Ok I'm ready to go - Please advice :)

**QiQme** · 01-26-2006, 11:43 AM

After reading this forum and clicked every link available to resources i got VERY VERY excited about building my own CarPc.

A lot of guys (maybe girl) here are pro's so advice is much appriciated

My Setup

Monitor
Lilliput 7" LCD Monitor Touchscreen VGA
Motherboard
ASUS P4T533-C
Processor
Pentium 4 2.53mhz
Memory
512mb
Souncard
Onboard
Graphicscard
G-Force2 64mb
Network
Linksys Wireless Lan
Harddisk
80 GB Western Digital 3.5"
Keyboard/Mouse

Other
Normal 350 watts Powersupply
CD/DVD Drive

Power Converter 12volt -> 230 volts

Belkin AC Anywhere™ 300W

Audio

Headunit
Sony Something

2 x 4 ch Amplifiers 1300w each (2600w RMS)

Front Speakers : Composet from MB QUART
Middle of the car (doors) : Composet from MB QUART
Rear Speakers : Composet from MB QUART
Trunk Speakers : 2 x 12" Rockfort Fosgate woofers

My Car

Volkswagen Golf mk4 (5 doors)

All audio hardware is already connected and working.

Is this setup ok (PC) and do i have to think about special things i maybe forgot ?

Thanx in advance

**turbocad6** · 01-26-2006, 12:54 PM

p4 will be way to hot & power hungry & inefficent.... rethink your approach....

**QiQme** · 01-26-2006, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by turbocad6

p4 will be way to hot & power hungry & inefficent.... rethink your approach....

Why to hot ?

I have 2 big tranparent fans for the case and heatsink with fan for the cpu

**3onDubs** · 01-26-2006, 01:02 PM

Welcome to the forum bro...you've come to the right place. There is a lot of knowledge on this forum and the people here definitely know what they're talking about...(Turbo is definitely one of them).

Turbo is right about the p4...if you havn't gotten your parts yet, than i suggest getting a lower powered motherboard. It will ultimately save you the trouble of feeding it enough power. I also suggest getting a better power supply. Since the computer will be built into your car and hardly ever removed, you want to hard wire a power supply that includes a startup/shutdown controller. These power supplies are designed specifically for putting computers in cars....i say that it would be a shame not to use one.

Are you running 3 sets of mb quart's? Do you have any pics? I bet it gets loud...

**DarquePervert** · 01-26-2006, 01:17 PM

You're putting alot of money into audio equipment as well. That indicates to me you want this whole setup to sound good.
An inverter is very likely to screw all that up with RF interference, causing all sorts of ugly sound. A DC-DC power supply will reduce that possibility significantly.

However, your P4 setup will draw 59.3 or 61.5 watss, depending on which version of the chip. There are a couple DC-DC power supplies that will provide the power you need, but you're still likely to go over that limit with the other 12v devices (HDD, fans, screen possibly). If this is the setup you're determined to use, I'd check out the DSATX DC-DC PSU. It's your best bet, but still no guarantee it'll work.

Then there's the inefficiency of the inverter. An inverter's job is to convert DC power into AC power. Then the comptuers PSU will conver the AC power from the inverter back to DC power for the comptuer to use. What a waste.

You say you've clicked on every resource and link available.
Here's another one for you that I don't think you've checked out:
mp3car.com FAQ Emporium
If you'd have checked that out, you'd know why we're suggesting you rethink the system you've got planned.

**QiQme** · 01-26-2006, 01:25 PM

Thanx for the info 3onDubs

My idea with the power is as follows..

De powercable from the battery (50mm2 thick) will be connected directly to the Belkin powersupply and all other electronic devices. On my dash i have a powerswitch from Caliber that removes ALL power from the battery to the whole circuit in the car. You see this switch on racecars a lot.

Next to this switch i've already made two original computerswitches. 1 for the pc power on/off and one for softreset.

So when i start my car i will turn the MAIN powerswitch on (to power the radio, amplifiers, Belkin powerconverter etc etc) and then i will press the button to switch on my pc.

I already have all the parts. So for now it's a waste of money to buy a new mainboard and processor

What's the worst that can happen ?

(Btw every cable is secured with gold Caliber fuses)

**QiQme** · 01-26-2006, 01:35 PM

Are you running 3 sets of mb quart's? Do you have any pics? I bet it gets loud...

Not yet. Will make pictures when i'm done.

The DSATX DC-DC PSU look great.

Does that mean i don't need any powersupply for the pc. Does this thing do it all ?

Ow i forgot Installed 2 Powercaps to have constantly 12 volts

**turbocad6** · 01-26-2006, 01:46 PM

the worse that can happen is after you get it all installed & realize what were talking about & why, you'll either wind up ripping it out & re-doing it, or live with a system that's not so hot.... well, actually it'll be kinda hot...., but not that great.....

putting a p4 in your car is like putting a big block chevy in a honda..... while it can be done, it will not be the most effective or practical install & will create other problems.... you'd be much better served by turbocharging a light wieght engine in that situation..... don't matter if you already have a bigblock sitting there.... it's still not good.......

**QiQme** · 01-26-2006, 01:59 PM

So you suggest a pentium 3 ? (as i watch @ my empty bankaccount)

BTW Thanx for this great help guys

**xBrady** · 01-26-2006, 02:11 PM

If you have the chip already just underclock it (if your mb lets you). Definitely get a DC PSU rather than the inverter though. If you get a 150W opus and underclock your CPU a bit I'm sure you'd be pretty well off.