Need advice with my project

**soopercooer** · 06-06-2004, 03:43 AM

Hi guys, I am doing a serious system here and I just need advice really on the most efficient ways of doing things.

I have loads of desktop pcs and it would seem logical if i could use bits from these. Are 3.5" hd ok for cars. I guess standard motherboards are out of the question due to power, so i will just get a mini-itx.

Power being my main query. What is the best way of powering the mini-itx and the 9 inch lcd I have. I want both to come on and off at the same time, as there is no point otherwise. lcd has 12 volt in . I have seen these itps thingys and don;t quite understand them. Am I right in saying that the car battery goes to the itps and then from the Itps I can go to the lcd and the psu for the motherboard.

p.s. has anyone used desktop systems in cars??

**no1knows** · 06-06-2004, 04:56 AM

i'm using a microATX board w/ an ITPS controlling an invertor via relay. my 3.5" HD hasnt had an problems so far, its encased in one of those removable racks with an in built fan.

the ITPS simply controls turning the PC on/off as well as its power supply. checkout: http://www.mp3car.com/products/itps.html

My ITPS is connected to a relay to switch the power for the invertor. My motherboard is set to turn on on recieving AC power, and the ITPS turns it off when i turn the ignition off.

As for your screen, the ITPS voltage regulation is poor, u'll need to run a 12v rail from your power supply (whether DC-DC or using an invertor) as this will produce a far more stable and suitable 12v for your LCD.

HTH

**soopercooer** · 06-06-2004, 11:08 AM

I didn't think you could use a microatx board in a car. What power supply do you have, I thought that board expecially with a 3.5" hd would suck power like anything.

so basically I need an itps and a power supply. and both the mainboard and the lcd are powered by the same powersupply?

thanks

Kris

**no1knows** · 06-06-2004, 11:23 AM

You can have any motherboard you like if you buy a big enough invertor and power supply.

You need an ITPS, Invertor (continuous rating above the power supply) and a power supply. I'm using a 150W invertor, 140W power supply and its running my microATX with duron 1.7Ghz, 80GB 7200rpm HD, touchscreen LCD, 2 USB hubs w/ peripherals and 3 fans.

**soopercooer** · 06-06-2004, 11:28 AM

I take it you are using a proper power supply, like from an atx case or something then? I have looked at this http://linitx.com/product_info.php?c...roducts_id=398 which is an itps and everthing and seems to have the connectors on the end for the motherboard too. So am I right in thinking that I plug this into my 12v on my car, and the other end into the motherboard and monitor(if I get them below 90W)

I am new to the whole car side of this, it is pretty confusing.

thanks again.

Kris

**no1knows** · 06-06-2004, 11:32 AM

Yeh i am using a normal ATX AC power supply.

Instead of going: DC 12V -(invertor)- AC24V -(ATX AC PSU)- DC for PC which is what im currently doing, the Opus PSU link above simply converts the cars 12V directly to the voltages needed for the motherboard. It also has an in built shut down controller so you will not need an ITPS.

**soopercooer** · 06-06-2004, 11:47 AM

ok, so I now just need to decide whether to go atx or itx. If I use atx I will prob use an old cpu like athlon 1.3 with 256 ddr and 40gig hd. What sort of power does this require.

Just out of interest, do I need like an amazing alternator, on my car to do all this?

thanks again mate

Kris

**soopercooer** · 06-06-2004, 11:57 AM

oh and another thing mate, just looked at your site. What is the keypad in the civic for? looks pretty neat.
Kris

**no1knows** · 06-06-2004, 12:02 PM

Most standard alternators can handle even high spec PC's, esp. newer cars. microATX has proved pretty nice, cheaper and i got one with inbuilt everything to reduce power usage. the only advantages of ITX are space and power consumption. I've got 1 256MB ram stick, runs dvds, mp3s, gps all perfectly, and boots in about 25 seconds.

That keypad is connected to one of my hubs, it controls the mp3 player, things like next song, volume, vis on/off, you can program them to do anything in MediaCar setup.