Hey guys, n00b here!

**p0tential** · 10-15-2008, 04:14 PM

i wanted to say hello and introduce myself on here. my name is bryan and i've been involved with car forums for a few years. while i'm not new to forums, i'm new to this scene and let me tell you, it is very overwhelming.

i just bought a 350z a few months back and i've been contemplating on what to do with the double din space i have for the radio. i've been looking at aftermarket headunits and nothing out there does what i want it to do nor do they perform the way i want. the idea of putting a computer into a car is somewhat new to me and i've done my fair share of car audio installations to know my way around. i would think i'm pretty computer savy but i've never built one from scratch. i know the general idea of the internal components and what they are for but on the car level, your terminologies seem different.

i've decided that i want to put a computer in my car but i have 2 problems that i'm still searching the forums to resolve.

1) i want a double din tft lcd unit where the touch screen operates the mouse/computer. it also should have a dvd/cd drive built into it so i have the option of doing that without having to go to the main computer.
2) i'm trying to keep the cost as minimal as possible! i dont have a lot of cash and will prolly be building my system up as money comes in.

i've seen on mp3car's store that they sell some double din units that are both tft monitors and dvd/cd drives. i'm not sure which units are good but i saw them for around $200 which seems reasonable. i don't mind spending the little extra money to get a better monitor since i will have to look at it everyday and i could use nice features like an sd card reader or usb built into the monitor.

well, thats my schpeal, hope i don't get flamed for being sucha newb but this forum is completely overwhelming. there is so much information on here it not even funny and i don't even know where to begin my searches. i will be on here for a while guys!!

btw, i love the all-in-1 solutions like the g4 (actually like that a lot) but i don't have the $2200 to spend on a nice unit like that. hopefully i can do everything on a $600-$1000 budget.

cheers!
-bryan

**DarquePervert** · 10-15-2008, 11:03 PM

Your all-in-one touchscreen/DVD drive unit is going to destroy your budget all by itself.
Such units are pricey and not worth the added expense in many peoples' opinions.
They are also prone to problems, since they are mechanical devices. As such, they take a measure of abuse being in a vehicle environment.

I'm curious to know what unit you saw int he store that has all those features for $200.

**Bugbyte** · 10-15-2008, 11:10 PM

Good screen = $400-$500.
PSU = $100-$150
Computer = Depends on what you want. Laptop with broken screen might work, maybe you want something better.

Use $1200 for a round figure and you can put a PC in your car. It can be done cheaper, but you have a 350Z and you sure don't want a cheap PC in that ride.

Overwhelmed? Watch the video in my signature to get the overview. Then, start with the FAQs in the navbar up top. Then, go to the FAQ to the FAQ's in the FAQ Emporium - just follow the link in my signature.

Read every article in both sections and you will have a good handle on what you need to know to do this right.

**p0tential** · 10-16-2008, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

Your all-in-one touchscreen/DVD drive unit is going to destroy your budget all by itself.
Such units are pricey and not worth the added expense in many peoples' opinions.
They are also prone to problems, since they are mechanical devices. As such, they take a measure of abuse being in a vehicle environment.

I'm curious to know what unit you saw int he store that has all those features for $200.

http://www.lightinthebox.com/7-inch-...8-_p25934.html

^ is the link to the unit i found. can it be used as the tft monitor for the computer? if a monitor with a dvd/cd drive is too pricey, what screen to you guys suggest that i can fit in a double din space in my dash. i want it to look stock, i don't want to have to mount a monitor or mess with a custom dash. just want a screen to replace my fatctory h.u.

Originally Posted by Bugbyte

Good screen = $400-$500.
PSU = $100-$150
Computer = Depends on what you want. Laptop with broken screen might work, maybe you want something better.

Use $1200 for a round figure and you can put a PC in your car. It can be done cheaper, but you have a 350Z and you sure don't want a cheap PC in that ride.

Overwhelmed? Watch the video in my signature to get the overview. Then, start with the FAQs in the navbar up top. Then, go to the FAQ to the FAQ's in the FAQ Emporium - just follow the link in my signature.

Read every article in both sections and you will have a good handle on what you need to know to do this right.

thank you...gonna watch the vid now!

**p0tential** · 10-16-2008, 01:36 AM

this kinda goes away from my double din screen idea, but how bout this?

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py2bK9kRTVw[/media]

**DarquePervert** · 10-16-2008, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by p0tential

http://www.lightinthebox.com/7-inch-...8-_p25934.html

^ is the link to the unit i found. can it be used as the tft monitor for the computer? if a monitor with a dvd/cd drive is too pricey, what screen to you guys suggest that i can fit in a double din space in my dash. i want it to look stock, i don't want to have to mount a monitor or mess with a custom dash. just want a screen to replace my fatctory h.u.

You can use it as a monitor, yes...
HOWEVER...
- You will need to convert video to composite signal somehow, as this unit is nothing more than a low-res TV.
- Because PC displays are higher resolution than a TV signal, image quality will suffer, especially for text.
- You will not have touchscreen control of the PC unless you do some major hacking of that unit. If you are able to pull that off, you would lose touch control of the unit itself.

Originally Posted by p0tential

this kinda goes away from my double din screen idea, but how bout this?

Have you bothered to look around the forums at all?
That's a pretty unit and it had high expectations prior to release. However, the units have been plagued with quality of build issues. They are all over the forums, if you choose to look.

Frankly, none of the whiz-bang in-dash screens are particularly reliable. There have been several makes/models released, and all of them had their share of problems.

As far as your double-DIN idea, the most logical unit for you is the DWW-6500.
That unit by itself breaks your budget.

**Bugbyte** · 10-16-2008, 08:53 AM

My advice is to spend most on the screen. The screen is what you will see the most, what people who you want to impress will see the most and is generally the most durable component of the car PC, so it will be in the car the longest.

It is frankly trivial to swap the PC that feeds the screen and if you want to skimp, do it there. Start with an old desktop and throw it in the trunk. While you are getting tired of that, save for an Intel Atom or little valley unit, then swap it when you are ready.

**p0tential** · 10-16-2008, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

You can use it as a monitor, yes...
HOWEVER...
- You will need to convert video to composite signal somehow, as this unit is nothing more than a low-res TV.
- Because PC displays are higher resolution than a TV signal, image quality will suffer, especially for text.
- You will not have touchscreen control of the PC unless you do some major hacking of that unit. If you are able to pull that off, you would lose touch control of the unit itself.

Have you bothered to look around the forums at all?
That's a pretty unit and it had high expectations prior to release. However, the units have been plagued with quality of build issues. They are all over the forums, if you choose to look.

Frankly, none of the whiz-bang in-dash screens are particularly reliable. There have been several makes/models released, and all of them had their share of problems.

As far as your double-DIN idea, the most logical unit for you is the DWW-6500.
That unit by itself breaks your budget.

thats a very nice piece, and pricy too!!

i think i'm going to skimp out on the dvd/cd drive being behind the screen.

what about the xenarc 700tsv as a screen. i'd make it flush in a double din opening and then mount a dvd/cd drive in one of my back cubbys. i have a 350z so theres all types of storage right behind the seats since its only a 2 seater. i only wanted the drive for the occasional dvd or if i pick up a new cd. most everything will be off my library anyways. and i can fab up a mount for usb ports no problem.

so is this xenarc screen a good choice? obviously i'm going to have to open up the housing it comes in and fabricate a trim piece so it sits flush...