Would you use this 'extra' laptop as a carputer?

Tim K · 10-02-2006, 02:49 PM

I know alot of people here run laptops as carputers and I was wondering what you thought of me using this laptop. We don't use this laptop any more so it just sits around doing nothing. I'd like to setup a carpc and figured "why not use it".

The computer in question is a Dell Inspiron 5000. Its got a P3 500Mhz processor and 512MB RAM and is running Win XP Home. I'd need to add a DVD ROM drive and I would also pick up a Docking station on eBay to make it easy to remove from the car for safety.

I don't know if there are any concerns with using it or if there is anything I am not thinking of. I'd probably want to run an in-dash touchscreen and a couple of headrest monitors. I would also want to have seperate video to the headrests and dash so that passengers could watch DVD while the driver used NAV. I know others have done this in their cars and I hope to do the same. I just wanted some feedback on the idea with regards to this specific computer.

Wiredwrx · 10-02-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Tim K

I know alot of people here run laptops as carputers and I was wondering what you thought of me using this laptop. We don't use this laptop any more so it just sits around doing nothing. I'd like to setup a carpc and figured "why not use it".

The computer in question is a Dell Inspiron 5000. Its got a P3 500Mhz processor and 512MB RAM and is running Win XP Home. I'd need to add a DVD ROM drive and I would also pick up a Docking station on eBay to make it easy to remove from the car for safety.

I don't know if there are any concerns with using it or if there is anything I am not thinking of. I'd probably want to run an in-dash touchscreen and a couple of headrest monitors. I would also want to have seperate video to the headrests and dash so that passengers could watch DVD while the driver used NAV. I know others have done this in their cars and I hope to do the same. I just wanted some feedback on the idea with regards to this specific computer.

Can you think of a reason it would NOT be good?

Michael

v8 scimitar · 10-02-2006, 03:51 PM

I don't think that is going to support separate video. I assume as you need to add a dvd drive it doesn't have one and if it doesn't have that then it wont have on-board mpeg2 decoding making dvd's hard to play with a 500 processor. If you drop the ideas of the video then I think it will work just fine.

Tim K · 10-02-2006, 06:22 PM

So I'd probably have to add a video card of some sort....and I am guessing the existing card is probably part of the MOBO itself. I'll see if I can find the specs for it. I suppose I could get an external video card of some sort???

My other concerns are processor speed and heat. I know this laptop tends to run pretty warm to the point that I wouldn't want to use it on my lap. Am I asking for trouble running it in a vehicle even if I rarely drive for more than 1/2 hour at a time?

mgithens · 10-02-2006, 08:54 PM

you will end up spending 10X the time and probably the same cost as building a dedicated system for your car... sell the laptop on Craig's list, take the $300 you might get for it and get started on your carputer...

shutdown/startup is always difficult... (as compared to a standard motherboard)

you will battle relentlessly with serial ports, GPS, mouse, video, etc... every step is an uphill battle... ask a Mac CarPC person, it just means more work...

my first setup was a Via 800MHz that i picked up for 300... that included a crappy 12v power supply, 512MB and a 40gb drive... I got the GPS for $50 on ebay and the screen is a necessity... piece by piece I have "grown"... lessons learned is that you should do it right the first time, it is much cheaper that way...

Ruffy · 10-03-2006, 08:16 AM

depends on the laptop. Something that low I wouldnt consider. You wont get $300 for it. $100 would be very very optimistic if you sold it.

It's power is just not enough for what you need. Forget about playing dvds. Forget about divx or xvid or h.264. You'll only be able ot play the low end stuff. Forget about running a front end along with a media player and gps. It'll either run dog slow or not run at all. Forget about dvds all together. Mpeg2 compression is very taxing.

You could use a frontend just for music. But at that point its not really worth the hassel as you'll have to spend money on getting it al hooked up and working in a car.

I have a HP ZE2000. It has 1.5gb of ram(upgraded), a AMD Sempron 64 2800+ chip (1.8ghz) and a ATI Express 200M Video Card. I also put a DVD+RW Burner in it (Free)

I paid under $400 on black friday last year. If I were to use it in my car I could just buy a new laptop this year that would probably be better than this current one for the same price.

