So I'm going to install a car PC...

**damarble** · 01-02-2006, 11:01 PM

Hello everyone. As you can see I'm brand new here and this is my first post. Probably the last as well. Since practicaly everything related to carputers has already been covered, I don't see any need to ask questions. And I don't want to be flamed for not using

I have a complete PC already from old parts laying around, I just need the accessories to make it work in the car and do the things I want.

What I have:
Celeron 2.4 (will underclock a little)
Foxconn 648FX4MR-ES mobo
Matrox 32MB VC
2x128 Kingston PC2700
endless supply of cables/fans/etc

Stuff I need (to get started. There's a bunch of small stuff that I'll come across along the way):
Opus 150w
7" Xenarc Gain 700TSV TS (almost have, bidding now)
140/80 amp alternator for the car. It has a 63 amp in there now and it can't even run a laptop without killing the battery.

Here is the car:

It's an 85 AMC Eagle. Don't knock it, I would take it over any Honda any day. (You should see the one I just parked with a blown engine. Same car, but lifted 6" with 30" tires. I will do the same to this one.)

Any comments welcome.

**RawsonDR** · 01-03-2006, 02:14 AM

I would look into the M2-ATX power supply if I were you. It's suppose to deliver 8A on the 12V rail (5A for the Opus). It's also suppose to be 90 bucks plus shipping. The problem is it hasn't been released yet, but is suppose to be on the verge of it. I was told the 15th of this month.

Between you and I.... you could probably get away with 5A, if you are able to underclock and undervolt the Celeron sufficiently. But you will be cutting it close. You have to share the 12V with the Xenarc and hard drive, as well as any other 12V devices you might pick up down the road.

**DarquePervert** · 01-03-2006, 07:31 AM

Agreed, but there are beefier power supplies than the M-series.
Opus 150w should work for your setup, as should a DSATX. The latter will give you more power should you decide to upgrade the entire system in the future.

**damarble** · 01-03-2006, 12:36 PM

Update - I won the Xenarc so I should have it in a week or so. Thanks for the input on PSU's. I did some reading on the M2-ATX and lile it much better than the Opus 150w. And another 2 weeks is nothing, if that's when it does launch.

**damarble** · 01-10-2006, 04:58 PM

Here's the case I made by cutting an old CD changer in half. It's 4" tall, 8" wide, 16" deep. It's got a cover thats makes it look much better, also I'm going to paint it before the final install. I'll post more details once it's done.

The rear of my car. The PC will go in the empty space to the right of the spare. As you can see from the other side there is a panel that I took off to get access.

My dash. I will have to relocate the HVAC controls, but they're a total ***** becuase they're cable operated. A picture of the original radio bezel, and the LCD installed in a junk bezel I hacked up. I basicaly cut a hole 1/8" smaller than the LCD's bezel and sandwiched the radio bezel between the to halves of the LCD case. It's very solid and works really well.