celticchrys

Hello, everyone.
Just to introduce myself, I'm new to the forum, and new to the "carputer" hobby. I have built many PCs, upgraded Macs, and installed several cd/mp3 players in my previous vehicle(1993 GMC Sierra). I think this should make me a decent candidate to attempt this project.
My Ford Sport Trac has a factory in dash Panasonic 6 CD changer which is very nice(if it only played mp3s!), and has subwoofer, etc. It also has an unused "Sat" button for optional Satellite Radio receiver. I've found a number of places selling adapters to convert this "SAT" input to normal RCA audio jacks, so that will likely be my audio input.
I've been looking at many DIY car computer/mp3 players for a while on the web, and mp3 playing is all I plan to do with this project. I am thinking of using something very simple for the UI, such as a numeric keypad combined with script or a remote. (no touchscreens here)
I happen to have a pretty powerful ATX motherboard/processor/etc lying around, so that's convered. I'm planning on a motherboard with many integrated periphials, processor, RAM, and Hard drive. No CR-ROM. USB ports for updating, etc. I'm thinking I'll use a toolbox or similar for an enclosure. Just something sturdy to fit under the back seat.
The area I am still researching is power. It would be nice to have the computer automatically boot when the truck starts. What would be the simplest way to achieve this? How do you all handle the shutdown phase? I wouldn't want to drain my car battery. I could build the system around DOS, which doesn't care if you yank power, but it would be much easier to use Windows, as far as drivers go. Windows, however, tends to get corrupted if power is repeatedly cut from it.
Then we get to the big issue: the power supply.What is the easiest/most economical/least damaging to my vehicle way to power a PC in the car? I'm looking at the DC-DC power supplies, etc, but also curious about those gadgets you plug into a power point that give you a normal household electrical outlet.
At any rate, great site, glad to have found you all.

MP3Car.com

 

celticchrys

Well, to partially answer my own questions, I found this pdf article explaining a bit about car power, for beginners:

http://www.via.com.tw/en/downloads/w...pc_bridger.pdf

Now I'm not so sure that I'm going to do this. My budget at the moment will not allow me to purchase a DC-DC Power supply; I would probably have to use a cheap AC inverter.

guizai

interesting. Might I suggest just getting a Ipod or mp3 player? If you just want to have mp3's than a carputer might be overkill. The main reason for people installing carputers is to have the capability to have multiple programs/functions being controlled by the computer. If you get a mp3 player it will handle everything you're stating without all the fuss of installation.

MP3Car.com