Thread: Nearing the home stretch... Advice? *LONG*

Regarding the network card, I doubt it would add that much time to your boot-up. Now, your network settings might--since the NIC won't always be connected to a network, don't have it use any networked services, otherwise your system will get cranky. Specify an IP address, don't use DHCP. Don't map any networked drives. I haven't really played with ME, but I know in 95 you had to screw with things quite a bit to get the computer to log itself onto the network (well, onto the workgroup, anyway) automatically. The same might be true of ME, but I rather hope not (one assumes Microsoft does improve their products).

Oh, and regarding the connection between the sound card and your stereo, you should be able to find a cable at Radioshack to run between the two (I'm getting one of those AIWA units for Christmas for this very reason).

A majority of this stuff is covered in the search feature (at least half of your questions). Just give it a try.

Believe me, I've spent the better part of the last week reading all of the old posts on this board. Most of it has been talked about, but no real definitive answer had been given...

The hard drive vertical/horizontal question was never definitive.

The power supply question is just reassurance that I'm not wasting $80 on a power supply that won't power my system.

No posts about a working shutdown controller.

No real explanation on how exactly the power supply connects to the car, and if its similar to a car stereo system.

etc...etc...


Most of the questions I asked have NOT been definatively covered, and since I'd blowing $200+ on this thing, I'd like to be reassured a little

Questions I can help with:

3). Ive had my player running each windows OS at one time or another and personally I got the fastest boots from ME, i think its kind of universal, so a nice stripped down version of ME running the 95 shell for stability should be nice. 98 lite rulez.

4). All I know is that hibernation = pain in the butt = not worth it in most cases.

7). Some people claim 15 extra seconds for a network card. I really dont see too much of a difference either way. I have all the protocals setup and have it auto obtain an IP so I can just plugin and be set.

9). Dont think it matters too much with modern hard drives.

11). I'd say if you're efficient you could get it done with a 150 but id buy a 200 just incase. Not really too many features that will *significantly* reduce boot time, just keep the OS small and sweet.

Final Suggestions:

learn that the number after 9 isn't 11 (j/k)
I'd go with a 4x20 LCD, 4x40s dont float my boat personally, too damn long. Get a better soundcard, SB Live = good sound, 30 gig HD overkill unless youve got 30 gig of mp3s.

lower LCD and HD, upgrade SC and another 32mb of RAM to keep ME happy

dont have to listen to me though i'm,

JustAGuy

JustAGuy:

I appreciate the reply... I'm going with the 4x40 LCD because I will be using the Cobra1 software, which seems to have a much better look/layout with the more space.

As for the soundcard, I heard any SoundBlaster card that is 16bit will basically output the same quality sound for mp3s as any other... This not true? I've got a SB16 here is the only reason I ask, I'd rather not go out and buy a SBLive if its not going to have any difference in sound quality.

As for the 30 gig hard drive... One of the main reasons I am doing this player is to get my HUGE cd collection case out of the car. I've got about 150 albums that have in my case, and thats not counting albums I've put in another case that I dont listen to often/at all. My figuring is:

150 Albums, around 50 megs an album = 7.5 gigs
Multiply by 3 to have enough space for ANY future albums I could possibly want = 22.5 gigs

Right now on my hard drive I have around 3 gigs of MP3s... Multiply by 3 to have space for any others I might want = 9 gigs...

So 30 gigs is right around what I need to not have to upgrade my hard drive in a few months... Anyways... I have a 15 gig in my hard drive now, if I find I really dont need the 30 gig, I throw the 15 in the CarPC and throw the 30 gig in my home PC.

Silence,

1) Mount the hard drive vertically. Whether or not it *really* makes that much of a difference in the real world is a matter of debate, but logistically it makes sense to mount it vertically (on it's side). So there's really no reason not to.

2) I'd go with the Sound Blaster Live OEM. They're so darn cheap (about $35... shop online) there's no reason not to.

3) The DC-DC power supply should be no problem...

4) Yeah, the large hard drive is nice... They're so damn cheap, this way you can brag about the capacity you have, even though your don't use it all

5) What the other guys said...

Good luck man!
-ßrian