Newbie build-up: Ampie CarPC - Page 4

Maheriano · 08-06-2006, 09:42 PM

I found this in another thread, it's the USB/firewire port that came with my motherboard.

EEEEeeee36 · 08-07-2006, 01:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Maheriano

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.

I bought all of my stuff new also, but when I bought my harddrive it didn't come with a short cable.

A standard IDE 18" cable came with my mobo and Ampie case, so I just made mine shorter (like yours) so that it would fit under the PSU between the hard drive and the PSU just like you did. Mine is only folded once, but it's the same difference!

EEEEeeee36 · 08-07-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Maheriano

I found this in another thread, it's the USB/firewire port that came with my motherboard.

I don't see what you are referring too... All I can clearly see in that picture is a 3.5" HD with an IDE cable hooked to it...

Maheriano · 08-07-2006, 05:01 PM

Right below it, the 2 white wires going to the USB/firewire part that's facing down.

EEEEeeee36 · 08-08-2006, 03:24 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Maheriano

Right below it, the 2 white wires going to the USB/firewire part that's facing down.

Oh, okay so those connect to a USB pin-header on the mobo? I am going to an electronics store that my computer store referred me to tomorrow. I am buying a 4-plug molex connector and a long run of wiring so that I can connect my External Optical drive to my main PSU. I'll ask about a 2-USB module that connects to a standard pin-header while I'm there. This computer electronics store doesn't carry a lot of built computer components, but what they do carry are parts and supplies to MAKE computer components; i.e. you couldn't buy a PSU there, but you could buy all the components to make your own PSU there.

Thanks for the tip! I still need more than 4 USB ports however!

Maheriano · 08-08-2006, 09:17 AM

Is the PSU going to support that many USB devices?

EEEEeeee36 · 08-08-2006, 11:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Maheriano

Is the PSU going to support that many USB devices?

I don't think it will be a problem. It's an M2-ATX, so it's good to 160W.

Let's look at what it has to power though, and what actually is powered by USB:

*monitor? Nope - has a separate 12v power connector for the car's battery power;
*wireless keyboard and mouse? Nope, just the transmitter needs to be powered - the mouse and keyboard have AA and AAA batteries for power;
*optical drive? eh, yes and no. The USB won't provide power, but the optical drive is being connected to the PSU. I am making a custom harness specifically for the optical drive because it'll be so far away from the mobo/PSU;
*portable storage? not much power needed there, if it's used.
*GPS Module? Yeah I'm sure that uses some power, but not THAT much!
*Others (bluetooth; wifi; ??) I can't think of too many other things that would use a lot of power. The power supply is 160w and it's barely going to be supporting anything major; I'm confident that the PSU I have is way more than I need!

EEEEeeee36 · 08-08-2006, 11:16 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by EEEEeeee36

I don't think it will be a problem. It's an M2-ATX, so it's good to 160W.

Let's look at what it has to power though, and what actually is powered by USB:

*monitor? Nope - has a separate 12v power connector for the car's battery power;
*wireless keyboard and mouse? Nope, just the transmitter needs to be powered - the mouse and keyboard have AA and AAA batteries for power;
*optical drive? eh, yes and no. The USB won't provide power, but the optical drive is being connected to the PSU. I am making a custom harness specifically for the optical drive because it'll be so far away from the mobo/PSU;
*portable storage? not much power needed there, if it's used.
*GPS Module? Yeah I'm sure that uses some power, but not THAT much!
*Others (bluetooth; wifi; ??) I can't think of too many other things that would use a lot of power. The power supply is 160w and it's barely going to be supporting anything major; I'm confident that the PSU I have is way more than I need!

I'll do a quick write-up on my wiring harness for the optical drive in a minute. I need to take some pics, and before that I need to charge the camera battery!

king_of_fools · 09-29-2006, 07:53 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by EEEEeeee36

I don't see what you are referring too... All I can clearly see in that picture is a 3.5" HD with an IDE cable hooked to it...

unless i am mistaken, the firewire he is pointing out is in the bottom left hand side of the top lid part there.

right below the HDD there is a small little white thing w/ what looks like 4 small cables comming out of it, at the base of the white thing is what apears to be 4 firewire ports that are cut out to the outside of the box, you can see the little tell tale V shaped cut outs that female firewire ports have

k
O
F

QWERTYtech · 03-26-2008, 09:01 AM

Hey everyone,

I'm looking at building a CarPC for my vehicle and I was wondering if anyone could give me the spec's on what I would need to buy the unit. Any help would be greatful. I'm very computer literate, i just don't know what all I need to make a kick

CarPC.

Thanks for any help,
QWERTYtech

makrinos001 · 03-28-2008, 08:06 PM

Dude you totally just jacked this thread...

QWERTYtech · 03-28-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by makrinos001

Dude you totally just jacked this thread...

DUDE!!!! No-one has posted to in since 2006, who cares!!!!