How would you build it?

**MaHk** · 07-12-2005, 04:30 AM

any headunit that has aux input would be perfect, that way you can just have the car-pcs audio-out running into the H/Us aux in

plus ofcourse look for the features that u want eg mp3

**full_bleed** · 07-12-2005, 04:35 AM

so I would run a line out from the pc to the aux in of the h/u then from there preamp/out to my amps. Is that correct?

**MaHk** · 07-12-2005, 04:47 AM

yes, so thats another feature u want in ure HU, rca preamp outs, then switch between the two via the HU

**Jamiks** · 07-12-2005, 09:28 AM

full_bleed:

I think the biggest problem would be HEAT (this has been mentioned earlier, but anyways). Extreme hardware for playing new games causes pretty nice amount's of heat. So basicly without proper cooling system your carputer will crash and it might even broke because overheating.

Think it this way: Do you think you can use, let's say, p4 3.2GHz with any amount of memory, 160GB hard drive and something like GeForce 6800 or Radeon x800 for graphics card (for pretty nice gaming experiense with new games like BF2) in closed place like closet?

My opinion: i Don't really think so, or not for a long term of use anyways. Even most basic PC:s (something like p2 200MHz) will crash eventually in ftp/http server use after couple days when used in closet (yeah, i've tryed this

).

These new systems heat up pretty much even in well airconditioned spaces (hardcore use like gaming multiple hours straight).

But let's cut the bull*hit and get to the business . Here's few things to think about:

First of all, make sure that there's proper airconditioning for PC
Make sure that there's enough power for system (if you think your primary battery wont be enough, maybe you could place another battery at trunk to power up those extra electric devices like that PC, screen(s), playstation and what ever else you got in mind. WARNING: It's possible that there will be some harmfull fumes caused by battery recharging so be carefull and sure that there's decent airconditioning at the trunk ). Also it's better to buy larger inverter (or maybe large power supply?) than is needed just for the future add-ons.
There's going to be lot's of cables so it's better to plan this part many, many, many times

And then possible solution for build:

TRUNK:

PC with decent hardware
Also possible amps
That extra battery if needed (if using this, you got to remember to put extra fuse's and i strongly recommend use of relay to cut the power from main battery when car is parked and "offline" . This is because that extra battery will be just fine for giving the power needed for pc and stuff and your main battery wont be juiced to empty)
Of cource some nice lightning's (neons and stuff) and plexi glass for nicer look

Cabinet (or what ever you want to call it ) :

7"-> screen (with vga AND av-in rca) of your choise to dash with installation of your taste. Plug your PC to screen with vga and playstation/dvd-player/anything else to av-in rca.
If you are playing those dvd's, mp3's and audio cd's from ps2/PC, then you don't have to install additional dvd/cd/mp3 player to center console and u can use that extra space to install that screen (if it will fit)
Playstations and other s*it can be installed under the seat's pretty nicely
You could install some minikeyboard and maybe trackball mouse to dash to control the PC (only if you don't got touchscreen)

There's some info for a start. There's lot's of other things to notice and so many ways to do things that it would take too much time to write about all of that. I was thinking that it would be nice to do some kind of tutorial like: step to step quide for car-PC install (with additional screens, input devices and stuff like that). So new guys could get inside of this "hobby" without doing massive amounts of mistakes,

and

. Maybe i'll write somekind of step by step quide in future

**full_bleed** · 07-12-2005, 02:12 PM

THanks Jamiks that was very useful information. Ok here's another question. If I went with having a pc and a h/u would the passenger in the vehicle be abl to throw on some headphones and listen to a totally different cd or play a game while the h/u plays audio through the speakers?

**Jamiks** · 07-12-2005, 02:43 PM

full_bleed:

Well i think that isn't possible with most players. I really don't got that much of experiense about different types of headunits. Of course one way would be building lil' device that swiches audio source (with little electronics knowledge this is pretty easy).

Btw. I just wroted little tutorial for the "noobs", you might want to check it out: tutorial for newbies. I will add more info every time i'll have the time.