Suggestions for PC Parts?

**mattwz** · 06-07-2005, 08:51 PM

Well I've been reading here for awhile and kept putting the project off since I haven't had the money to buy anything. I have some time and money now to put into the project

So I'm ordering the 7" Liliput LCD, and a 4 channel amp. I'm just trying to decide on the PC parts now. I have a lot of stuff lying around I could probably use instead of buying all new parts.
This is what I have:
Compaq Laptop
1Ghz AMD Duron
384MB RAM
20GB HDD (wont be enough for my music, I was thinking of maybe getting an external)

Desktop
300Mhz PII
256MB RAM
60GB HDD

My main use for the carpc would be music and gps. I dont think the laptop would be a good route because of the small hard drive, and powering on issues, and the 300Mhz desktop isn't enough power. I'm not sure if a 90W or 150W PS would be enough to power it.

I have around $300-$400 to spend on the PC part. I dont know if I should go for one of the custom built ones, or I've been reading suggestions for Shuttles. I'm not sure which route to go. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You

Matt

**fromplanetbob** · 06-07-2005, 09:06 PM

Well, you can always upgrade the laptop drive or get an external drive.

The laptop's battery backup makes it nice to have as a tank circuit. Can you get a dock for it? I was thinking of using a dock and wiring everything to it then just docking my laptop in the trunk when I wanted a computer in the car (Unfortuantely my tablet PC isn't powerful enough and my Dell can't use a dock.)

You can also power the laptop either with the power supply that comes with it and an inverter (cheapest solution) or getting the DC adapter for your laptop.

Now the laptop also includes it's own power management so you should be good to go with that as well.

I'd be worried about power of the computer it's self, but I'm not the one to ask, I'm putting a P4 3.0ghz in my car cuz I want to ensure that I have both a fast enough computer and a little bragging rights...

**Bugbyte** · 06-07-2005, 09:13 PM

Go with the laptop. It's faster. All you need is a bigger hard drive and an auto startup/shutdown control + inverter for it. You might be able to squeak by with that + a Lilliput.

**mattwz** · 06-07-2005, 09:40 PM

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking about going with the laptop too, but it isn't very reliable. It freezes pretty often, and I tired running it on the battery recently, and it only lasted a minute. I'm thinking of just getting one of the custom builds, since what I have now seems like it wont work well. The laptop has enough power, but isn't reliable, while the desktop doesn't have enough power, but is reliable :\. What could $300-$400 get me? I'm trying to save a little extra, because cable and other odds and ends will add up quick.

Thanks again