MP3Car.com - View Single Post - Pros and Cons on using a Dell optiplex GX..?

greatwhite · 08-28-2007, 09:40 PM

I've got a dell optiplex gx280 "slim line version" in the trunk (tower sized but half the width). I've cut it down and put it in a custom case to make it fit better.

Plenty powerful for everything I want in the car. The only concern is size, but I've got a chrysler intrepid, so space isn't really and issue (trunk is an easy four bagger, Tony Soprano would love it!)

The molex is an atx form 20 pin, but the pinouts are not atx standard. So, dc-dc might be and issue, you may have to chase down the pins with a meter if you want to go this way.

I've gone the inverter route. Now, before everyone stats "freaking out" about how bad inverters are, I've got a true sine wave inverter already installed to run my mom's medical equipment when she's in the car, so that's what I use to power the pc. And it's BIG.
No sound issues or computer hickups at all. I also run a pcpro shutdown controller (nice unit, available on the mp3car store). So I've probably spent more than an intelligent dc-dc solution, but it's what I need.

teh battery hold over time is a couple hours with the car off and the pc running, but to be fair, I'm powering a couple 600 watt amps too, all of the original 7 year old battery, so no surprise there..........

If you do go inverter, make sure you check to see the rating is the continuous rating and not the surge rating. Aslo, try to stay away from the modified sine wave inverters (mostly what you find in walmart and what not). true sine wave inverters don't come cheap either.............

Good luck

08-28-2007, 09:40 PM	#8
greatwhite FLAC Join Date: May 2007 Location: Top o' the world Ma! Posts: 1,271	I've got a dell optiplex gx280 "slim line version" in the trunk (tower sized but half the width). I've cut it down and put it in a custom case to make it fit better. Plenty powerful for everything I want in the car. The only concern is size, but I've got a chrysler intrepid, so space isn't really and issue (trunk is an easy four bagger, Tony Soprano would love it!) The molex is an atx form 20 pin, but the pinouts are not atx standard. So, dc-dc might be and issue, you may have to chase down the pins with a meter if you want to go this way. I've gone the inverter route. Now, before everyone stats "freaking out" about how bad inverters are, I've got a true sine wave inverter already installed to run my mom's medical equipment when she's in the car, so that's what I use to power the pc. And it's BIG. No sound issues or computer hickups at all. I also run a pcpro shutdown controller (nice unit, available on the mp3car store). So I've probably spent more than an intelligent dc-dc solution, but it's what I need. teh battery hold over time is a couple hours with the car off and the pc running, but to be fair, I'm powering a couple 600 watt amps too, all of the original 7 year old battery, so no surprise there.......... If you do go inverter, make sure you check to see the rating is the continuous rating and not the surge rating. Aslo, try to stay away from the modified sine wave inverters (mostly what you find in walmart and what not). true sine wave inverters don't come cheap either............. Good luck __________________ For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci Last edited by greatwhite; 08-28-2007 at 09:43 PM.