Thread: Cheap examples

if you want cheap you don't want a carpc ... get an mp3 player and an fm transmitter.

The key to cheap is knowing exactly how much you are willing to pay for each component, what quality you are willing to sacrifice, knowing how long you are willing to wait to get a good deal on those components, and knowing how much you can spend over alotted segments of time. Watch ebay, fatwallet, anandtech, and the classified forum here.

There is no one cheap way to do it...one suggestion would be to build an older computer, and wait for a deal on an inverter.

And what shakes said is true. This is a hobby and will eat your money..if you don't want to spend money, you should get an mp3 cd player installed in your car.

yea i would have to say most people on here do it as a hobby

Mine will be inexpensive, but not cheap. After months of E-bay scouring I ipcked up a complete Mini ITX box with MII 1k, laptop 120gig, 512k ram and DVD-CDRW combo in a nice generic 4x10x12 case (with room for PCI) for $300. a simalrly equipped system is over $700 in MP3car.com store. Also a Xenarc 7000TS for $320...

My best advice is to decide what products you want, and the max you will pay, but It may take months to find that deal. Its not easy if youre impatent. I wanted a new, complete MII 1k system but I refused to pay a penny over $400.. and I got more than I bargained for.

I just finished my first big step for my install tonight (it's 2AM here in Montreal).

Up to now, that's the list of what I've bought:

Via Epia M10000 / 512 DDR on eBay => 220$ CA (shipping included)
M1-ATX power supply on eBay => 108$ CA (shipping incl)
StreetWires distribution block on eBay => 30$ CA
Innovatek VGA TouchScreen 7" from a friend => 180$ CA
Somme wood => free
Wiring and misc. hardware => approx. 50$ CA

For a grand total of 588$CA (approx 450$US)

Next things I'll add are GPS (I might buy Garmin GPS 15L for ~200$CA with antenna) and WiFi card (cheap pci one). I'll maybe add a small microphone to have speech recognition.

Right. If you want to go uber cheap, be prepared for it to take months and be inconvenient. It can be done. Search on terms "System cost" or similar terms. There are several relatively recent threads where members discussed the cost of their systems.

Originally Posted by Stealth97

Mine will be inexpensive, but not cheap. After months of E-bay scouring I ipcked up a complete Mini ITX box with MII 1k, laptop 120gig, 512k ram and DVD-CDRW combo in a nice generic 4x10x12 case (with room for PCI) for $300. a simalrly equipped system is over $700 in MP3car.com store. Also a Xenarc 7000TS for $320...

My best advice is to decide what products you want, and the max you will pay, but It may take months to find that deal. Its not easy if youre impatent. I wanted a new, complete MII 1k system but I refused to pay a penny over $400.. and I got more than I bargained for.

they make 120 gig laptop drives????

Did you look at mine

1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SL - not done yet, but close

yes, may be $800+ but thats with big amp and subs ect

but I only spent about $400 for just the computer stuff

the most cost is the LCD - desktop computers
and power inverters are cheap as are keyboards
and mice - If you looked real hard, you could get a
LCD monitor - maybe a small desktop LCD or old datalux
LCD that is around $50-75, then your all set - if you got
room, use a CRT in like in a van or RV

You can get desktops - p2 350mhz to p3 500mhz for $50
or so, if you shop around

Inverters at walmart are $35
Mice $10
keyboard $10 - $20+ for small ones

USB GPS units can be had for about $40-60 without software
and GPS software - does cost some $$$ but you could start out
with the $9 map software sold in truck stops - Rand McNally stuff,
last years software is often sold low - and it has some GPS support,
later on - when you tire of getting lost - like me - you will upgrade
to iGuidance for the USA or Destinator for Europe

And what shakes said is true. This is a hobby and will eat your money..if you don't want to spend money, you should get an mp3 cd player installed in your car

- what they said

Originally Posted by EsKALad

they make 120 gig laptop drives????

Aparently so, as that is the Spec of the machine.I guess I will find out for certain when the box arrives.