FAQ Poll: How much did your car PC cost? - Page 4

d_sellers1 · 05-30-2006, 11:54 PM

Voted $1000-1250. Spent $300 on a Lilliput 8" that now has a defective TS. I just bought a SP-716 motorized indash to replace it. I haven't even put the system in the car yet but its running fine on the bench... Soon...

It's probably not really this much but I'm also counting the subs and amps also. Not quite sure of an exact cost just yet.

Derek

ppgt94 · 06-14-2006, 10:36 AM

Just thought I'd add to the thread since after being asked numerous times about cost I finally threw together a quick tally. The prices are mostly from memory and they are what I paid at-the-time. All parts were *not* acquired all at once, it's a constant changing and growing process.

This is from my most recent carputer project;

Just off the top of my head. These prices are what I remember paying. I'm sure current prices are different.

* IBM Netvista A40p - $45, ebay (local pick-up)

* 60GB HDD - $80

* 7" Widescreen VGA LCD Touchscreen - $450

* 150w Opus DC-DC ATX power supply with startup/shutdown controller - $130

* TurtleBeach Santa Cruz soundcard - Salvaged from a another PC. (Retail $45)

* USB 2.0 PCI card - Salvaged (Retail $25)

* USB 2.0 Powered Hub - $20

* GPS Reciever - $85

* Wifi card + 5.5dB external antenna - $70

* Gyro Wireless Keyboard/Mouse - $90

* Cables, Wiring, Adapters, Switches - $175

* Software - $200

* Labor - Lots of time.

* Set of new component speakers - $300

* 4-Channel amp - $180 (used, local)

* 2- Channal amp + 10" sub - $250 (used, local)

Doogle · 07-20-2006, 05:55 AM

Mines cost £877.60 GBP so far, roughly $1,620.
I'm going to see about getting it installed in the car today at a shop cos I'm not confident with the electrical stuff.
Plus I think I might have to get an amp to get the audio from the PC to my speakers as my current head unit doesn't have any aux-in ports, so it's gonna cost me a bit more yet.
Still, so far it's cheaper than ready made units with less powerful componants in that I've seen in online shop catalogues

damarble · 07-20-2006, 02:36 PM

I'll break it down, since there can be so much variation and I'm not finished with my sound system yet. The PC itself was $300, the LCD $300, the component speakers (2) $130, the amp for them $100 (both gently used, 50% less than retail

), all the wiring $50, and fabrication $100.

I still want to add GPS to the PC and a pair of subs w/amp.

I voted $500-750, leaving out the cost of speakers and amps since I'd have bought them even if I didn't have a carPC.

BDVirus · 07-26-2006, 01:28 PM

there are 2 systems i like, ones AMD ones Intel(these are all the full retail prices, since ebay and other places fluctuate alot more):

AMD System
AMD Athalon X2 3800+ SFF 35 watt $210
ASUS M2NPV-VM $ 85
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB $177
M2-ATX 160W $90

Total cost $562

Intel
Intel Core Duo T2500 $320
Commell LV677DC $315
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB $177
Carnetix P1900 $100

Total $912

The Intel would be a custom enclosure that would have the LCD on the front and be mounted in-dash and be removeable. The AMD would have a slide-out LCD and the PC would be mounted in the trunk at first, and be moved to the front area once i mod'ed my dash to accept it lol.

The reason no lcd or case is listed, is because both have the same cost for LCD (about $500 or so) and the case would be about $50 or so (to make or buy). HD i have old laptop HD's i can use so thats $0 of course lol.

all added up the AMD system would cost $1200 max, and be the cost effective method. Intel would be more elegant and be a cleaner install, but cost more at $1800 max. The Intel system would also have a graphics card that i could use for a more mobile pc, and could plug in when im gonna run off AC wall outlets and be removed for the car (i didnt factor that into the specs up top due to me not being sure what card i would use, either 7300 gs for lower power and possibility of using it in the car also, or something more like the 7600gt for more power and no car use).

I like the intel idea more (since its slide in and out, lcds on the front of the case so have an all in one system with ac adapters and bricks), but would prolly end up with the AMD solution.

vxcarpc · 07-27-2006, 04:32 PM

I doubt I spent more than US$500 on my whole setup so far. My screen wasnt too expensive and pi picked up my mini ITX motherboard with CPU and ram for about $100US off a old workmate who was selling it. I think once it reaches the $1000US mark you might as well have gone out and bought a professional car system.

turbocad6 · 07-27-2006, 05:53 PM

that's not really true, carpc's can cost several thousand & more even if you go off.... & there is no parallel to a prefab mm headunit really..., just can't really compare the 2 because they are 2 different things...

