Newbie build-up: Ampie CarPC - Page 3

yrean · 08-02-2006, 01:44 AM

if you have a local computer shop that sells alot of parts(not best buy) they might have the adapter cable.

I know ive seen that cable at microcenter, frys electronics, tigerdirect. all 3 of these are within a 10 minute ride for me, if theres something like one f those in your area they might have one.

EEEEeeee36 · 08-02-2006, 12:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by yrean

if you have a local computer shop that sells alot of parts(not best buy) they might have the adapter cable.

I know Ive seen that cable at microcenter, frys electronics, tigerdirect. all 3 of these are within a 10 minute ride for me, if theres something like one f those in your area they might have one.

Good deal. I just called a place my work gets computer stuff from and they have it.

I'll be able to get everything loaded up tonight! After reading some reviews I don't think I'll load MS S&T for my CarPC. It worked okay for my laptop, but it was fairly inaccurate. I'll probably bet the BU353 and look into IGuidance or something else.

Almost done!

EEEEeeee36 · 08-03-2006, 05:39 AM

Update: Found the adapter to go from the 2.5" HD to the 3.5" IDE cable. One problem arose - it wasn't an actual cable, it was an adapter chip that is about 1" long...so long in fact that it ran into the stand-offs for the PSU. I thought it would be close, but I had to get it (it was only $9 and it was better than paying $20 and waiting a week). I removed my mobo and everything off of the Ampie mounting plate. Fortunately there was about 8mm of room behind the HD from the stand-off on the other side. I took the mounting plate to my garage, got out my carbide drill bit set, used a straightedge and measured 8mm and marked it with a Sharpie. Then I drilled four new holes for the 2.5" HD mounting screws. I also flipped it over and made countersunk impressions with a larger bit so the screw heads wouldn't stick out. Test fit: Perfect!! Cable fits (with about 1mm of clearance on either side of the HD between the PSU stand-offs!). Put everything back together and it's all good!

The only other change I had to make was to move the case fan to the center position so that it would clear the harddrive.

I'll load software tomorrow - long day today already and loading software when tired is not a good combination.

Maheriano · 08-03-2006, 11:03 AM

Can you explain more how you plan on running the extra USB ports from the motherboard? I got the Ampie case too and I don't know how to run the ports outside a metal case.

EEEEeeee36 · 08-03-2006, 11:57 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Maheriano

Can you explain more how you plan on running the extra USB ports from the motherboard? I got the Ampie case too and I don't know how to run the ports outside a metal case.

First of all, one thing I would highly recommend doing is going to www.via.com.tw and going to the "Downloads" section of the site (it's under the "Resources" tab at the top of the home page). There you can go to "Mainboards" and find the manual for the MII 10000 in PDF. Not only does the manual have illustrations and diagrams showing what and where everything is on the Mobo, it has instructions on how to use all of them. It then tells you on what page in the manual you can go to set up that part. So, in the case of the USB 3/4 (USB ports 3&4, as 1&2 are already hard-wired to the board), there is a pin-header on the board for that USB connection. You just buy a 2-port USB Module that can connect to that pin-header and then plug it in there. For mounting, there obviously isn't any place to mount it on the front of the ampie case; you'd either have to run it out the back through one of the aux fan holes or run it out the front through a gap in the facia.

You might have a challenge however through this process; it is difficult to find a 2-port USB module that connects via Pin-Headers - most of them are PCI modules that won't fit in this case (because they are large and the USB ports are attached directly to the PCI card, and not with loose wires).

For example (this won't work!!):

Personally, I am not going this route. I could not find a local retailer or online retailer that sold that specific USB module, and quite honestly I think I need more than just 4 total USB ports. After looking into this I am just going to use a USB Hub. The wires are going to be hidden away, so running a small Hub is no big deal. There are a couple different ways you can go with a Hub. You can get a 2-Port USB adapter that plugs into your PCMCIA card. That gives you two more off the bat and obviously is very easy and clean to install. Downside; you've only got one PCMCIA slot and once you use it for something like that, it's gone. Plus, that still only gives you a total of 4 USB ports.

I am going to run two 4-Port Hubs for USB. Here is how I'm going to run it and why; my CarPC needs to be mounted in the trunk. That is where my Amp Rack is, that is where my battery is, that is where the best airflow is. Because of this I need to run a long USB extension cable to the front of the car. I am going to use a 12ft USB extension cable to run up to the front.

