Car PC starter....

**cwubs22** · 12-23-2011, 09:59 PM

I am thinking of purchasing some products to create my own custom carputer, but am new to this scene. I currently have an Alpine W200 DVD reciever with 2 Alpine Type R 10" subs with Alpine Amp in my 06 F150. This system works great, but I want unlimited expandibility and to have a large HDD for video/music. I am going to buy a cheaper mini pc (at least 4 GB ram and 100 gb internal hdd) and 500 GB HDD to put into the console and a lilliput touchscreen for the dash. I would like to run windows 7 for the whole system. My question is are there programs out there to enable a typical pc with bluetooth and gps without internet connection? I know the pc would need a GPS antenna, so is there one that would wire through USB? Also worried about sound quality and control for my Amp/Subs. As I said, I want to have a full Windows 7 computer in my truck, but also have all the abilities of a high end DVD reciever, such as the Pioneer Avic Z series (non-internet gps, bluetooth, audio quality/control/ A/V control for external monitors/back up cameras). Any info would be great. Thanks.

Cam

**DarquePervert** · 12-24-2011, 06:23 AM

The FAQs....
That's where your answers are.

**soundman98** · 12-24-2011, 09:16 AM

gps-- bu353

how much sound quality are you looking for? i use audiomulch for active sound processing..

**besjr69** · 12-24-2011, 09:40 AM

Cam,

With a CarPC, you can replicate all the features AND sound quality of an aftermarket radio. It took me a while to get her but it can be sone CHEAP! There will be the issue of onboard vs external sound cards. Then there will be issues with noise. To kill all of this I kept everything in the digital domain until reaching my amps. I use the optical output of my Mb over a 15ft optical to toslink cable to an external DAC (Sewell). I then go with very short cables to my amps. The sound is amazing. I encoded some of the old IASCA CDs and played them. The sound is full range and I really can't tell the difference between it and an aftermarket setup. My system consists of MBQuart 6.5in separates up front and an American Bass TNT 1244 12in subwoofer. The DAC will allow you to run stereo or full 5.1 surround as well. Good luck on your endeavor. There is a lot of help available In this forum. Go for it. It is challenging and rewarding.

Bobby

**soundman98** · 12-24-2011, 10:29 AM

sound quality is such a relative term.. i could say my car is fast, but a ferrari could finish a 1/4mi in the time it takes me to hit 2nd gear...

besjr--to you or i, it means IASCA quality, competition stuff, utilizing a minimal, or no compression format for music files, etc.. but to the general population, 'sound quality' seems to mean that the speakers emit audio.... so no idea which side of the spectrum the OP is on until he clarifies(yes, i have seen people using a super-cheap deck with subs, playing 64bit/sec encoded mp3 files talking about the 'amazing sound quality')...

**tft_lcd_org** · 12-24-2011, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by soundman98

.. i could say my car is fast, but a ferrari could finish a 1/4mi in the time it takes me to hit 2nd gear...

LOL! What are you driving, an '84 K car?
(Ferrari's are not really quarter milers, rather top end monsters but your point is well made )

**soundman98** · 12-24-2011, 01:36 PM

ironically, you are extremely close-- i used to drive a 94 lebaron(which was a K platform), and that uses a very similar motor(the block, and many other parts are the same) as my 01 eclipse... so it is pretty much a k car from another mother!

**tft_lcd_org** · 12-24-2011, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by soundman98

ironically, you are extremely close-- i used to drive a 94 lebaron(which was a K platform), and that uses a very similar motor(the block, and many other parts are the same) as my 01 eclipse... so it is pretty much a k car from another mother!

Did you have a J car, or the AA body?