Mazda RX-8 Stealthy CarPC install

Nerve · 03-16-2008, 08:46 PM

Finally after two cars, two screens, several installs, blood, sweat and tears (mostly at the amount of money I spent on my FTO only to sell it for pittance) I finally have a working Car-PC installation. Once I had the right car, parts and experience, it was pretty easy really. The key thing to remember - Know your limits!

It's finished for the moment but no doubt I will be adding to it at some point. The main aim of this project was to get something working and usable AND not destroy the car in the process. Fortunately the RX-8 is very accommodating in that last respect due to the optional Sat Nav you can have fitted. Mine didn't have it but I had almost all the parts, I just needed the housing...

Housing: SatNav replacement housing for 7" screen by Japanparts.com
Display: LinITX 7" TMR screen (pricey but very nice looking screen)
MBoard: Via Epia Nano ITX 12x12cm 1Ghz
PSU: M1-ATX - 90W Intelligent Car PSU
HDD: 2.5" 120GB Western Digital 5400RPM Hard Drive
Memory: 512MB
Case: ABS Plastic box from Maplin with a big hole cut out as the M/B didn't fit! + lots of hot glue!
GPS: Prolific PL-2303 USB GPS Module
Radio: To be fitted
Interfaces: Car2PC - Radio and speakers to PC interface
OS: nLited Windows XP SP 2
Other: Fluxmedia Centrafuse XLE 1.47

The sat nav housing parts courtesy of Japanparts.com. As usual, I didn't use them all..

Tom (my cat) gets in the way

Concealed

Peek-a-boo

Profile

OK, Now what?

You want me to get in there?

Nice fit!

Screen and PC (In the glove box - can you see?!)

The Box

Stealthy...

...Sort of

Pretty lights

Mmmmm...

OK, we get the idea

Next thing I want to do is hook up the USB Radio I have. I need an adapter for the antennae though. Although I might also look into Sat Radio. Then there's the OBD-II cables....

rijk · 03-17-2008, 05:34 AM

that looks good

how did you solve the cooling voor the cpc?

Nerve · 03-17-2008, 06:33 AM

I didn't! It's running pretty warm but it's stable. I'll be doing some load tests and checking temps at some point and will address any heat issues I find but I want to see what I can get away with.

Kimota · 03-17-2008, 11:39 AM

First off the you need to get rid of that cat (Tom) not only will he steal your internets. It's a known fact cats cause PC's to lockups and blue screen, cats may also attempt to suffocate while you sleep by stealing your breath when you sleep (have to reasearch this some more).

Secondly the PC install looks good BUT you need to get rid of the RX8 asap, its ugly, a gas guzzler, a Mazda (nuff said),smelly,cancer causing, offensive, and women just don't DIG it.

Nerve · 03-17-2008, 11:51 AM

Ah! The mighty Kimota speaks!

Quote: Originally Posted by Kimota

First off the you need to get rid of that cat (Tom) not only will he steal your internets. It's a know fact cats cause PC's to lockups and blue screen, cats may also attempt to suffocate while you sleep by stealing your breath when you sleep (have to reasearch this some more).

I've heard about that -- take your breath away (que Top Gun theme tune)

Quote:

Secondly the PC install looks good BUT you need to get rid of the RX8 asap, its ugly, a gas guzzler, a Mazda (nuff said),smelly,cancer causing, offensive, and women just don't DIG it.

You first!

BTW, I've seen your install. Awesome! I was tempted to do the same but I didn't end up getting an RX with SatNav and didn't really want to pay the extra ££££ to get one off Mazda.

rijk · 03-17-2008, 05:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Nerve

I didn't! It's running pretty warm but it's stable. I'll be doing some load tests and checking temps at some point and will address any heat issues I find but I want to see what I can get away with.

Hope you get away with it, but i know a few that didn't and endedup moving the cpc.

Nerve · 03-17-2008, 07:39 PM

Were they using the 1Ghz Nano too? I reckon my laptop gets hotter but I will stick Speedfan on it and check the temps on a long drive!

zzzBrett · 03-18-2008, 10:46 PM

Very nice, I like the clean install.

rijk · 03-19-2008, 04:26 AM

They where VIA epia problem is in summer, the sun heats up this part of the car more than other places. It is a more or less closede space, so no place for the hot air to escape to.

Nerve · 03-19-2008, 05:12 AM

ok cheers. I'll have to keep an eye on that then.

Thanks for the comments people. To be honest it was pretty straightforward and the fact that I could just buy the housing for the screen meant it was only the PC that I really needed to build. Of course, the instructions for building the housing were in Japanese so that made it a little more interesting!

bes51659 · 03-19-2008, 05:17 AM

Congratulation to a very tidy installation!

About cooling in closed compartments: http://www.peltierelement.com/
Or maybe you can find a glovecompartment fridge?

coffeejolts · 03-19-2008, 09:10 AM

Nice install. I have a few questions for you about it.

1. How is the monitor in direct sunlight?
2. Do you think the satnav housing is really worth the price? You can build a carputer (w/o monitor) cheaper than that.

I ask because I'm installing in a Mazda6, and the same satnav housing is available for the 6 on japanparts.

Nerve · 03-19-2008, 04:41 PM

1. I'm not sure yet. Don't get much Sun in London! I'll comment when I know but this is a TMR screen which has a semi light absorbent screen so I think it will perform well. Certainly not had any trouble on the few short journeys I've tested so far.

2. Well it depends whether you have the time and effort to make your own housing. My choice was simple. What is the easiest way to hook a computer up to your in car speakers? The Car2pc module is that solution but it of course plugs into the OEM stereo. So either you keep the stereo or find something that would bypass it but I don't know of a solution that doesn't require cutting wires. Do you have any other suggestions?

@bes51659 - Thanks. I like the fridge idea!

Nerve · 03-19-2008, 06:14 PM

Well here are the temps. A little worrying:

Winbond W83697HF temp 1 - 52
Winbond W83697HF temp 2 - 59
HDD - 51
ACPI - 21

I can't find the correct operating temps for the Via Luke 1Ghz but they do sound a little high and it's quite cool in my garage.

My glovebox is not sealed and you can get to it from under the dash so I may be able to add a big pipe and fan to channel the air but cooling is not my forte so some research will need to be done.

coffeejolts · 03-20-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Nerve

What is the easiest way to hook a computer up to your in car speakers? The Car2pc module is that solution but it of course plugs into the OEM stereo. So either you keep the stereo or find something that would bypass it but I don't know of a solution that doesn't require cutting wires. Do you have any other suggestions?

I'm using AuxMOD in my Mazda6, but thinking of going to Car2PC to get the steering wheel controls.

The temps do seem a little high, especially for the hard disk. have you tried checking the PC temps outside the car? Again, congrats on a very nice install.

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