So what do we have to connect up in the front? You have your:

-monitor;
-wireless keyboard and mouse (if you need to do some real computing);
-optical drive (I am mounting my slot load slim CD-RW/DVD ROM in the glove box);
-you may want to have a USB port open for a portable storage or just connecting something in general;

That's four. So I am going to run a USB Extension to the front, and then connect my 4-Port USB Hub there. I may still run a long extension cable for my Firewire and use that to connect to my optical drive, as I think that would be best for movies...but we'll see.

The second 4-Port Hub is just going to mount right at the Ampie case. From there I can connect my GPS module and whatever else I need to connect. That also leaves my Firewire and PCMCIA card open if I need them. My 802.11 Super G wireless card is probably going in my PCMCIA port. My Bluetooth module is probably going in a USB connector at the Ampie case (there is no reason for it to be in the front of the car with the range it has). So, I am left with a lot of options still. With the lack of items that you can connect to your ampie case via PCI cards and the such, USB will be a real commodity so you might as well get the most out of it you can. 8 USB ports should be enough!

Hope that helps.

EEEEeeee36 · 08-04-2006, 02:02 AM

One other recommendation that I implemented today: If you are only using 1 HD, then cut the IDE cord so that you are just using the 2 IDE plugs in the last 6" of the 18" harness. I did this and instead of having to lay the entire IDE harness on top of the motherboard (consequently creating a big wall for air-flow), the entire IDE ribbon cable now fits under the PSU and connects directly to the IDE 1 that is right next to the Hard Drive. With that IDE ribbon cable out of the way there is a clear path for air to flow across the top of the motherboard. It will also flow across the top of the case better because I moved the fan to the middle position on this case which is about 1CM higher than the side positions.

One note of caution: whenever you cut a ribbon cable, you need to be certain you are using a very sharp fresh razor, or very sharp scissors (I would recommend the razor). If you cut the ribbon cable and the cut you make is not clean enough then you could have wires within the ribbon making contact with each other. I used a very sharp razor and cut it right next to the harness plug so the plug would support the ribbon as I was cutting it - came out very clean and no wires are making contact.

Overall this makes for MUCH more room in the case!

EEEEeeee36 · 08-04-2006, 02:05 AM

Now that I think about it, I will start taking pictures of what I am talking about!

EEEEeeee36 · 08-04-2006, 02:22 AM

Okay here we go. Here is the current look of my board, installed on the mounting plate of course:

Here you can see my Hard Drive and the IDE cable connected to it and staying under the M2-ATX PSU:

Another shot of the path it takes going underneath the PSU and connecting to IDE 1:

Finally, this is the mess that my motherboard looked like before I cut the IDE Ribbon Cable and made it shorter!

I just took that last picture; obviously it wasn't connected, but it did go all the way down my mobo and folded back before it connected to the mobo IDE before. Now when the mobo is in the case I can look back and actually see the back of the case and half the fan: I know that it is going to get good airflow.

Maheriano · 08-04-2006, 12:55 PM

Which motherboard is that? I have the Ampie case and my M10000 motherboard has the IDE port right next to the hard drive so I didn't have that problem.

Maheriano · 08-04-2006, 12:56 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by EEEEeeee36

First of all, one thing I would highly recommend doing is going to www.via.com.tw and going to the "Downloads" section of the site (it's under the "Resources" tab at the top of the home page). There you can go to "Mainboards" and find the manual for the MII 10000 in PDF. Not only does the manual have illustrations and diagrams showing what and where everything is on the Mobo, it has instructions on how to use all of them. It then tells you on what page in the manual you can go to set up that part. So, in the case of the USB 3/4 (USB ports 3&4, as 1&2 are already hard-wired to the board), there is a pin-header on the board for that USB connection. You just buy a 2-port USB Module that can connect to that pin-header and then plug it in there. For mounting, there obviously isn't any place to mount it on the front of the ampie case; you'd either have to run it out the back through one of the aux fan holes or run it out the front through a gap in the facia.

You might have a challenge however through this process; it is difficult to find a 2-port USB module that connects via Pin-Headers - most of them are PCI modules that won't fit in this case (because they are large and the USB ports are attached directly to the PCI card, and not with loose wires).

