Pros and Cons on using a Dell optiplex GX..?

Jorge18 · 06-09-2006, 08:32 AM

This is probably a newbie question so this is why I posted it in this forum. I did a search and couldn't really find an answer to my question...what are the pros and cons of using the optiplex as a car pc? What would I have to do to get it to work? inverter and shut down control?

Thanks for putting up with my stupidness! lol

Jahntassa · 06-09-2006, 09:44 AM

First we would need more information, like which GX?

620? 620 desktop? 620 SFF? 620 USFF? 270? 280? 150? 160? etc.etc..

Jorge18 · 06-09-2006, 04:41 PM

I guess that would help...

GX50

RedGTiVR6 · 06-09-2006, 05:04 PM

wouldn't it be the same pros and cons as just about any other desktop pc?

Jahntassa · 06-09-2006, 07:08 PM

Inverter and shutdown control might be best bet. A lot of the GX series have proprietary power supplies. Even though the ATX connector 'looks' standard, dell changed the pins on some of them, so you might have trouble using a DC-DC adapter.

Try looking around on the Dell support forums and elsewhere and see if you can't find more information on the power supplies. Using a DC-DC power setup rather than an inverter is usually preferred around here and can keep a lot of problems from happening. Plus, it allows you to use the 'suspend' feature instead of hibernation.

I have a GX270 on my desk, so i'm a little familiar with the line, I considered swapping it out with my current CarPC, just to ditch the inverter, but I don't have money for the DC power supply yet.

Jorge18 · 06-10-2006, 07:18 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jahntassa

Inverter and shutdown control might be best bet. A lot of the GX series have proprietary power supplies. Even though the ATX connector 'looks' standard, dell changed the pins on some of them, so you might have trouble using a DC-DC adapter.

Try looking around on the Dell support forums and elsewhere and see if you can't find more information on the power supplies. Using a DC-DC power setup rather than an inverter is usually preferred around here and can keep a lot of problems from happening. Plus, it allows you to use the 'suspend' feature instead of hibernation.

I have a GX270 on my desk, so i'm a little familiar with the line, I considered swapping it out with my current CarPC, just to ditch the inverter, but I don't have money for the DC power supply yet.

How big of a inverter would I need (watts) ?

Jahntassa · 06-10-2006, 01:50 PM

Well, my GX270 has a 180w power supply, so you might want to get one that's rated at 300-400.

greatwhite · 08-28-2007, 08:40 PM

I've got a dell optiplex gx280 "slim line version" in the trunk (tower sized but half the width). I've cut it down and put it in a custom case to make it fit better.

Plenty powerful for everything I want in the car. The only concern is size, but I've got a chrysler intrepid, so space isn't really and issue (trunk is an easy four bagger, Tony Soprano would love it!)

The molex is an atx form 20 pin, but the pinouts are not atx standard. So, dc-dc might be and issue, you may have to chase down the pins with a meter if you want to go this way.

I've gone the inverter route. Now, before everyone stats "freaking out" about how bad inverters are, I've got a true sine wave inverter already installed to run my mom's medical equipment when she's in the car, so that's what I use to power the pc. And it's BIG.
No sound issues or computer hickups at all. I also run a pcpro shutdown controller (nice unit, available on the mp3car store). So I've probably spent more than an intelligent dc-dc solution, but it's what I need.

teh battery hold over time is a couple hours with the car off and the pc running, but to be fair, I'm powering a couple 600 watt amps too, all of the original 7 year old battery, so no surprise there..........

If you do go inverter, make sure you check to see the rating is the continuous rating and not the surge rating. Aslo, try to stay away from the modified sine wave inverters (mostly what you find in walmart and what not). true sine wave inverters don't come cheap either.............

Good luck