I'm just getting started and could use some guidance on my pt cruiser :)

**lah** · 06-01-2006, 12:11 AM

hey all,

I decided a while back to build a computer in my car after i heard of one in someones car a few years ago. So now that i can finally drive (going to be a a senior in high school), ive decided to get started. Ive got about $2000 to spend, with more on the way if i need more. Ive got an '02 pt cruiser, golden exterior, brownish interior. I dont have specific measurements yet, but i have friend coming to take a look at my car to help me with measuring and figuring out if i have enough room for a screen in my dashboard.

So after spending all this morning and all night after work reading more specifically on carputers, i think its time to start putting together a parts and prices list. Ive got a few questions so far.

1. Should i go with a pre-built computer like from mini-box.com or opussolutions.com, or go with a custom built one? If i were to build it myself, i was thinking about an amd athlon 64 3200+ 940 socket (am2) because of its approximate 35w usage, a microatx mobo with decent onboard video and onboard 5.1/7.1 audio support, dvd burner (for on-the-road movie creation), 80 or 160g 3.5" hd (7200 rpm, most likely just ata). I think with my rig i wouldnt be able to use a dc-dc psu, so i'd have to go with a regular atx psu. Then i guess i would need an inverter... Ive already read in the psu section, and im still really confused about inverters, like what would be the best one for me and where could i buy/order one?

2. What kind of touchscreen should i get? Again, ive already read the forums and im not sure which one i should get, and what size. I'll have measurements for you guys tomorrow, maybe that'll help me out then. If theres anybody that has already done this with a pt or seen one, then maybe you could help me out w/o the measurements.

3. Where should i mount the carputer itself? Under the passenger side front seat there is a removable drawer... I could take out the drawer and mount the pc under the seat, would that be sufficient? i'll get some measurements tomorrow to verify if you guys arent sure.

I cant think of anything else but im sure i will tomorrow.

(PS- with my carputer, i'd like to be able to listen to music, watch movies, burn dvds, and gps... wireless connectivity, fm radio, tv and internet would be +'s but not a necessity... i'd also like to have it setup for auto power up/auto hibernation/standby if that's possible.. and one last thing, i'd like to be able to have the computer setup for voice commands)

Any help would be greatly appreciated, im in no hurry, and will get back to you guys with some more info and measurements sometime tomorrow night! Thanks!

**DarquePervert** · 06-01-2006, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by lah

1. Should i go with a pre-built computer like from mini-box.com or opussolutions.com, or go with a custom built one? If i were to build it myself, i was thinking about an amd athlon 64 3200+ 940 socket (am2) because of its approximate 35w usage, a microatx mobo with decent onboard video and onboard 5.1/7.1 audio support, dvd burner (for on-the-road movie creation), 80 or 160g 3.5" hd (7200 rpm, most likely just ata). I think with my rig i wouldnt be able to use a dc-dc psu, so i'd have to go with a regular atx psu. Then i guess i would need an inverter... Ive already read in the psu section, and im still really confused about inverters, like what would be the best one for me and where could i buy/order one?

Depends on how comfortable you feel building, configuring & troubleshooting PCs...

2. What kind of touchscreen should i get? Again, ive already read the forums and im not sure which one i should get, and what size. I'll have measurements for you guys tomorrow, maybe that'll help me out then. If theres anybody that has already done this with a pt or seen one, then maybe you could help me out w/o the measurements.

Measurements are good....

3. Where should i mount the carputer itself? Under the passenger side front seat there is a removable drawer... I could take out the drawer and mount the pc under the seat, would that be sufficient? i'll get some measurements tomorrow to verify if you guys arent sure.

Wherever you have the space.

My advice: You can't plan your project enough. Start a worklogKeep track of ideas, your plan, your vision, photos, etc. As the project progresses, you'll be able to look back and see that one component you thought was a good idea doesn't work into the plan at a later stage... Stuff like that.

**JD80** · 06-01-2006, 12:56 AM

IMO I think that the 64bit processor is just a wee bit much for a carputer. I dont believe you will ever get the full potential out of a 64bit processor in your car. But it would be good to get the best onboard video and sound you can. And for what you are wanting your carputer to do I would ATLEAST get a 120gig hard drive (But if you look at the prices closesly you can pick up a 300gb hard drive for a little over $100.00 (http://www.tigerdirect.com had a sale on them a while back).

