Kimota

Well finally finshed dispite a few set backs with Motherboard had to RMA it 3 times recieved 2 DOA boards .

I'd like to THANK everybody on this forum, I would HAVE never attempted or let alone completed this project if it wasn't for MP3Car and RX8 Club forums

Here's a Pic of the dirty girl (havent washed her in like a week)





Heres the PC in glovebox (I'll clean it up a bit latter)




Here's the Screen Open (Transflective baby )



The Screen closed




PS3 mini wireless keyboard, touchpad and bass knob install



My touchpad and bass knob install in center console. The touchpad rocks I use it with StreetDeck and don't even have to touch my screen even the gestures work



Sub Box in trunk ( I know its not PC related)



Amps attached to rear of Sub Box



Rockford Fosgate 3sixyt.2 sound processor (also not PC related )




Added Usb hub underneath radio






It's a Vantech usb hub that a chopped up a bit and epoxied inplace.





Well thats pretty much it, the project took me a while to complete as I also did a complete sound system upgrade and had to relocate the PC to glove box because of heating issues (HOT as hell in South Florida . Replaced all the cabin speakers with MB Quarts, added a sub box with 2X 10" Alpine R woofers as well as 2 Alpine PDX amps.

I'm pretty satisfied with the way it all turned out, one thing that I really love my car still looks bone stock when prying eyes look in ( we know its not )

Again a BIG thanks to everybody on the forum especially Guino your RX8 inspired to install CarPC and Kalt I pretty much ripped off all your ideas for the motherboard

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Saturated_Fat

Ahh my nemesis :P . Nice job !

The Touchpad is a great addition, link?

Is the transreflective worth it? Im thinking of getting one or the new xenarcs, which claim to be brighter.

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XMatrix

Nice work bro! I have an 8 too and I will be installing the car pc this mth (I hope for the components to come). Some quick questions :

1) Did you disassemble your Aopen PC. Why are all the components (esp the heat sink) outside the system?
2) What is the PS3 mini wireless keyboard touchpad? What does it do? Where did you buy it?

Kimota

Thanks man I gotta try and keep up with you 350Z guys

Here's the link for the touchpad picked it up from newegg. I flush mounted it so the buttons don't work but you don’t need them as the upper right had corner of pad when touched emulates a right click and any where else is left click, Ohh and the horizontally on the far right can be used to scroll up and down.

The transreflective is TOTALLY worth it, those pics I took where in direct sunlight at 10:00 am in South Florida (the Sunshine state).

I'll give you another example I was at the Mazda dealership getting some warranty work done. The Mechanics thought my screen was factory and were amazed that the screen was visible in direct sunlight. They told me one of the biggest complaints they receive is how all Mazda screens can't be seen in direct sunlight. We even tested a screen on a new CX9 couldn't even come close to reading it in direct sunlight.

Kimota

Hey XMatrix,


1. I didn’t disassemble my Apoen PC, I purchased all the components and assembled myself. Originally I did have components in a case in the trunk but had to relocate them to glove box without case due to heating issues.

This works out really well in an RX8 because the AC vent is directly above the glove box and keeps PC really cool. I highly recommend it for RX8 owners.


2. Sorry about that it does read a little odd. The PS3 mini wireless keyboard is a Playstation 3 wireless keyboard (picked it up at GameStop) that works with my CarPC and is completely independent of the touchpad. The touchpad is what I use as a mouse and flush mounted it to my console. Works great as I can use it with my frontend and saves me constantly touching my screen (picked it up on newegg.com)

Kalt

Nice install kimota, i love the oem look. Hows the i94gtt treating you?

