"state of the art" parts list?

kbyrd · 04-28-2005, 02:14 PM

Tell me to "search" if you want, I am a newbie. But, I think my ideas has merit. Is there a recommended parts list anywhere?

I'm looking for a basic rundown on the most common components people use in their systems. I don't mean: LCD, Mini-ITX board, etc. I mean specific models: Xenarc model #xxxx LCD, EPIA MSxxxx Mobo/CPU, Soundblaster xxxx for audio, etc.

I know everyone is different, but there is a set of parts that many people use. www.avsforum.com has a Home Theater PC forum, they used to have a sticky thread that listed the "state of the art" of gear that was most commonly used or good for a newbie to think about. There was some opinion thrown in (an older Radeon 78xx was the "best" for some time because it did the job, was super cheap, and didn't generate lots of heat). For the most part it was a great intro into the field. I'm not talking about a "carPC for dummies" thread. I'm talking about, I'm a computer geek, I know about mobo's and RAM and drives, I know roughly the types of things needed to make a CarPC, what exact models do many of the forum users keep coming back to? As an example, I'd bet that Xenarc and Liliput LCDs are the most common. List those and how they differ (does a stripped Liliput fit into almost everyone's Double-DIN dash hole?) along with the 3rd and 4th most popular LCD screens. Provide enough information (plus some links to manufacture sites or other threads) for a newbie to go reasearch themselves.

A completely made up sample list might look like

Motherboard/CPU:
Intro paragraph on "how much CPU horsepower do you really need?".
- EPIA M10000
short description/warnings about this board. Maybe a paragraph.
- EPIA MSxxxx
another short description.

Screens:
Talk about 7 vs 8. Fitting in Double-DIN or not, etc.
- Xenarc 7".
Description of this how it differs from liliput.
- Liliput 7"

Power:
- Some Inverter
- Some DC-DC supply
- Some regulator used with an board that has onboard DC-DC.

RAM: Talk about different types that different boards use with price/advantages etc.

Hard Drives:
Talk about various IDE or laptop drives, various IDE/Laptop converters, maybe even USB/Fireware or CF->IDE converters. Some mention of mounting.

Optical drives:
Several Slimline models here. What works best?

Soundcards:
On board is good for some, but some people like PCI or PCMCIA cards. list why someone might prefer some cards to to others and what people usually buy.

Software:
What are the common pieces? list free/share/commercial status.

You get the idea. This would be perfect on a Wiki. Once I learn more, I'd help maintain it.

koolaidkitten · 04-28-2005, 02:30 PM

isn't 99% of this info already covered on the forum?

lastberserker · 04-28-2005, 02:32 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by kbyrd

Tell me to "search" if you want, I am a newbie. But, I think my ideas has merit. Is there a recommended parts list anywhere?

There is no ideal list of parts, that I know for sure

You trade cost for size, quality and convinience; and you select what best suits your goals.

Quote: Originally Posted by kbyrd

You get the idea. This would be perfect on a Wiki. Once I learn more, I'd help maintain it.

for "wiki" - it was suggested many times. It'd be really nice if good folks from mp3car hosted a wiki, like PmWiki or MediaWiki. Of course, we can use external service, but more traffic means more sales, right?

lastberserker · 04-28-2005, 02:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by koolaidkitten

isn't 99% of this info already covered on the forum?

It most certainly is, but you are missing a point of using a wiki. Can you imagine Wikipedia based on forum media?

We kind of have very poor approximation of a wiki here in sticky notes, some of which are 100+ posts long.

kbyrd · 04-28-2005, 04:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by lastberserker

It most certainly is, but you are missing a point of using a wiki. Can you imagine Wikipedia based on forum media?

We kind of have very poor approximation of a wiki here in sticky notes, some of which are 100+ posts long.

Thanks for doing a better job at stating my point. I like forums. I hang out on a bunch of them. I tr\y not to be the "I can't muster the strength to hit the search button, so you all tell me what I want\ to know", newbie guy. I'm willing to search, but it would be nice to have a general starting point.

There's got to be some common components. I just started looking and I already know the names Xenarc and Liliput. These aren't "EVERYONE should use this", kind of things, they are the "here are the major offerings from the major players in the market". "Here's why many people choose this over this". As a totally simple starting point, take the list right from mp3car.com's product offerings. Use what they sell as the starting point for the list.

