Please help with dual displays, portability, and CPU power issues

**sensibull** · 03-24-2009, 11:16 AM

Hello,

Been doing a lot of reading, but still could use a little feedback to keep me on the right path...

For right now, I have 3 specific and somewhat interrelated questions:

1. One of my primary requirements is dual displays with extended desktop. I want my frontend and GPS on the upfront LCD and movie playback output to the rear (factory installed) screen of my Honda Odyssey. From what I gather this means using onboard graphics is out of the question. Will using a PCI card significantly raise my power requirements? (See #2) Anybody have a good working setup like this?

2. I just acquired a Travla C137 case with the 19V external power brick. I really want my carpc to be portable and multi-use (removable and usable when I get to a road-trip destination). Is it feasible to use a 19v car adapter (wired to the battery) in the car and the included brick in home, for easy swapping? Any tips on wiring in a shutdown controller? Or anybody got one for sale?

3. I have an Athlon XP T-bred 2200+ gathering dust, and access to a Socket A FlexATX board. Given the above, would using these components be a bad idea? If anybody out there is using an Athlon XP (not mobile) and a PCI card, what are you using for your PSU?

Bountiful thanks in advance for any and all help offered.

**sensibull** · 03-24-2009, 02:27 PM

After further reading, it sounds like I really need a Carnetix P1900 to solve question #2?

**DarquePervert** · 03-24-2009, 05:26 PM

1 - Different video cards have different power draws. A high-end 3D card is going to draw lots of power, obviously. There are other dual-head video cards that are less power-hungry.

2 - Either a P1900 or a P2140. The P2140 has more power output than the P1900.

3 - Check the power consumption on the processor. There's a link to a good site in this FAQ: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/advf...iew&advfaqid=6

**sensibull** · 03-25-2009, 07:10 PM

Thanks for the feedback.

So am I correct in understanding that I can simply wire the P1900 or P2140 into the car, and then remove the C137 case at will? I suppose I would need to wire a quick connect to the power on jumper or something...

What about disconnecting the Carnetix units from the battery when the computer is not in installed? Can I wire a switch in there to avoid undue battery drain?

Edit: Found this thread on "valet" switches. I guess that's what I'm talking about.

**sensibull** · 03-27-2009, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by sensibull

Thanks for the feedback.
I suppose I would need to wire a quick connect to the power on jumper or something...

Is it possible to keep the original power button in place (connected to mobo jumpers) and solder a separate set of wires for ignition-controlled power-on?

**lacning74** · 03-27-2009, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by sensibull

Is it possible to keep the original power button in place (connected to mobo jumpers) and solder a separate set of wires for ignition-controlled power-on?

yes, essentially like laptop users are forced to do. to avoid soldering, you may also fashion a y-splitter cable like the one in the mp3car store designed for the mac mini. not sure if macs use the same mobo header pin types like pc's.

as for quick disconnect, i got a panel-mount 1/8" headphone jack that i connected to my mobo's power switch pins.

**DarquePervert** · 03-27-2009, 02:19 PM

You can wire the original PC switch to the ACC line and use that as your valet switch.
Simple and painless.

**HiJackZX1** · 03-27-2009, 02:32 PM

As far as the dual screen. Just get a MoBo that has 2 ports built into it. Mine comes with DVI-D and a VGA port. I drive an SUV so the rear had to be able to do their own thing. I went with a highend embeded graphics chip because I could not afford to take up another PCI slot (mine only has one, which I use for audio) and space. If you are not limited to space and can go with a bigger MoBo with 2 PCI slots then add a graphics card. Just make sure you have enough power from the PSU to do so. The highest incar PSU they make is the OPUS 360, which is 360 watts.

**sensibull** · 03-29-2009, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

You can wire the original PC switch to the ACC line and use that as your valet switch.
Simple and painless.

Hmmm... I'm not sure I understand. PC switches (buttons) are momentary. Aren't valet switches spst or spdt?

Originally Posted by lacning74

yes, essentially like laptop users are forced to do. to avoid soldering, you may also fashion a y-splitter cable like the one in the mp3car store designed for the mac mini. not sure if macs use the same mobo header pin types like pc's.

Thanks. I'll probably just make a y-cable.

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

As far as the dual screen. Just get a MoBo that has 2 ports built into it. Mine comes with DVI-D and a VGA port.

That's the thing--I need a mobo with VGA + svideo (composite, actually, but can use an adapter) and I have yet to find a mobo with those jacks that anyone says can do extended desktop and different apps on different screens. So I went with a Intel BOXD945GCLF + PCI vid card.