Kimota

Hiya Kalt,

Thank man, it’s been a little rough just got another one back from RMA. Originally when I moved PC from trunk to glove box MB died in the transfer (I don't have a clue as to why). I then received 2 RMA's that were DOA the latest is working fine so I'm happy now although I still get the date issue intermittently (I can live with that) but when shes running shes Hella fast with that Core 2 duo )

Keeping the OEM look was important to me as a few years back I had and alpine screen stolen and my entire dashboard and center console destroyed in the process, ever since then I'm a fan of the OEM look

Hey thanks again for all the info you posted on the I945Gtt was a HUGE help

Kalt

No problem, im currently on my 6th board and its working great so far. Your install has inspired me to post some updates in my install thread since im just about done with the carpc, the only thing im waiting for is the streetdeck bluetooth adapter.

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Kimota

Man 6th board I thought I had it bad, glad to hear your almost done with the install I'm eager to see some more pics

Ya I cant wait for the bluetooth adaptor, hopefully we'll have it soon

Ohh forgot to mention a few goodies I have a BU-353 gps receiver under the dash behind the monitor (gets great signal there)

AReporter mic behind headboard so it can't be seen.

EUB-362 EXT for WIFI in the rear winshield.

PCC6700 smart phone in the center console for EVDO internet access

I'm may add a slimeline DVD/RW just beneath my head unit but that can wait for a bit just gonna enjoy the install for a month or two.

maxgtr2000

Nice clean install. I like the stealth factor too.

rijndael

very nicely done brah....i might just have to steal that touchpad idea from you for mine...

Good Job...

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XMatrix

1) From your picture in the glove box, I really cant understand how you can have so many other components that are outside, esp the heatsink that looks like it's from the motherboard. Maybe could you explain what the cluster of components that you have placed inside together with the Aopen?

2) Just wondering - when you meant flush mounted to the console, what do you mean by that? Is using the touch pad from your position you placed, awkward?

Kimota

Thanks, stealth was a big factor for me


I think the touchpad was the only orginal idea I've ever had or hmm did I steal it!!


The picture below should help keep in mind you don't have to have your PC in a case. Note the RX8 has a AC vent the runs right along the top of the glove box that helps cool the PC.




Okay technically the touchpad isn't really flush but what I did was cut out part of my center console as to recess the touchpad (making it look factory, I hope). The position of the touchpad is pretty much perfect in the RX8 your arm rest in that area when driving so using is a breeze.

XMatrix

Wah thankx a whole lot for showing exactly what the components are! So can I safely assume that the components are taken out of the Aopen mini pc you bought (you mentioned in your specs that you are using the Aopen but you also said that you didnt remove the components inside the Aopen). Kinda of confusing actually. Also I placed my hands inside the (opened) glove compartment and turn on my air-con to full blast. But I couldnt really felt any air at all. Unless you are saying that the air comes from behind the glove compartment when it is in open position.




You know bro, you are rite! I was talking to my gf about the touchpad and she's 100% agree it is a great spot!

Kimota

Sorry for the confusion I did word it oddly when I said “I didn’t disassemble my Aopen PC". I never purchased an Aopen mini PC, what I did purchase was an Aopen i945Gtt Motherboard and assembled it with components I purchased separately hard drives, ram and processor.

I originally I did have all the components in a case I purchased separately in the trunk but had to relocate to the glove box because of heating issues. Concerning the AC in the Glove box, the AC doesn't vent air directly into the glove box so you won't feel any air blowing into the glove box. What does happen is the AC vent that feeds the passenger side is directly above the glove box, the air around the vent is cooled and falls into the glove box. Warm air from the PC rises and is also cooled by this vent (that’s my story and I'm sticking to it ).

Relocating the PC to the glove box made a HUGE difference for example my 2140 DC-DC regulator would power down the PC after about 20 minutes on a hot day due to over heating. Now that the PC is in the glove box it doesn’t even get close to over heating. Now keep in mind I live in South Florida during the summer on a day like today the temperature in my trunk with the sun hitting it can reach over 100 degrees. Try this on a hot day after the RX8 has been on a while with AC running place your hand in glove box you will notice it is fairly cool especially compared to that oven of a trunk or just reach up in the glovebox and feel how cool the AC vent is.

Hey if your gf agree's about the touchpad it gotta be good now you just have to convince her about the AC vent and the glove box

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