I've put thousands & then some into my carpc.... & I also have a full alpine multimedia setup on top of that!!! one doesn't replace the other, although many here like to think they do.... 2 different things really....

kbreeden · 07-27-2006, 06:22 PM

If I can remember everything:

Computer (Shuttle XPC with Processor and Ram) - $350
External CD/DVD ROM - $80
Bluetooth Keyboard - $120
Xenarc 7" Touchscreen - $400
IGuidance Software (two versions) - $200
GPS Receiver - $100
Inverter - $60
Professional install of power and hard-wired FM modulator - $250
Professional install of touchscreen (huge job on my car) - $500
Bluetooth Dongle - $10
Donations to software contributors to this site - $100
2 gig highspeed flash drive to transfer data to carputer - $120
2nd cellphone for Internet access - $100
Miscellaneous - $100

TOTAL: $2,490

It would have cost me $2,000 just to get stock navigation on my car. The way I figure, it was a bargain to spend just a couple of hundred more and have all the functionality I have with my carputer.

BDVirus · 07-28-2006, 01:12 AM

kbreeden got a question for ya, why buy another cell phone? why not get a pc card connection and card... granted would cost about the same, but they work better together then having a phone in the mix (just my thoughts on it though).

kbreeden · 07-28-2006, 03:50 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by BDVirus

kbreeden got a question for ya, why buy another cell phone? why not get a pc card connection and card... granted would cost about the same, but they work better together then having a phone in the mix (just my thoughts on it though).

I'm not sure how a pc card would work. Do you mean a wireless network card? With my bluetooth Verizon cell phone I can easily connect via dial-up networking and can retrieve and send email and access the Internet. I can connect anywhere and it just costs me minutes to use during peak time and is free during nights and weekends. It actually works quite well, though download speed is only about 115k.

breaker021 · 03-02-2007, 10:34 AM

I'm using a tablet laptop for navigation/music/movies. i can use the tablet in the car and when i park it, i can take it with me to class, work - wherever. but since i bought the tablet for use in the car, i'm adding to this list.

Basic cost of my entire setup - Broken down:

---- THINGS NECESSARY FOR NAVIGATION/MUSIC:
- Lenovo x41 tablet -1.5ghz, 1gb ram, 60gb HD, fingerprint reader, wireless nic, x4 docker - $600
- Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 / USB GPS Puck = $105
- Laptop-To-Head-Unit audio cable (stero to stero) = $12
- Did-it-meself Tablet laptop mount - $1 (the cost of the bandana - hahahaha!)
___________________________
Cost: $718

---- ADDITIONAL **** I WANTED TO USE IN THE CAR BUT BARELY/NEVER USE:
- Cig. LIghter Power Inverter = $60 (rarely used, most of the time i use the battery on the tablet)
- Logitech Orbit MP digital webcam to use as a backup camera - $30
_________________________________
Cost: $90

Complete total - $807 or so.

And that's a total of ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING i've spent in order to have navigation/music/movies in my car. no adapters, i didn't run any wires (only hid the laptop power + sound wires) and that's it. probably took me a total of like half an hour to setup - took like 20 minutes to make the mount! l0l

JEFFSGTP · 03-04-2007, 03:07 PM

HP D530 (SFF) - $137 (ebay w/S&H)
P4-2.66ghz(HT) 512mb ram (4gbmax)

Xenarc 700tsv - $250 (ebay w/S&H) NIB :-)

Security Sleeve/mounting bracket for D530 - $50 (going in trunk)

Various Cables & FM Modulator $125

GNET Digital Dash Software - $50 (very easy to use/setup/customize)

Internal DVD Drive Custom Mounted in dash -$80

Linksys Wireless G PCI card - $50

External 7db gain wifi antenna $25

Still Need to buy: USB magnetic mount GPS antenna/receiver $60

Probably more to come but as of now still working on the install :-) as time from 2 jobs permits

HotRob69 · 03-06-2007, 10:16 PM

I found that for beginers such as myself, ebay or used parts is a good way to go. I have already been through 2 monitors.

breaker021 · 03-07-2007, 08:37 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JEFFSGTP

HP D530 (SFF) - $137 (ebay w/S&H)
P4-2.66ghz(HT) 512mb ram (4gbmax)

You are the man -awesome find. PCs will kick the *** of any mini-itx solution... I had a mini-itx solution and it sucked ***. 1ghz is slow as ****. p4's for the win!

- sh00k

JEFFSGTP · 03-08-2007, 06:55 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by breaker021

You are the man -awesome find. PCs will kick the *** of any mini-itx solution... I had a mini-itx solution and it sucked ***. 1ghz is slow as ****. p4's for the win!

- sh00k

Thanks, I about fainted when it said I won the bid at $107 dollars

I am waiting for a couple days off from both jobs so I can tear the car apart and do the install