New CarPuter Project: Need Input!

Tremek · 01-29-2002, 10:23 PM

Hey all. While I've been paying attention to mp3car.com for a couple years or so now I've not posted to the boards up until this.

That said, my obsession for the past couple years has been building an Mp3-car type system when I had the money to do so. Life is shaping up that I'm finding myself with discretionary income, so the parts-gathering has started.

What I want to do is build a regular PC in a case that sits in the trunk of my '88 Acura Legend coupe, and have it interfaced with a car stereo system through a soundcard that outputs 5.1 audio and a 10.4" TFT VGA LCD up front with a touchscreen overlay. A rough draft of sorts that I made earlier this month:

I'm intending to put the PC in this case:

Anyway... There's a few parts of this that I've barely begun to flesh out, that being power requirements and whether or not a PC soundcard will have problems acting as a preamp.

Any suggestions, clarifications, or criticisms at this point would be greatly appreciated.

Meatballman · 01-30-2002, 12:24 AM

Looks like a nice setup if done correctly. You'll have trouble getting an AT or ATX board to fit right in that classic mac case. It will require some modification. I personally would go with a smaller case, but I can understand the coolness factor of the antique macII case.

Tremek · 01-30-2002, 12:36 AM

Yea, the Dremel is going to be my friend with this badboy. I also have a can of vinyl dye to make it black once I'm done hacking it up. The coolest thing about the Mac case is that the top of it hinges open (with the hinge being at the "front" of the case) and the latches are those two tabs on the top rear of the case. Very, very easy access to the innards and no screws, I like the concept.

In terms of the PC for it, it looks like the vague rundown will be:

Duron 600 & heatsink/fan
KT7-RAID mobo (after a current mobo upgrade)
256 MB PC133 ram
GTS-V video card
Hercules Game Theater XP sound card
Hauppage WinTV-FM tv card
Firewire card
10.4" TFT LCD w/ touch overlay (not a datalux)
VGA to TFT controller
Pioneer 10x Slot-load DVD-ROM for the dash connected by a firewire-to-IDE bridge
20-40gb HD, 7200 rpm

- Now, the issue I'm running into here I think will be power. What are my options; regular ATX supply with an inverter, or a DC to DC PS? What are the pros & cons? Also, with the DVD - is there a better way to connect it to the computer in the trunk than firewire? Thanks.

[ 01-30-2002: Message edited by: Tremek ]

Meatballman · 01-30-2002, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tremek:
<STRONG> What are my options; regular ATX supply with an inverter, or a DC to DC PS? What are the pros & cons? Also, with the DVD - is there a better way to connect it to the computer in the trunk than firewire?
</STRONG>

While I would urge you to search for more detailed info, you are more or less correct that those are your power options. With the amount of information and options floating around about DC-DC supplies these days, I wouldn't even consider an inverter except as a temporary thing until everything is setup. For not that much more than a good inverter, they are better for so many reasons that I'm not prepared to go into at 2am. I would make it a priority to keep an eye out for a good group buy or get one of Jeff's coveted supplies.

The firewire with the DVD will be the easiest and most easily guaranteed successful. There have been methods discussed of extending IDE cables with varying degrees of success. I would venture to say that by the time you rewired both ends of a 40 or 44 pin IDE cable, you would have spent far more time than it costs to buy an IDE to Firewire converter.

[ 01-30-2002: Message edited by: Meatballman ]

Tremek · 01-30-2002, 10:34 AM

Okay, a DC power supply's a good thing. However - what about my car's electrical? I'm not only talking about dumping a computer with a 250w power supply in there, but a 450w amp & speakers. Will I need to look at a new alternator, or a second battery?

j3 · 01-30-2002, 12:01 PM

You should be fine with that kind of setup. I believe anything under 2000 watts can be handled by a stock alternator & battery.

-j3

KRIS3 · 01-30-2002, 12:07 PM

Do it the more simple you can. I first instal my audio system first with my stock radio(i want my car to look as same as i buy it at the dealer) then i will instal the pc on the trunk of the car and i will hide the 5 inch monitor. and i think thats it. Since my car is standar i must have a UPS so when start my engine again the pc dont suffer a voltage change. If i am wrong in any way correct me i am on my way to do my mp3car and those are my plans.

KRIS3 · 01-30-2002, 12:19 PM

[ 01-30-2002: Message edited by: kris3 ]

Rob · 01-30-2002, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tremek:
<STRONG>Okay, a DC power supply's a good thing. However - what about my car's electrical? I'm not only talking about dumping a computer with a 250w power supply in there, but a 450w amp & speakers. Will I need to look at a new alternator, or a second battery?</STRONG>

I would seriously consider adding in a second battery and a big capacitor 1F or something like that, most good car audio shops will sell them. I have heard of a simular setup where the lights dimmed in time with the bass

Looks very cool but I'm not sure what the cops have to say about it. From a financial view try without first and see if it is enough.

Rob

LESLIEx317537 · 01-30-2002, 05:43 PM

Just curious on your Firewire to IDE bridge.
Does anyone know what voltage they accept.

I've looked around and saw a couple of them, does anyone know a link to a specific good one I can buy?

Thanks.

Tremek · 01-30-2002, 11:43 PM

Oh, actually, that's something else I'll need to deal with. All the firewire to IDE bridges I've found so far don't include power on the firewire cable.

Can a device (such as an ide drive) be powered off that interface?

Otherwise, I don't know how I'll supply conditioned & regulated 12v to a DVD-ROM drive in the dash... Ideas?

Tremek · 01-30-2002, 11:45 PM

One other thing, since I frankly don't know a whole lot about car audio- what is a big capacitor for? I mean, in essence, aren't they short-term batteries, but what do they do for the overall electrical system?

Btw, my Game Theater XP came in the mail today... Can't wait to start playing with this stuff.

Scrapez · 01-31-2002, 02:07 AM

With the amount of amperage your amplifier draws, you will be fine without a second battery or capacitor. This is assuming you are driving a car with a decent sized stock alternator. Some of the imports have small alternators. Check your manual for the amperage rating on your alternator.
I personally run much higher wattage amplifiers in my truck drawing a lot more current on an alternator rated at 95 amps I've not had a single problem.
If you start to notice lights dimming or if you put a voltage meter on it while stereo is playing and you are noticing voltage dips, then I'd worry about a cap or second battery.
-Jesse