VW Jetta 99.5 Fastest Start to Finish CarPC

mashfique · 05-09-2007, 02:29 AM

CAR PC START TO FINISH. LESS THAN THREE WEEKS. I AM NO PROFESSIONAL.

I first saw this website on April 22nd, 2007, one of my co-workers introduced it to me. I was convinced and decided I want a car PC after one night of browsing around the site. I joined the site 24 hours later and did quite a bit of research and a week later started to order parts. Right now I have ordered everything I need to put this system together for now. I am waiting for most parts so I have decided to create this worklog to kill time and post pictures of the computer i am building for the car. Given I get all parts in time, I want this finished before the month ends.

List of parts and cost. ask for more info if you want.

CarPC
Mini ATX motherboard- $51 can (canadian dollars)
P4 2.66 Ghz CPU- already had one.
CPU heatsick- Free from work. regular price 20bux
512DDR SDRAM- Had them
Segate 80GB laptop HD- Free from work.
Liteon Portable External USB dvd-writer $110 can.
Acrylic sheet- $20can
Hardware and glue $15
Pharos GPS reciever- $99.99us
SoundBlaster 5.1 SC0- Free from work.
Ultra 120MM case fan- $18can.
M2-ATX- From mp3car.com store
7" Lilliput display from classified- $141us
7" LIlliput bezel for VW MK4- $120us from mp3car store

SoundSytem
Pioneer GM-7300M mono block amp
Pioneer TS-W301R 12" SUB (two of them)
SPL CP2.0 Farad Capacitor
Pioneer GM-6200F 4 channel amp
Rockford Fosgate Punch P163C speakers (4 of them)
All for $620us from www.sonicelectronix.com

Parts under consideration
HQCT radio module
USB bluetooth dongle
Scan tool for engine.

I am a fast learner. I gather more info from this site in less than 7days that people will spend 6months to 1 year to learn. But mp3car has been the greastest help. I am just waiting for the parts from the store and so far telephone service over phone has been better than good.

First group of Gathered parts.

The new mother board i got for $50 canadian.

Laying out the the board on the plastic

contruction process for the case finding a good location for fan.

I decided not to go with a desktop hardrive, here is a laptop HD installed instead.

All completed. Took only two days. I started this on Sunday.

Dennis5587 · 05-09-2007, 07:56 AM

cool, but I think that I see only one hole for the fan... if this is the case, thats no good, waht you'll need is at the least some type of ventilation holes and have the fan sucking out, giving the case a negative pressure, if you have only that one vent with the fan blowing in.... there is no were for the air to go, and your computer may over heat.

Glad to see you were able to build a carputer in such a short time, but I don't think that's anything too special, most of us take a while do to money, from the time we decide we want it, most don't have the money just lying around. That and people like to plan things out a little more

RedGTiVR6 · 05-09-2007, 08:30 AM

Pics of this in the car? Seems that two days to build the case is nothing out of the ordinary?

mashfique · 05-09-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Dennis5587

cool, but I think that I see only one hole for the fan... if this is the case, thats no good, waht you'll need is at the least some type of ventilation holes and have the fan sucking out, giving the case a negative pressure, if you have only that one vent with the fan blowing in.... there is no were for the air to go, and your computer may over heat.

Glad to see you were able to build a carputer in such a short time, but I don't think that's anything too special, most of us take a while do to money, from the time we decide we want it, most don't have the money just lying around. That and people like to plan things out a little more

There is no back cover so there is a big hole, but that was closed lastnight and left only with a slot at the bottom for venting.

I don't have a lot of money either, but I had most parts available to me, because I work at a computer store, secondly any computer parts I need I can buy it from there and take few months to pay it off. So I made the jump. By no means I think my workmanship and the speed I work at is any special. But I am just doing it fast as I can.

mashfique · 05-09-2007, 12:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

Pics of this in the car? Seems that two days to build the case is nothing out of the ordinary?

Hey I agree, its nothing special but I am patting myself on the back for doing it so quick

. Don't mind me. I am testing everything on workbench before putting it in the car. Today I am installing software and testing. Also I will be cleaning the car inside out and since I know very little, I will be checking to see what can be done in the car in terms of placement. I am wanting for speakers, screen, and the front bezel. I will definately post pictures as I go along.

MatrixPC · 05-09-2007, 01:33 PM

Great.
The most time comsumming process is fabricate the screen and installing it in the car.
You bought a pre-fab bezel. That alone took about 3-4 weeks of working (15-20 hrs). Running all the cable could also take a weekend.

RedGTiVR6 · 05-09-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by mashfique

Hey I agree, its nothing special but I am patting myself on the back for doing it so quick

. Don't mind me. I am testing everything on workbench before putting it in the car. Today I am installing software and testing. Also I will be cleaning the car inside out and since I know very little, I will be checking to see what can be done in the car in terms of placement. I am wanting for speakers, screen, and the front bezel. I will definately post pictures as I go along.

If you've never done anything like this...you're in for a few surprises...

MatrixPC · 05-09-2007, 06:19 PM

Also, if it works in the house, doesn't mean it will work perfectly the way you wanted in the car. Remember, audio noise if you aren't doing it correctly.

mashfique · 05-09-2007, 06:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

If you've never done anything like this...you're in for a few surprises...

Hehe.. Thats what makes it fun.

I know what you mean. I cleaned up my car today and was checking for ways to wire up the damn thing, it doesn't look easy.

I am new to car computer. But I am not new to computers. I run a computer department store. And cars.. hmm thats a tough one... all i have done in the past is install a full audio system and pager alarm in my old car.

mashfique · 05-09-2007, 06:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MatrixPC

Also, if it works in the house, doesn't mean it will work perfectly the way you wanted in the car. Remember, audio noise if you aren't doing it correctly.

Yeah.. I am afraid of that too. So far my plan is to route power from one side and singnal from one side and use monster level 3 cables. If all things fail, I will just have to cry a river.

greatwhite · 05-09-2007, 06:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by mashfique

Yeah.. I am afraid of that too. So far my plan is to route power from one side and singnal from one side and use monster level 3 cables. If all things fail, I will just have to cry a river.

There's a bit more to it than just that........

You may get lucky and have no issues though. Seems everytime I touch or change anything, I'm chasing down noise sources!