running windows XP? and powering carputers (i'm a n00b)

CTdubbin · 11-10-2003, 01:48 PM

i've seen people here talking about running windows XP in thier carputers. My parents have a 2.0Gig P4 with 256meg of ram and XP runs slow as mollasses on thiers. The people on here are talking mini-atx setups with processors no bigger than 1gig celerons. how does that work? Is there some sort of windows CE derived OS specifically for this stuff?

I want to put media engine in mine, but is mediaengine a program or an operating system? when I boot up, do i go into mediaengine or do i go into windows then click on mediaengine to load it?

Part 2:

is a car battery powerful enough to power a fullsized (or a microatx) computer? will it drain the battery because the alternator isn't powerful enough to keep up?

part 3: can i hook my head unit's remote wire (the ignition lead) into my carputer so it boots up when I turn the car over and shuts down when I turn the car off?

all the questions I got for now, i got to go to class then work. be plentiful with the replies

carabuser · 11-10-2003, 02:45 PM

introduction: many of the people on this board (including me) are using (or going to use as is in my case) VIA EPIA Motherboard with processor speead ranging from 500mhz to 1 ghz. Of course you could use a celeron, P3, P2, P1, AMD, whatever fulfills your needs. Personally i found EPIA M10000 the best one for me (energy efficient, less heat), so my first suggestion

part 1: any up-to-date OS will do for the setup. ME(MediaEngine) runs on Windows platforms. You could install Win2k lite (

for windows lite) or XP, even 98 will do it. If you know what you're doing you will be able to speed up the computer. Not sure about CE. As I said ME runs on Windows platform so it is NOT a OS. So yes, you WILL need an OS in order to run ME. If you put ME's shortcut to Start Up you won't need to click on it when Windows boots up. It will be run automagically.

part 2: if you run the computer when the car is on and have a working alternator it is fine. If you just run it off your battery, i dont know how long it'll last (not too long).

part 3:
Do a

for dc-dc power supplies, opus solutions, etc.
Visit this first: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/faq-emporium/16913-frequently-asked-questions.html
Opus psu's will let you do that - boot up/down with the car. they are pricey however. Also, you will need to hook it up to the ignition wires.

Additional readings recommended

:
Do

on :ghougle:

Do

on www.mp3car.com

Do

, cuz most of these questions have been answered many times.

NEO_0690 · 11-10-2003, 03:23 PM

LoL... Automagically... probably a typo but still funny

tejesh83 · 11-10-2003, 04:02 PM

If yours parents pc runs XP that slow on a P4 2.0, its got some other problems.

Automagically is not a typo. Check dictionary.com.

CTdubbin · 11-10-2003, 04:23 PM

well when you miss what i was asking (in certain parts) than offer the suggestion to do more research on some questions you thought i asked as opposed to what i did ask really doesn't work.

Part one wanted to know if XP would be slow/not workable on such a slow setup (ie. 1gig and down) I have no intention of puting in a 3 gig setup, but was rather wondering if there was something slower designed for the small mobo/slow processor

part 2 was a legit question there currently is no answer on this forum for. hence why i asked. if there is, it REALLY needs to go under the n00b section.

opuses website dosen't even have a price on it. it also tells you close to nothing.

that's all for now.

Solstice · 11-10-2003, 05:22 PM

1. Benchmarks have shown the XP OS to be faster than Win2k (unless you're running MS Office apps in which case 2k is faster than XP for some reason). You 'rents computer is probably a name brand (Dell, Gateway, etc) in which case it most definitely runs slower than a clean install of XP on good hardware because of all the unnecessary crap vendors like to install. XP will run fine on a 1GHz machine.

2. Yes, using a DC-DC PSU should keep your machine (and your car) running as long as your alternator is functioning.

3. Still use the search button. Prices, in depth descriptions and photos of all of Opus' products are on "this site. Try searching for "Opus PCB". If all else fails, email them. They'll give you more info than you know what to do with.

fluffy2097 · 11-10-2003, 06:00 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by CTdubbin

Part one wanted to know if XP would be slow/not workable on such a slow setup (ie. 1gig and down) I have no intention of puting in a 3 gig setup, but was rather wondering if there was something slower designed for the small mobo/slow processor

Your parents computer is probably is a mass produced peice of crap. I'm willing to bet it piles of system cripping garbage causing problems and slowing the machine down. A properly constructed, 1ghz system with no junk on it, will run XP beautifully. There is very little real world difference in speed between a 1 and 2 ghz P4 considering the kind of applications you would run on a car computer.

