces to monitor absolutely anything your OBD-II port can put out, all via a serial->USB converters, and they run on Windows so you can get in and build all the batch files, subsequent programs, and scripts that you want. You can export it to XML, track it in your spreadsheet program of choice, and set it up to control the volume of your music based on your current MPG. Put in a 4G USB dongle, and you can fully power you own website from your car (it'll just be slow as hell).

Or are you looking to fully replace the onboard computer, and have your own computer decide how much fuel to send to the ports, ect?

Really, it sounds like you're in the right place, but you're coming across with a bad attitude and proof that you skipped the Newbie and FAQ threads.


I've worked IT for 6 years... I skipped those forums, too, and asked a bunch of stupid questions when I first got here. Now I read 100x more than I post.

thanks guy. and your right I skipped all of that. just watched some youtube vids on all of the programs like centrafuse. I hate programming geesh! [random thought] but it would be fun though. didn't know you could customize em like that.

I don't wat to fully replace the computer. don't feel like building one because I don't have the time to do that and run a business. I think I need to pull the board out of the original casing and build my own and add a fan for cooling. I just can't figure out how to convert the power from the mini atx to the battery. I see the molex's but what part do I need to run it to the battery?

and again thanks for the input

Originally Posted by jfxwave

I agree with all above. Most people here do this as a hobby and spend allot of time building them and then building another. When you come here saying "I have yet to see a real carpc on here" it's like me telling you to get a real car!

We are here having fun and the best way to get help is being nice.

I don't have to be nice to state an opinion.. but thanks for the insight. its just an opinion. Im sure you love what you do just as well as I do with my work. no disrepect no one. just a mere opinion.

Originally Posted by Custommx3

Your original post was modified, now I look even more like a jerk

Here's my thoughts....

Do not use a glidepad, most monitors are touchscreen. Anti-glare screens can cause issues with the responsiveness of yoru touchscreen. Buy a transflecticve one.

for the record i didn't take you for a jerk. I took it as u being sensitive. no offense
why do this and I have never had a problem? ex: i want to get an ipad anti-glare protector and cut it to fit. they work flawlessly. whats the big issue?
a transflective screen is over priced [in my opinion]

Originally Posted by Custommx3

Atom based PC's may look nice, but their lack-luster performance doesnt make up for it. If you plan on using something for gauges (palmerperformance.com - verify it will work with your car), you will need more horsepower. Get at least a dual core AMD or Intel. Use a Micro-ATX or mini/pico ITX. Get an SSD HD, you'll thank yourself later. Since your a "techie" then build your own PC, dont wste your money on the one you mentioned. Get a DC power supply. I have build several carPCs for others, so I suggest getting an M4-ATX.

thanks for the gauges software. i will look into it. so your saying for my car a micro-atx and not a mini?
ok now I have to do more research to get it to fit behind the screen in my dash.
I'm not a fan of AMD. the intel boards are the best. in my opinion.

see now I gotta go back to the drawing board. you think I will need to change where I want to mount it it now since i'm changing the mobo?

Originally Posted by Custommx3

If you want this all to work fluidly, I suggest you pic a front end. If you dont like the look of it, you can modify it as I and others have done, to your liking.

To give you an idea of boot times, with no peripherals plugged in (NIC, BT, car2PC, XM, KB, OBDII reader, and touchscreen) its 5.24 seconds from BIOS to Full interface with my setup. With it all plugged in, its about 11 seconds.

now I'm loving those boot times there SWEET!
I'll check out the front ends. Thanks for this insight.

NOW WHERE GETTING SOMEWHERE

[QUOTE=MatneyX;1434333]http://www.mp3car.com/fabrication/85...ory-bezel.html

http://www.mp3car.com/fabrication/36...dvd-drive.html

Hey Mat thanks for the bezel links. This is gonna be great!!!

Originally Posted by MatneyX

Your phone should already have GPS, but you're better off using the same round black GPS unit that everyone else on here seems to love, considering you want your CarPC to be UI for the GPS (for the life of me, I can't remember what it's called).

I gotta look for this and check it out.

Originally Posted by MatneyX

Run a momentary button from the pins on your mobo to the new location. Quick and dirty, but effective. If you want it to be more clean, wire it into a 1/8" TS or TRS jack in the case, and run a second audio cable up with it.

thanks allot!

Originally Posted by MatneyX

A newer battery would help, if you're looking to run subs and other high watt amps. Personally, I'd run a capacitor just for the computer, too, but I'm paranoid of power sag effecting my computer.

so don't run a capacitor or do? i do plan on adding 2 10"s in the back with a custom side case and 2 amps. for Hi's & Lo's but thats it.

Originally Posted by MatneyX

You shouldn't need a mouse with a touch screen, especially if you install a virtual mouse for your right click, but you can put a USB port in your cab and just hook up a mouse when you need it. For volume and stuff, if you want an actual knob, look into Fusion Brain and Phidgets.

For EQ, considering you're bypassing a standard interface, consider Wow Media Player from SRS audio (http://wowmediaplayer.srslabs.com/)

so I guess i was a lil overboard with the mouse thing huh. lol. It would have been kinda cool though. but your right.
but yea i would love a VOL knob. I saw one of those on youtube. I wanna put a Volume knob on the front of my armrest case.
like one of those knobs on a mixer. like this one
but I saw one with a led light around it. any idea where I can find one of those?

I checked out Fusion Brain and I'm loving that. SRS will be used as well. so your saying I wont need a hardware EQ?

Thanks a million!

Originally Posted by intrygue83

A car with a PC built in it. Duhh
======

jk. a "computer" built in the vehicle where as to enjoy entertainment and also monitor vehicle's condition as far as gauges and etc..

to me a CarPC is a computer that does it all from the desktop.

ex: XP desktop, media center controls my music. Radio is controlled by software. Voice recognition does everything also. with the added touch of a mouse somewhere flushed to look factory.

I don't like the gui's because to me there not...... I can't find a word. I guess they need more themes so to speak. more so let the user really customize the interface. guess I don't like the way most of them look. But there awesome. jus not for me.

I'm a Techie and I want to do everything I normally do on my laptop's desktop, on my Carputer
=======

am I wrong about this definition?

The point of those GUIs that you find so.... (can't find a word) is to put the most commonly used functions in an easy-to-read, easy-to-access presentation, so you're not fumbling around trying to do things WHILE DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE. DUUUHHH.

Thank GOD you're on the opposite side of the country from me!! Please... for the sake of your fellow Georgians... leave your laptop work at home while driving.

Originally Posted by Freedom_First

The point of those GUIs that you find so.... (can't find a word) is to put the most commonly used functions in an easy-to-read, easy-to-access presentation, so you're not fumbling around trying to do things WHILE DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE. DUUUHHH.

Thank GOD you're on the opposite side of the country from me!! Please... for the sake of your fellow Georgians... leave your laptop work at home while driving.

lmfao thanks guy. in an ahole sort of way. lol. I get the point. I don't plan on working while driving silly, only when im stationary. jus music. but thanks guy.