What are the basic supplies needed for a complete car PC? - Page 2

Jimbuh10 · 07-29-2004, 07:02 PM

by the way, i don't think I can go too serious about this because my car is a lease (for 1 and a half more years)

Jimbuh10 · 07-29-2004, 07:07 PM

okay for some reason im confused again, basically the only hardware i need to complete the carputer into my car is:

One of my Home PC's (but everything moved into a slimmer case)
LCD Display (7" Good? Touchscreen Good?)
GPS Receiver
OPUS Power Source (i don't understand what this does, what is this?)

Is this all I need to start off ?

TommieG · 07-29-2004, 07:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jimbuh10

okay for some reason im confused again, basically the only hardware i need to complete the carputer into my car is:

One of my Home PC's (but everything moved into a slimmer case)
LCD Display (7" Good? Touchscreen Good?)
GPS Receiver
OPUS Power Source (i don't understand what this does, what is this?)

Is this all I need to start off ?

Yes, thats basically it. (you do need some routing software for the GPS)
You could swap the OPUS for a much cheaper invertor, and use the power suppy from your old cabinet.
The Opus is a power supply with an advanced (and great) power up/shutdown controller, that powers up the system when you start your car, and shuts it down nicely when you turn off the ignition.

Tom

TruckinMP3 · 07-29-2004, 07:16 PM

Not much will fit under the seat of an Accord.... Will it? i thought that was a small space.

Jimbuh10 · 07-29-2004, 07:25 PM

yeah.. i just checked, theres like an inch and a half of space between floor and under the chair. i dont think ill be putting the puter under my seat, but where else can i put it? i dont wanna put it in my trunk because i have my subs in there, along with amp and capacitator.

where can I find one of these opus power supplies that starts/shuts my cpu up/down? are they pricey?

TommieG · 07-29-2004, 07:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jimbuh10

where can I find one of these opus power supplies that starts/shuts my cpu up/down? are they pricey?

You can buy it right here on mp3car.com.
..and yes, they are pricey, will take up about half of your inital budget....
But I would not live without it ;-)

Tom

Jimbuh10 · 07-29-2004, 07:47 PM

TommieG thx, but i still have a bumload of questions mroe to ask. I have decided to dismantle one of my fast desktop PC's, buy a VIA EPIA motherboard, purchase a very small PC case, and build a new PC that will fit inside my car somewhere (hopefully somewhere in the back seat floor). i am also going to purchase a liliput 7" XGA touchscreen lcd display for the car pc. as for the auto startup/shutdown module, i choose to go with OPUS, but i see theres an Opus 90 watt and an Opus 150 watt. whats the difference between them?

are there any other things i forgot? (ive decided also to put away the GPS/Navigation system for now because its money consuming, i want to get the basics down first)

brokenjack · 07-29-2004, 08:17 PM

I'm sure someone has aready posted this and been summarily shot down by this idea, but I was thinking about trying to make a linux box out of a playstation or xbox to double as a carputer(gotta come up with a better name...too cutsey). I know that playstation use to sell a linux kit, but now they don't for some reason. You need a few engineering skills to change the microsoft product though. I still think it would be cool to mod a console game system to be able to double as a carputer, although the GPS would be hard to get working I would think. That gamecube is pretty small, I'm sure the form factors will get smaller in future systems.

Oh yeah check ou the FAQ
http://www.ohmygodmyarmfelloff.com/mp3car/mp3carfaq.asp

Jimbuh10 · 07-29-2004, 10:29 PM

Hmmmm..... sorry broken jack i dont think i can do that. no experience with linux here.

Jimbuh10 · 07-29-2004, 10:45 PM

boooooooomp.

Jimbuh10 · 07-30-2004, 01:06 AM

how do i make it so that my car speakers play the sounds from the car PC?

fiore92lx · 07-30-2004, 06:03 AM

X Box is fairly easy. Its well documented all over the net. They have a way to use the controler ports to double as usb ports, so the gps would be pretty easy. If you search the web im sure youll be able to find teh linux dev. kit for the ps2 but the xbox would be much cheaper and nicer if you ask me. On top of that, you could use the svid out setup on the xbox to the screen and there for still be able to have regular xbox in the car along with the carputer.

nice first post huh....

proTONEd · 07-30-2004, 07:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jimbuh10

i choose to go with OPUS, but i see theres an Opus 90 watt and an Opus 150 watt. whats the difference between them?

Actually you said it yourself: one is a 90 Watt powersupply and the other is 150W, that's all. For a lighter system the 90W will be plenty for the use of P4 desktops in a car the 150W would be the right choice.
In you case the 90W will be more than enough. If you buy one of those Travla cases, which already come with a 60W 12V DC-DC powersupply, then take a look at the Carnetix powersupply instead of the OPUS.

Basically the Carnetix is the same as the OPUS but without the 12V DC-DC powersupply part. It's more like an voltage regulator and startup/shutdown controller. Because it is cheaper than the Opus it would be an ideal solution if you already have an 12 DC-DC PSU (like in the Travla cases)

Quote: Originally Posted by Jimbuh10

how do i make it so that my car speakers play the sounds from the car PC?

You said you are using an amp? You could use an RCA cable from the pc audio out directly to the audio in on your amp.
Or if you still would like a HU, you can hook up the audio out from the pc to an AUX in on your HU. Or you could use an FM-modulator.

Jimbuh10 · 07-30-2004, 12:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by proTONEd

You said you are using an amp? You could use an RCA cable from the pc audio out directly to the audio in on your amp.
Or if you still would like a HU, you can hook up the audio out from the pc to an AUX in on your HU. Or you could use an FM-modulator.

very confusing! yes, my system is running under a 1500 watt amp at the moment. i think ill just buy the OPUS150W power supply because it comes as a power supply + start/shut module all in one package (i hope im correct here).

proTONEd · 07-30-2004, 03:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jimbuh10

very confusing!

Yeah I know, sometimes it's too much info to handle at a time.
Basically you'll have to decide whether you leave your Head Unit in the car, or that your PC will become the "HU".

Quote: Originally Posted by Jimbuh10

i think ill just buy the OPUS150W

If you don't mind spending the money, excellent choice I'd say. You can power almost any setup with that PSU, even P4-systems.