Hi I need help for my first install...

ViruzOne · 04-30-2008, 10:47 PM

Hello new here... ive been somewhat of a lurker for some time now and decided i will attempt a car pc with an old unit i have laying around. First off heres my setup and goals.

Ill be using an old Sony VAIO i have and spruce it up with new parts( bigger hard drive/memory/and maybe new OS-xp)

Ill be using a separate headunit to control all audio

main features i would like is DVD/MP3/NAVI/Web browsing/ and control over my monitors( I plan on 3, two in the headrests and one in the dash)

Heres some pics of what ill be working with...

Here is my dash ill be using an Eclipse CD8053 as a headunit and maybe a flip out touch screen for the unit. I really want to use a double din touchscreen but i love the eclipse!!!

any tips hints...

bl3nd3r · 05-01-2008, 01:31 PM

Measure the size of your radio opening and see what size screen you can fit. You might even be able to find some sort of double din/navigation mounting kit that you can use to make your job easier.

ViruzOne · 05-01-2008, 01:54 PM

There is a navigation bezel but it needs the navigation to control the HVAC.

I was reading and doing more research and is there gonna be a problem powering up the pc? I read that alot of CarPC use small motherboards that don't consume a lot of power. This device is somewhat underpowered by todays standars... 800Mhz/ Pentium 4/ 40 GB. will i have any problems. i plan on using the M2-ATX power supply

bl3nd3r · 05-01-2008, 03:13 PM

I think you should be able to just take out that radio and pop a screen in (though you would need to do a little molding work to make it look nice).

I don't think the m2-atx will be enough for powering all the components. You probably just need a power inverter that allows you to plug in the regular power supply. You should hook up the computer and see how much power it draws. Searching the forum should allow you to find a post that will let you know a safe power useage.

HiJackZX1 · 05-03-2008, 07:25 AM

Power all the screens directly from the 12V+ wire using a relay, but only if your screens have regulation built in. My setup has tonnnnnnnnnnnnns of components and 80% of them went to a relay since they all had regulation. My PC, which has a OPUS 320 only has the XM, two 7 port hubs, and my power hungry PC that eats up 212 watts of power.

PS: those manakin heads in the seat look freakyyyyyy.

lucegunz · 05-03-2008, 09:52 AM

Hell yeah those things look freaky! lol

ViruzOne · 05-05-2008, 11:18 AM

HAHA on the manakin heads! Ive freaked out a couple of mormons and jahovas witness coming to my door... lol.

Ok so what kind of relay do i need? what is the relay for? Im sorry im somewhat car/electric savvy but computers lose me

I was thinking just getting an inverter, hardwiring to the cars electric system and plug in. and for the monitors i really dont know how to wire them. I was planning just powering it and plugin the rca to the front monitor and the front monitor the pc. but i would like them wired to the pc so the computer can control the monitors. for example, having navigation running up front and dvd on the back. thanks for the comments everyone