Quote: Originally Posted by CTdubbin

part 2 was a legit question there currently is no answer on this forum for. hence why i asked. if there is, it REALLY needs to go under the n00b section.

There are all sorts of different types of alternators. Every different type of alternator has a different maximum output. Every battery in every car is different because of it's health and design. There is no way we can tell you how much your alternator can handle without you telling us your make, model, and any modifications you've made. You can, however, STFW and find all this information yourself. This is what everyone else here has done.

This sort of thing has been discussed till everyone here is blue in the face.

and you will find it. Heres a hint. Look at the systems in the "show off your setup" section. Look and find out how many people there had to get a larger alternator.

telekineticfool · 11-11-2003, 09:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by CTdubbin

part 2 was a legit question there currently is no answer on this forum for. hence why i asked. if there is, it REALLY needs to go under the n00b section.

Welcome n00b.

I second the STFW.

Also. You have been on the forum for 1 day. You do not demonstrate any of the knowledge you would have gained had you actually looked everywhere on 'this forum'. And, HAD you looked everwhere, you would have seen the wide variety of full sized microATX, and miniITX computers running on stock electrical systems.

Edit:

After quickly perusing the "show off" forum, here are two Jetta PC's:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show-off-your-project/14088-epia-800-vw-jetta-1-8-turbo.html
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show-off-your-project/17915-1997-vw-jetta-gls-install.html
and one in a Golf running a miniITX with an Opus 150watt.
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show-off-your-project/17555-vw-golf-mk3-carputer-project.html

This seems to demonstrate that VW electrical systems and alternators are up to the task.

shakes · 11-11-2003, 09:10 PM

carabuse ... ha! normally that search guy ****es me off but well done!

ODYSSEY · 11-11-2003, 11:10 PM

Get them another stick of 256MB. XP runnings alot better with 512MB+ of memory. XP is a memory hog with standard settings. I recommend at least 384MB for avg people using XP.

When you get 512MB or more of memory you can turn off the page swapping file. As you can make a ram disk for temp files.

As for a caputer, just turn off all the services that your system won't be using. XP really has too many features that most avg people never use or really need.

I ran XP on my P233 with 128MB of memory, with all unnecessary services turned off. It play music fine, video was descent.

Part 2:
Yes; No

Part 3:
Yes

guitar333 · 11-11-2003, 11:25 PM

I have WINXP installed on a PII 350MHz w/ 256mb pc133 RAM, and it runs just as fast as my AMD 1GHz w/ XP and 512mb. You just have to keep it tuned up eg taskmanager, spyware, etc

carabuser · 11-12-2003, 03:27 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by shakes

carabuse ... ha! normally that search guy ****es me off but well done!

thank you

Enforcer · 11-12-2003, 06:51 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by yourworstmemory

the search button is worthless...on every forum it is completely worthless...you have to read through craploads of garbage just to find something you really need...what is the point of a forum if everytime you ask a question someone tells you to search...you might as well just have a webpage with a bunch of how tos...

What is the point of keeping the old threads then if all people are going to do is ask the same questions over and over again.

The idea of a forum is to share knowledge, and one of the best ways is through the experiences of others already on the forum.

Yes searching brings up some crap as you put it but inderneath you will unearth some real gems.

If you can't be bothered to put some effort into looking for the info, what kind of effort are you going to put into the 'build' of your sysyem and what kind of effort are you going to put into the installation.

if you can't put the effort in just go a buy something off the shelf.

In a nutshell the best results will be obtained by putting in the effort.

Enforcer · 11-12-2003, 07:07 AM

If you have built a ton of stuff, where is most of your time spent? in building or in doing the research.

Confusion says : if it is in the building, then you have not done enough research.

Rob Withey · 11-12-2003, 10:05 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by yourworstmemory

i never said not to search, i have gained knowledge through it...but, if someone asks a question, what is the point in screaming search damnit search...you put the time and effort into reading and writing something, the least you could do is show some sort of common decency and give the guy a response...

and some people...don't have 24 hours a day to search threw a ton of crap...

i have already built a bunch of stuff...and i put a ton of effort into it...doesn't mean i have a ton of time to go searchin around...some people have a thing called a life...

"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for life."

I have a life. I prefer not to do people's searching for them. Sitting here ignoring the repeat questions and watching people post the word "bump" every three days is much more satisfying.

Rob