With that being said I would have to agree with DarquePervert about depending on how comfortable you are with building PCs. The only computer you NEED for a carputer is the motherboard(onboard video, sound, LAN, etc.,processor, memory, harddrive, and power supply, DVD Rom drive, and a Touchscreen monitor.
If I had the allowance you gave your self for building this PC I would go with the follow parts from http://www.mp3car.com/store

Motherboard = VIA EPIA MII12000 Mini-ITX Mainboard $208.99

Processor = included with motherboard

Memory = 1GB DDR2 DIMM PC2-4200 RAM $109.99

Hard Drive = Inless you are wanting a 2.5" hard drive I would go to tigerdirect or newegg to purchase a hard drive $???.??

Power supply = M2-ATX 160W Intelligent DC-DC PSU $89.94

touchscreen = Would really depend on how much dash room you have but I bought a 7" (widescreen) touchscreen and it was plenty big.

CD/DVD Rom = Pioneer Slot Load DVR-K05 DVD±R/+R DL/±RW Dual $145.00

I would think this is all the power you would need for what you are wanting to do with it. You would even have money left over

For your third question...........cant help ya....i've never even seen inside a PT cruiser. But most the fun/headache

is actually getting it to work in your car. Goodluck and I hope my post helped even a little.

**lah** · 06-01-2006, 10:04 AM

Well i'll consider getting the parts from here then, and i think you're right, 64-bit processing might be a little overboard. And i think i'd rather get a 3.5" bb hard drive, i'll probably go with a 250 or 300g (i have 250g of movies, plus about 25g of music). Also i aggree with JD80 on the amount of memory, i think 1g is a must for what i want to do. And on a sidenote, im extremely comfortable building/troubleshooting computers. Ive built several laptops, and built my first computer when i was 11, lol. I'll get back to you guys later tonight with some measurements.

**myzhi** · 06-01-2006, 10:46 AM

Since you have big budget, suggest going with Turion 64 or Pentium mobile. You can than use a DC-DC PS. If you want even more power, you could wait a few months a see about those new Intel duo core mobile cpus coming out. Supposely, they will offer huge performance boost.

**lah** · 06-01-2006, 10:26 PM

alright so i got some measurements (none yet of the inside of my dashboard cause my friend is actually coming tomorrow, not today).

Im attaching a picture of my dashboard first... i'd like to ditch the cd player controls, and possibly the buttons below it if i have to. Any ideas or suggestions? And with these measurements maybe i could get some recommendations on what type of screen i should get.

In the next post i will be uploading a picture of under the passenger side seat, with measurements. The only measurement i did not put on this second picture is the depth, its approximately 15in.

All of the measurements were approximate.

One last question, is there any way to find wattage from voltage? Newegg only offers the voltage, so if there was a way that'd be great...

thanks guys so far!

**lah** · 06-01-2006, 10:27 PM

heres under the seat

**lah** · 06-01-2006, 11:16 PM

one last question/comment that i forgot to mention (doh!).. I'm also considering a new soundsystem (definitely sub/amp)... what kind of sound card will i need, or what specifically outputs will i need on the soundcard? Currently im looking at a micro-atx mobo with an amd turion 64 mt-30 (only 25w!). I'd like the mobo to have onboard video and audio... i have my eye on this one here -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131588 I believe the onboard video is adequate, but am not so sure about the onboard audio, think that'll be enough for a 4.1 or 5.1 system in my car? (not quite sure what i have now, i think just 2 door speakers and 2 in the rear, im car illiterate

) I havent done too much searching/reading on speakers yet, just what ive seen so far on these forums, so i'll be doing a lot more of that before i even start planning, just some words of wisdom to get me started on that would be great! Thanks again

**myzhi** · 06-02-2006, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by lah

one last question/comment that i forgot to mention (doh!).. I'm also considering a new soundsystem (definitely sub/amp)... what kind of sound card will i need, or what specifically outputs will i need on the soundcard? Currently im looking at a micro-atx mobo with an amd turion 64 mt-30 (only 25w!). I'd like the mobo to have onboard video and audio... i have my eye on this one here -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131588 I believe the onboard video is adequate, but am not so sure about the onboard audio, think that'll be enough for a 4.1 or 5.1 system in my car? (not quite sure what i have now, i think just 2 door speakers and 2 in the rear, im car illiterate

) I havent done too much searching/reading on speakers yet, just what ive seen so far on these forums, so i'll be doing a lot more of that before i even start planning, just some words of wisdom to get me started on that would be great! Thanks again

The Nvidia 6100 onboard video chipset is more than adequate. It's almost better than any other onboard chipset out there. Since that MB comes with 6 channel of onboard sound, it should be able to run 4.1/5.1. If you want more, the Gigabyte GA-K8N51GMF I am using has 8 channels and is $5 cheaper at newegg.