Total newb looking for help!

WRXIntegrations · 01-20-2007, 08:41 PM

Hey everybody! Just wanted to say a quick hi and introduce myself. My name is Todd and I'm a part owner of a small custom audio shop located in Washougal,Wa. We specialize in the custom fabrication side of the installs here and have just recently came out with our own line of lightweight vehicle specific subwoofer enclosures and amplifier racks. Everything from simple and clean to wild and crazy show winning installs are performed here.

I own a 05 Subaru WRX sedan that is mainly used as the shops demo vehicle. I've been recently playing with the idea of building and installing a carputer to be mainly used at shows to help promote the shop and the products / services we offer.

The main problem is I'm a total newb in the car pc world and pretty clueless of what it takes to put a system together and make everything work together. I've been doing as much research as time allows here to try to school myself, but I'm finding the project to be a bit overwhelming.

For the shop and personal uses all of the computers purchased were pre-built Dell's, I've never built a PC from the ground up and that's probably why I'm finding it difficult.

I don't have much time with running the business and performing installs to spend learning all the little details I need to know, so I'm asking for some help. I'm mainly looking for somebody / somebodies that I can maybe just PM with questions, helping to point me in the right direction from time to time. I'll have to admit that some of the questions will probably seem real dumb so you'll have to be able to deal with that on occasion too. If you have a Subaru background or own one even better, as that's the car for the build.

What I can offer you guys - If it has to do with custom work / fabrication I have you covered, or any car audio in general actually. Any questions on building anything, from plexi cases to flushing in monitors I can help with. I've been doing custom installs for the last 10+ years and have just about done it all at one time or another. I've also got a lot of in process pics from the installs to help aid in some of the fab work, I know a pic helps alot to explain things sometimes.

If I can get something together and start the install I'll start a thread showing the progress. The carpc itself may not be anything too crazy, but some of the fabrication of it's parts along with everything else going on should be some pretty cool stuff. I like to take a lot of pics along the way so you'll get to see how everything is made from start to finish.

Sorry for the long post, most probably didn't make it all the way to the end!
Check out the portfolio on our website for install pics and be sure to hit me up if you have any questions!

Thanks in advance for all the help and advise.

- Todd

www.audiointegrations.net

Thelgord · 01-20-2007, 10:00 PM

You will need to know how to put together a home pc from scratch. If you can't, stop now and learn. From there it's minor stuff, software front ends, power supplies, hardware options (like GPS, Wi-Fi, etc...), finding out how you want it to look once it's in. The last part I am sure can do wth no problems.

If you have neither the time or patience to learn, you may consider bringing in someone to put the unit together and configure all the software, then you can work your magic to make it look OEM.

Either way there is a LOT of information on this site. The search funtion is your friend

RedGTiVR6 · 01-21-2007, 04:02 PM

This forum is full of people willing to help. I would spend a bit of time reading here: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/newbie/78795-new-carpcs-dont-know-where-start.html

I understand that you may not have a whole lot of time, but spending a few minutes and reading that thread will get you a long way in a short amount of time.

After that you should have a good idea about what you need to do to get started with a CarPC.

As the title under my screen name suggests, I'm here to help. Also, if your shop is interested in starting to do CarPCs on a regular basis. Please PM me. I can set you up with an account and we can work on all these details together.

DodgeCummins · 01-21-2007, 10:11 PM

Get an idea on how much space you want to allow for the computer.

Put the carputer software on your Dell and see if it is fast enough...then start pricing setups that match the speed.

Here are the 3 things you have to equal out. Speed, Size, Power.

There is a limit to the power you have available to run your computer...so that will limit the speed.

Size is up to you, but the smaller computer motherboards have other limitations...usually speed and options.

Of course there are plenty of articles on those subjects here in the forums.

WRXIntegrations · 01-22-2007, 01:03 PM

Thanks for all the advise guys, I know from reading my post most of ya are probably thinking I'm a total tard and shouldn't even bother with such a project.

Building a PC from scratch is just something I've never done before so I don't have much background to pull from. Since it's something I'm interested in and I'll take the time to learn everything I need to before continuing. I've been reading as much as I can but sometimes it's a couple of weeks before I get back into it so I probably loose some of the info retained.

I'm going to start working on the car again here real soon so I'll have more time to devote to the project.

Thanks again - Todd

www.audiointegrations.net

RedGTiVR6 · 01-22-2007, 01:24 PM

I'll say this much.

When I started this (about 3 years ago), I hadn't built a PC either.

I didn't know much about PCs at all, but I wanted to do this so I learned.

Good luck and take your time!