New to CarPC, need general idea

numzie · 09-30-2007, 04:39 PM

I'm looking at building a car PC for my car. I have a 2005 Mercury Mountaineer and would like to have a touch screen with fully fledged PC that can do MP3, videos ect. The car already has a monitor at the back so it would be great if i could somehow link the 2 if possible. I would also like to know how to go about cooling the PC's? Would i have to under clock everything or how would i go about getting good air circulation? Im looking at going with a mATX solution because i have plenty of space, is that what people generally go with?

Thanks for the help

DodgeCummins · 10-01-2007, 09:26 PM

A lot of your questions are listed in various locations...like the FAQs and stickies.

However, the dual screen thing is a bit different. There is a Frontend here that I think was working on that principle...one screen has all the data and controls/navigation. The other screen has movies etc sent to it.

I assume your rear screen has a separate DVD/VHS player hooked to it, if so it is easy to hook up...if it is an all in one DVD/display...then it will be a bit more difficult.

Your computer will need the capability to run two displays...like a video card that can do it...a number of ways to accomplish this.

numzie · 10-01-2007, 09:32 PM

the dvd player catually has R/Y/W inputs so i would probably end up using those

2k1Toaster · 10-01-2007, 10:48 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by numzie

the dvd player catually has R/Y/W inputs so i would probably end up using those

PC + RCA = Fuzzy

moboman · 10-01-2007, 11:15 PM

yes never hook up a pc with rca's the picture quality sucks big time.

Micro ATX would be just fine. Its not so much the board that you are worried about, you could have a full size atx board if you wanted. All that matters is how big a power supply you need, how much money you are willing to spend, and how much time you are willing to invest.

It always comes down to money and time.

Think too would you rather have something like a pioneer avic-z2 that has rca out for a rear screen so that the rear screen can watch a dvd while the actual screen in the z2 does navigation or shows you what you are listening to.

95rodeo · 10-01-2007, 11:33 PM

as a second screen rca isnt that bad. movies look just fine. im actually using a cheep *** rca screen for my main screen right now..oh yeah by the way anybody know of ppl giving away vga touchscreens?:P

DodgeCummins · 10-02-2007, 12:16 AM

If he is just displaying movies/videos on it, then it isn't a big deal...however text or computer graphics IS hard to see on it.

95rodeo · 10-02-2007, 01:20 AM

ill give you that but i can make out playlists and gps just fine... doing anything in windows is another story