Some quick questions for a newbie

**hell167** · 02-25-2005, 10:52 PM

Hi, I am new here so please go easy on me....

I have read some posts on this forum and the idea of the carputer intreages me... Well, i think i am gonna build one... but the usage will prob be only mp3s, mtv..., dvds... So, i wanna ask some questions about it...

1. How do i know exactly how many watts (amps?) i need for the power supply? is there a general rule or formula? The power sources have been fairly low in wattage... less than 400, which is the watt for the powersupply that i am using in my home computer...

2. Doesnt the cpu fan make a very loud sound? what are some ways to minimize the sound?

3. I've been seeing that alot of ppl say that this will be a hobby that will be quite costly not only in money, but time... doesn't the hobby end when its completely built and all programs are installed? what will need to be maintained?

4. I've got some old computers at home, just sitting here... but they are quite slow... p2 450mhz? how fast do ppl generally have them, and does it matter how fast?

5. Do i need a mouse and keyboard if i get a touchscreen?

6. what size screen would fit a double din slot?

Thanx for the input....

**Bugbyte** · 02-25-2005, 11:30 PM

How do i know exactly how many watts (amps?) i need for the power supply?

Well, how many watts do the computer and associated electronics require? Search on "power calculators" for more info

Doesnt the cpu fan make a very loud sound?

Depends on whether you use a CPU that requires a fan or not. What kind will you use? Search on "water cooling" for info on alternative methods.

doesn't the hobby end when its completely built and all programs are installed? what will need to be maintained?

No. If it did, it wouldn't be called a hobby. It would be something more like "car stereo installation". You will not be able to intstall this system properly the first time. That does NOT mean you won't be successful. It means you will buy something that doesn't work or performs differently than you planned. You'll find a different solution and try that. You'll alter the configuration to fix something you have been ignoring so far. That will break something else. You'll want to add a function that you didn't have before, etc. It's never ending.

I've got some old computers at home, just sitting here... but they are quite slow... p2 450mhz?

Download some front ends and the software you want to use. Try them out on the old computers. If they work satisfactorily, great! There are computers installed that have similar specs. Search on terms like "P2" or "450mhz" to see if there are posts on them.

Do i need a mouse and keyboard if i get a touchscreen?

Strictly speaking, no. But you may not like using only the touchscreen and the onscreen keyboard.

what size screen would fit a double din slot?

Search on terms like "Double Din Slot Screen Size"

Good luck and welcome to the "research phase" of the hobby!