New to mp3Car

**dodgedak** · 05-01-2006, 02:41 AM

Hey everyone, Im a newb here.

I have may years computer experience behind me, but im new to the carputer
thing. I've been lurking arround and reading posts on this forum for the last few weeks. I have no real question. I just thought I would introduce myself and let you all know what Im up to.

Im planning on building a PC for my 1999 dodge dakota. Heres a list of the features that I plan on incorporating:

Immediately:
-"Stock" looking indash touchscreen
-GPS Nav
-MP3 (without using a HU)
-DVD/Video Play Back w/ surround sound
-Wifi (w/ some sort of connection sniffer)
-OBD-II (im not realy sure what i will be able to do with this yet)
-6 to 10 second boot time
-when in my driveway the system will automaticly check for updates to my mp3 collection in the house and copy/remove any new/deleted songs

In the future:
-Control Temprature
-Control Windows
-Control Mirrors
-Satellite radio
-Control Air/Fuel Ratio
-Voice Control
-Home made front end

Im sure ill change my mind about somethings, and smoe stuff may not be possible. But im gunna give it my best

Heres what im thinking harware wise (i dont want to spend too much):
Display: 7" lillput LCD Toch Screen
PSU: OPUS 150W DC-DC
Mobo: ASUS a7N8X-E Deluxe (already have this from an old computer)
CPU: AMD Athalon XP 2600+ (already have this from an old computer)
Ram: 2 x 512 DDR400 (already have this from an old computer)
HDD: 160GB SATA (already have this from an old computer)
Optical: Sotload DVD/CDRW
GPS: Dont know yet
Wifi: Dont know yet
Audio: Onboard/Dont know yet
Video: Onboard/Dont know yet
OBD-II: Dont know yet

I havent really done any power consumption calculations yet, but im hoping i will be ok. I would prefer not to use an inverter... it just seams like an inefficient thing to do.

What do you all think?

Any Suggestions for me?

**scott_fx** · 05-01-2006, 02:51 AM

Originally Posted by dodgedak

Hey everyone, Im a newb here.

I have may years computer experience behind me, but im new to the carputer
thing. I've been lurking arround and reading posts on this forum for the last few weeks. I have no real question. I just thought I would introduce myself and let you all know what Im up to.

Im planning on building a PC for my 1999 dodge dakota. Heres a list of the features that I plan on incorporating:

Immediately:
-"Stock" looking indash touchscreen
-GPS Nav
-MP3 (without using a HU)
-DVD/Video Play Back w/ surround sound
-Wifi (w/ some sort of connection sniffer)
-OBD-II (im not realy sure what i will be able to do with this yet)
-6 to 10 second boot time
-when in my driveway the system will automaticly check for updates to my mp3 collection in the house and copy/remove any new/deleted songs

In the future:
-Control Temprature
-Control Windows
-Control Mirrors
-Satellite radio
-Control Air/Fuel Ratio
-Voice Control
-Home made front end

Im sure ill change my mind about somethings, and smoe stuff may not be possible. But im gunna give it my best

Heres what im thinking harware wise (i dont want to spend too much):
Display: 7" lillput LCD Toch Screen
PSU: OPUS 150W DC-DC
Mobo: ASUS a7N8X-E Deluxe (already have this from an old computer)
CPU: AMD Athalon XP 2600+ (already have this from an old computer)
Ram: 2 x 512 DDR400 (already have this from an old computer)
HDD: 160GB SATA (already have this from an old computer)
Optical: Sotload DVD/CDRW
GPS: Dont know yet
Wifi: Dont know yet
Audio: Onboard/Dont know yet
Video: Onboard/Dont know yet
OBD-II: Dont know yet

I havent really done any power consumption calculations yet, but im hoping i will be ok. I would prefer not to use an inverter... it just seams like an inefficient thing to do.

What do you all think?

Any Suggestions for me?

welcome to the forum, your goals sound pretty good. when researching what gives oem's 'oem look' i found the one thing that sticks out when comparing modded consoles is the use of a 'hard edge. far too often we sand the bajeezus out of the console and get it all smooth and flowing... a lot of time's oem's have a hard edge not all smooth and milky. another thing is tactile buttons. if you incorperate those two ideas i think you will be successful. check out my install for my old car pc and see if you can see how i implimented these ideas (car pc 2.5 is going to be pretty different though)

oh..the ram...drop it down to just 512 and it'll help your boot time

dont go onboard audio...if you're on a budget go with the soundblster live 5.1 with kxproject drivers and you'll have much better sound quality for about 10 bucks!

**dodgedak** · 05-01-2006, 03:46 AM

Hey scot_fx,

thanks for the reply. I love your car dude. Iv always wanted a corvette. Maybe one day!.

I was actualy looking at your install on the board yesterday. It looks very OEM (and i mean that as a good thing!)

**Matrix_24** · 05-01-2006, 08:45 AM

Welcome to the forums! Where are you planning on putting the monitor?

**rjl6d** · 05-01-2006, 01:11 PM

Mobo: ASUS a7N8X-E Deluxe (already have this from an old computer)
CPU: AMD Athalon XP 2600+ (already have this from an old computer)
Ram: 2 x 512 DDR400 (already have this from an old computer)
HDD: 160GB SATA (already have this from an old computer)

I havent really done any power consumption calculations yet, but im hoping i will be ok. I would prefer not to use an inverter... it just seams like an inefficient thing to do.

I also had a computer lying around that I wanted to reappropriate.
Mobo: Shuttle SN45G v3
CPU: AMD Athlon 3200+
RAM: 2 x 256 Dual Channel
HDD: 40GB IDE
Video: ATI Radeon 9200

I was worried about power consumption so I set everything in the BIOS to the most conservative possible settings and it runs fine on an Opus 150. I ran Folding@Home (one of those distributed computing apps that peg your processor at 100%) for 24hrs on the Opus powered by the stock PSU plugged into the wall. While I was running this program, I copied 4GB of music to the hard drive over a USB2 802.11G adapter, then installed Delorme Street Atlas and acquired a GPS signal using a USB receiver.

**dodgedak** · 05-01-2006, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Matrix_24

Welcome to the forums! Where are you planning on putting the monitor?

I am going to remove the 2 heat outlets and the hu. Then I am going to center the screen in that area.

**dodgedak** · 05-01-2006, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by rjl6d

I also had a computer lying around that I wanted to reappropriate.
Mobo: Shuttle SN45G v3
CPU: AMD Athlon 3200+
RAM: 2 x 256 Dual Channel
HDD: 40GB IDE
Video: ATI Radeon 9200

I was worried about power consumption so I set everything in the BIOS to the most conservative possible settings and it runs fine on an Opus 150. I ran Folding@Home (one of those distributed computing apps that peg your processor at 100%) for 24hrs on the Opus powered by the stock PSU plugged into the wall. While I was running this program, I copied 4GB of music to the hard drive over a USB2 802.11G adapter, then installed Delorme Street Atlas and acquired a GPS signal using a USB receiver.

I realy havent ever payed attention to power consumption before. Its always been a non issue with a 450 or 500 watt psu. But now that im trying to keep power consumption to a minimum Im finding i realy have to watch what im putting into the system.

I dont want to strain my battery too much either. I plan on installing a light bar on my truck in the future as well. Im sure that that will use a lot of power. And then theres my Sub and speakers. When i go camping, i have an air compressor and maybe an exterior light also. It all adds up.

But if i need to add a 2nd battery, it wont be very hard.