2GHZ P4 Micro ATX Wanting to Install in Truck(i know nothing)

**shortstuff7777** · 10-20-2005, 08:52 PM

I just got the idea that putting a computer in my car would be sweet and haveing the extra parts laying arounf only helps. To start off, I know nothing, i see you guys talking about dc-dc powersupplies and auto power switches. i have no idea and am wondering how to do it all, i would need to buy a touchscreen and dc-dc powersupply i guess. ANY ONE PLEASE HELP.

Vehicle is 1998 Ford Ranger Super Cab.

**Cris** · 10-20-2005, 08:55 PM

To put it short, you got the ideea. But figuring out what parts you want to suit your needs requires patience. Don't worry, you'll find all your answers here, you just have to look for them.

**Rafster** · 10-21-2005, 01:54 AM

First you have to figure out how much power everything together is going to suck up.

Things to include:

Motherboard
CPU
Hard Drive
RAM
Video Card (If not onboard)
Any extra cards (PCI)
Optical Drive (CD, DVD, CDRW...)
Screen
etc...

Then you can see whether you need something mor in the <150Watts range (Get an Opus 150) or something that requires more, and get that 230Watt DC PSU.

Good luck,

Rafster

**Cris** · 10-21-2005, 06:13 AM

What kind of screen do you have in mind?

**shortstuff7777** · 10-21-2005, 08:52 AM

i was thinking a liliput 8" Touch Screen

**Cris** · 10-21-2005, 07:09 PM

What kind of PSU do you have in mind? (see where I'm getting at? hehehe)

**shortstuff7777** · 10-22-2005, 12:17 AM

i have no idea. i think my sytem will only suck out 150-200 Watts or whatever(the small 12v. for P4 MOBO and the main plug for MOBO and fans of course)

**Rocky388** · 10-22-2005, 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by shortstuff7777

i have no idea. i think my sytem will only suck out 150-200 Watts or whatever(the small 12v. for P4 MOBO and the main plug for MOBO and fans of course)

i could be wrong, but i think that chances are a P4 with an 8" touchscreen will probably need an inverter. Although 230 watts might JUST cut it.

anyone agree/disagree? I guess we really couldn't tell you for sure until you tell us exactly what it is you're going to use.

Use this to calculate how many watts your computer will suck up:
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/

**turbocad6** · 10-22-2005, 01:20 AM

two of the bigger challenges in a carpc will be power & heat.... the system you just happen to have is one of the worse offenders in both these areas

this is not to say you can't do it, but you should be aware that it will present certain challenges that could be avoided with a better choice of equiptment & in the end the final result will be less than ideal.... again, not to say it can't work ......

some here are perfectly content with there screens mounted on a flex arm thingy...others are happy with there motorized screens poping out, & still others will settle for nothing less than a fully molded & factory like fitted screen...point being only you can know what it is that you want & can accept

this is not ment to critisize or even disagree with your project, but ment more to enlighten you to the facts that get learned after the fact for alot of people..... you said you know nothing, now you know this.... hope this helps with your final results

**Caelric** · 10-22-2005, 03:55 AM

If you need/want the power of a P4, you might consider getting a Pentium M insead. They are just about as powerful as P4's (a 2 GHz P-M gets equivalent scores to a 3.4 GHz P4 in most benchmarks) but consume much less power and produce much less heat than the P-4's

Of course, you need to buy a P-M motherboard (P4 motherboards are not compatible with P-M's) and a new P-M chip but it might be worth it.

Dave