For example (this won't work!!):

Personally, I am not going this route. I could not find a local retailer or online retailer that sold that specific USB module, and quite honestly I think I need more than just 4 total USB ports. After looking into this I am just going to use a USB Hub. The wires are going to be hidden away, so running a small Hub is no big deal. There are a couple different ways you can go with a Hub. You can get a 2-Port USB adapter that plugs into your PCMCIA card. That gives you two more off the bat and obviously is very easy and clean to install. Downside; you've only got one PCMCIA slot and once you use it for something like that, it's gone. Plus, that still only gives you a total of 4 USB ports.

I am going to run two 4-Port Hubs for USB. Here is how I'm going to run it and why; my CarPC needs to be mounted in the trunk. That is where my Amp Rack is, that is where my battery is, that is where the best airflow is. Because of this I need to run a long USB extension cable to the front of the car. I am going to use a 12ft USB extension cable to run up to the front.

So what do we have to connect up in the front? You have your:

-monitor;
-wireless keyboard and mouse (if you need to do some real computing);
-optical drive (I am mounting my slot load slim CD-RW/DVD ROM in the glove box);
-you may want to have a USB port open for a portable storage or just connecting something in general;

That's four. So I am going to run a USB Extension to the front, and then connect my 4-Port USB Hub there. I may still run a long extension cable for my Firewire and use that to connect to my optical drive, as I think that would be best for movies...but we'll see.

The second 4-Port Hub is just going to mount right at the Ampie case. From there I can connect my GPS module and whatever else I need to connect. That also leaves my Firewire and PCMCIA card open if I need them. My 802.11 Super G wireless card is probably going in my PCMCIA port. My Bluetooth module is probably going in a USB connector at the Ampie case (there is no reason for it to be in the front of the car with the range it has). So, I am left with a lot of options still. With the lack of items that you can connect to your ampie case via PCI cards and the such, USB will be a real commodity so you might as well get the most out of it you can. 8 USB ports should be enough!

Hope that helps.

My Ampie case came with a USB/firewire hub that plugs right into the motherboard, I was just wondering how you're going to physically get the wire out of the case. That's all.

EEEEeeee36 · 08-05-2006, 07:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Maheriano

My Ampie case came with a USB/firewire hub that plugs right into the motherboard, I was just wondering how you're going to physically get the wire out of the case. That's all.

Can you show me pictures? I'd like to see which HUB you are referring to.

There are plenty of places for the wires to go. Your Ampie case has a cover plate in the back that has holes for fans - you could run it out there. You could also modify the front cover plate and make a small cut-out for the wires to come out of. You just have to get a little creative.

EEEEeeee36 · 08-05-2006, 07:07 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Maheriano

Which motherboard is that? I have the Ampie case and my M10000 motherboard has the IDE port right next to the hard drive so I didn't have that problem.

My set-up is right in front of you in my sig.

If you look at the pics, the HD IS right next to the IDE...isn't that what your mobo looks like? Are the pictures not working for you?

So what type of IDE cord did you use?

Maheriano · 08-06-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by EEEEeeee36

My set-up is right in front of you in my sig.

If you look at the pics, the HD IS right next to the IDE...isn't that what your mobo looks like? Are the pictures not working for you?

So what type of IDE cord did you use?

But from your post, I figured you were having a problem with the IDE cable being stretched right across your motherboard, isn't that what the picture is illustrating? How is that possible if the IDE port is right next to the hard drive?

EEEEeeee36 · 08-06-2006, 03:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Maheriano

But from your post, I figured you were having a problem with the IDE cable being stretched right across your motherboard, isn't that what the picture is illustrating? How is that possible if the IDE port is right next to the hard drive?

No, what I said is that my IDE cable actually had to be laid down across my mobo because it was so LONG. I had to run it down the mobo and back to the IDE port because it was 18", which is standard length for IDE cables are. Now that I have it cut it stays completely out of the way and doesn't restrict air flow.

How long is your IDE cable? How do you have it arranged in the case?

Maheriano · 08-06-2006, 07:15 PM

I have a tiny cable, it's laid over twice and squat between the PSU and hard drive. It actually came with the hard drive.
I bought all my stuff new though so I got all the pieces with them. I'll post pictures when I can. I really don't want to open up my case again.