Kato · 10-03-2006, 11:05 AM

Not True..I have a thinkpad T20 - P3 ??mHZ...128 megs of ram...runs DVD, Divx etc just fine...

shotgunefx · 10-03-2006, 11:24 AM

I had a Dell Latitude 466mhz as my first carpc. Granted I was running linux, but for most stuff it was fine. I could listen to music and open up other apps without problem. Never tried to watch a dvd on it though.

mgithens · 10-03-2006, 11:26 AM

well Kato, I think the point is that a low end computer means low end performance... people always start with a low end system and say "I just want to play music", then they think I want GPS, movies, games, etc... so the system demands must remain simple...

shotgunefx · 10-03-2006, 11:56 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by mgithens

well Kato, I think the point is that a low end computer means low end performance... people always start with a low end system and say "I just want to play music", then they think I want GPS, movies, games, etc... so the system demands must remain simple...

True, but 500mhz still goes away. Not saying he should or shouldn't, but if he has it, and spending big on a new setup isn't an option, it's not too bad.

v8 scimitar · 10-03-2006, 12:32 PM

Like I said before I think it will do a job but the video he wants it isn't going to come close too.

Tim K · 10-03-2006, 10:59 PM

I just checked out the specs on the Inspiron laptop (actually I'm typing on it now). Let me know if this changes any previously stated concerns....

First, it is actually a PIII 600 MHz processor not 500 as I first thought.

--

As for video, it has the "ATI Rage Mobility-P with TV out" installed, which is at least an 8MB card, maybe 16MB. I think that b/c it comes with a swappable drive bay CD-ROM, ZIP Disk, DVD-ROM, that they built it to handle DVD but I could be wrong.

Video type 64-bit (128-bit hardware-accelerated) AGP
Video controller 8- or 16-MB ATI Rage-Mobility P AGP
Video memory 8- or 16-MB 125-MHz SGRAM
LCD interface 65-MHz LVDS
TV support NTSC or PAL in S-video and composite modes
Maximum resolution/colors 32-bit*
*The video controller supports SXGA (1280 x 1024) and UXGA (1600 x 1200) display resolutions on external monitors that support these resolutions.

--

The Sound is handled by an ESS Technology Maestro-2E whatever that is...

Audio type Sound Blaster Pro-compatible voice and music functions, HRTF 3D positional audio, hardware wavetable
Audio controller ESS Technology Maestro-2E
Conversion 16-bit (stereo analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog)
Hardware wavetable synthesizer wavetable synthesizer 64-voice
Interfaces:

Internal

PCI bus, microphone, dual stereo speakers

External

microphone in, line-out, and line-in connectors
Internal speaker amplifier 1.0-W total (0.5 W for each speaker)
External microphone input voltage range 280 mV peak-to-peak
Line/audio input voltage range 2.8 V peak-to-peak
Controls keyboard commands, button, and application program menus

--

I can get the OEM 8X DVD-Rom drive for under $30 on eBay and about the same for the docking station. I'd rather spend $60 than $600 if this laptop will do for now. Obviously I could put together a better system, but for MP3, NAV, and occasional DVD playback I am hoping this will do.

mgithens · 10-04-2006, 12:24 AM

you'll just need to do a fresh operating system install, and for DVD playback try to minimize the number of applications running in the background, skip any type of antivirus, etc... no wifi... DVD playback is a chore for those older systems, it can still cause newer systems to choke...

you still have to get a screen, VGA extension cables, USB extension cables, the GPS... I'm not sure the docking station is as necessary as you might think... it is one more link in the chain to not work right, you still have to come up with a way to boot/shutdown the system...

the problem with the docking station and dvd drive is that they aren't on your final plan, so they are "money out the window"... you will always regret a system that doesn't meet your expectations... look for used pieces in the for sale forum and see what you can do with very little money... even if you do just use the laptop, you still have a few expenses ahead of you...

ebay screen $190
cables $40 to 50
power wire $20 to 30