I was about to offer to host the wiki, but I can't afford the bandwidth, I share a colocated box with a group of people and I don't want to cough up the bandwidth overage charges. Maybe I'll get some traffic shaping in place. If someone else has a place to put this, I'll install <insert desired wiki engine here>, if needed, and/or create at least this page. It also doesn't have to be a wiki. The low-budget solution is a stick thread with a first post that is updated with the latest information.

scott_fx · 04-28-2005, 06:35 PM

most of the info you talked about is out there but as far as what works for me... here is my breakdown:

via epia m10000
512 mb (DDRAM 512M|64X64 PC-2100 -VIKING)
hitatchi 3.5" 80 gb 7200rpm harddrive
m1-atx 90w psu
soundblaster live 5.1 pci soundcard; soon to be a tossed aside for a external solution due to the new case that wont house a pci card
nav-man gps mouse-- soon to be tossed aside (aka given back to my roommate) for a garmin oem gps module
xenarc 7"ts with component inputs (wanted this for when i get a rear view camera, it switches automatically apon signal detection)
centrafuse front end-- it is the cleanest looking front end [imho], virtually everything is hotkeyable, and it has char. lcd support which i'm planning on taking advantage of.

Bugbyte · 04-28-2005, 07:33 PM

Here's a list of mine. Ignore the Earth LCD. I'm using Xenarc 8" now. Got it at the mp3car.com store.

I think a wiki would be cool but the mods are against it. I know i'd contribute more to a Wiki because it wouldn't get buried in threads.

iBug hardware

lastberserker · 04-28-2005, 07:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by kbyrd

I was about to offer to host the wiki, but I can't afford the bandwidth, I share a colocated box with a group of people and I don't want to cough up the bandwidth overage charges. Maybe I'll get some traffic shaping in place. If someone else has a place to put this, I'll install <insert desired wiki engine here>, if needed, and/or create at least this page. It also doesn't have to be a wiki. The low-budget solution is a stick thread with a first post that is updated with the latest information.

Again,

for "wiki" - I posted a link to a free MediaWiki (Wikipedia backend) hosting that is already used by several hundreds of online communities. I would prefer to see wiki on mp3car's great site, but it's not the only option.

TruckinMP3 · 04-28-2005, 07:44 PM

The info you are looking for is in the project forum... give it a read there instead of here

DarquePervert · 04-28-2005, 08:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by kbyrd

Tell me to "search" if you want, I am a newbie. But, I think my ideas has merit. Is there a recommended parts list anywhere?

No.
You build a computer that works for you. If you want to put together an Athlon64 system with 4GB or RAM and dual GeForce 6800 Ultras in SLI mode powered off an inverter, then go right ahead.
You want to go with a pre-built microATX EPIA-based system, go for it.
There are lots of options.

I'm looking for a basic rundown on the most common components people use in their systems. I don't mean: LCD, Mini-ITX board, etc. I mean specific models: Xenarc model #xxxx LCD, EPIA MSxxxx Mobo/CPU, Soundblaster xxxx for audio, etc.

Quote:

I know everyone is different, but there is a set of parts that many people use.

If you've determined that, then you can read what that common set of parts is, as well.
I might also add that that the commonly used set of parts is mostly availavle in the MP3car.com store.

Bugbyte · 04-28-2005, 09:10 PM

I've often thought that perhaps we ought to post a description of 3 different systems that Newbies could follow. For example:

System 1 - "The Low Power Special".

Characteristics: low electrical power consumption, relatively slow processor, capable of meeting most carputing needs. DVD, mp3, GPS, etc.

Parts:

Motherboard: Epia Via 10000 ($160)
Memory: 512mb ($95)
Disk drive: 60 gig Fujitsu 2.5" laptop drive ($95)
Screen: Lilliput 7" with touch ($280)
Power: M1-ATX90 ($79)

Add your own: keyboard, mouse, audigy sound card

Total System Cost: $709

And maybe a couple of others like a mini-ATX, or Shuttle, or full blown gaming machine.

Then sticky it so the n00bs would have something to reference

kbyrd · 04-28-2005, 10:23 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

No.
You build a computer that works for you. If you want to put together an Athlon64 system with 4GB or RAM and dual GeForce 6800 Ultras in SLI mode powered off an inverter, then go right ahead.
You want to go with a pre-built microATX EPIA-based system, go for it.
There are lots of options.

Yes.
Of course I build one that works for me. But many people have gone before me and many of them have chosen similar components for various reasons. I'm not asking for anything new, the information is all here. I simply being a noob and suggesting this list is something many noobs might want in an easily digestible format.

Now, off to go read the great wiki debate threads.

kbyrd · 04-29-2005, 11:29 AM

Ok, I realize my mistake. "Wiki" isn't going to happen, and I didn't know about the FAQ section. The format doesn't matter, it's that it exist in some easy to digest form like a single page or a few pages, not scattered over posts.

So, I stand behind my request for a "most commonly used parts" list. It looks like I'll write up some FAQ entries and email them to bgoodman as the FAQ says.

Scouse Monkey · 04-29-2005, 11:35 AM

microbus Pentium Mobile 1.8Ghz or an embedded Pentium Mobile 2GHz! Nuff said