2008 Civic SI - Car Mac

**sbfn** · 09-07-2008, 11:16 AM

Hey Guys, how you doing ?

I am kind of noobie here and use the forum mainly for research. Lets see if a can do my homework and built this carpc

This will be my first carpc or car mac if you prefer.

Before let me tell you that English is not my mother language and I dont live in the US, so dont pay too much attention on my grammar please.

Its a 2008 Civic SI made in Brazil, so it might have small differences from the US version but basically its same car.

I already have a 2 din HU on it that I dont want to change it because it has some nice features I wanna keep.

Basically It has a touch screen with DVD - Navigation - Radio - Parking Sensor - Rear View Parking Camera - Tire Pressure and Temperature display and alarm - TV - Bluetooth Phone Compatibility - 1 AV Input - 3 AV Output - I guess that all. Haven't changed the speakers and it has no amplifiers built on it.

What I need on a CarPc is basically web and email access - Voice recognition - fax - word- excell - voip - web cam - Digital TV - OBDII scanner - Blu-ray player.

I am gonna use a mac mini first because i prefer macs and second because I dont have to buy a lot of parts and put it together etc. etc. etc. Mac Mini is small and powerfull for a carpc

I am a mac lover but I will have to run most of it on windows. Gonna use a dual boot or Parallel Desktop - not sure yet.

All hardware that I am goint to use must be Mac/PC compatible

The HU and Carpc will run on parallel. I will connect the video output of LCD Screen on the Av Input of the HU. So I can use the navigation system and answer my phone or listen music form the computer. The volume will be controled on the head unit or in the stearing whell

My setup probably will be

Mac Mini (used) 1.66 or 1.83 mhz ( Intel Core 2 Duo ) with 2gb RAM ( already have 2 x 1gb ram ) - built in bluetooth - wifi - 80gb hd - DVD/Cd recorder.

Not sure yet if I will use a Xenarc In Dash 7'' LCD monitor ( MDT-X7000 ) or get a stand alone screen and adapt it to became manually retract
Xenarc in dash is a little expansive IMO

Bootcamp or Parallel Desktop - not sure yet.

Centrafuse for XP and not sure yet for Mac

Carnetix P2140 with MacPac power cable and CNX-P5v for usb devices
Power button cable kit

Logitech Mini Wireless Keyboard

ElmScan 5 usb for ODBII

External 2.5 HD 200gb - usb

Multi-reader card

Web Cam - thinking about logitech quickcam orbit MP

USB Video Capture for Digital TV because I already have the digital tv module

USB Microfone - not sure yet

Rear View Camera - not sure yet

USB HUB - 7 usb ports - not sure yet

USB start up button

Right now that the idea of my car pc. I will post pictures every time I can - and if you guys have any ideas I will appreciate it.

Please help me out on this project.

**rdholtz** · 09-07-2008, 12:49 PM

Well, English may not be your mother language, but you write it better than a lot of Americans, so you probably won't get complaints about it.

I understand that you're a Mac fan, but I also see that most of the system will be running under XP. I used to have Macs, and I still like them, but if the apps are all XP, why not just build an XP machine and skip the dual-boot?

Look at something like the PicoITX machine; it's smaller than a Mini. The ARTiGO kit is about $300 + $35 for memory and whatever 2.5-inch hard drive you install, so call it $425 (in the U.S. -- I don't know about availability in Brazil).

The support base for XP is far larger, and you don't need to worry about dual compatibility.

I'm definitely not slamming Macs, but I wouldn't choose a more difficult route if the only benefit is to have an Apple sticker, so I'm wondering: what Mac-only things do you plan to do with it? Is availability in Brazil a major consideration?

**sbfn** · 09-07-2008, 05:08 PM

I understand that you're a Mac fan, but I also see that most of the system will be running under XP. I used to have Macs, and I still like them, but if the apps are all XP, why not just build an XP machine and skip the dual-boot?

I have a lot of applications that use everyday and need them to survive - All my contatact ( business and personal ) my appointaments, emails, notes are under mac osx - and since I use a mac at work - at home - notebook and mobile phone - If I have mac osx at the car will be ridiculous easy to have all of them syncronized.

Look at something like the PicoITX machine; it's smaller than a Mini. The ARTiGO kit is about $300 + $35 for memory and whatever 2.5-inch hard drive you install, so call it $425 (in the U.S. -- I don't know about availability in Brazil).

I can find pc parts on every corner in Brazil, but apple parts and hardware in oly few specific places. But most of the parts I will buy it from the US (ebay - mp3car etc )

BTW great worlog you have

**Bxsteez** · 09-13-2008, 03:33 AM

I have a 2007 Si Civic. I'm just wondering where you are going to fit the 7" Xenarc and a double din HU? I'm trying to build up a carputer that will all fit into the dash. I'm trying to fabricate a double din housing. We will see if that pans out.... I'd be interested to see your plan for placing these screens.

**sbfn** · 09-13-2008, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Bxsteez

I have a 2007 Si Civic. I'm just wondering where you are going to fit the 7" Xenarc and a double din HU? I'm trying to build up a carputer that will all fit into the dash. I'm trying to fabricate a double din housing. We will see if that pans out.... I'd be interested to see your plan for placing these screens.

I am planning on put a in dash 7'' Xenarc under the HU - in the compartment in front of the gear shift. Something is going t be built - I am working on some ideas. But the 12v adapter will have to be removed and placed somewhere else

If you need a double din to fit a 7'' screen only - there are a lot of places in the US where you can get it done. If you need to build it - theres a guy named Brian and he does a great job on fiber glass - do a search on member - his name is Nexson - you can see a lot of pictures of his job.

There is a guy on a Brazilian forum who has a civic 2007 AT and he built a compartment to fit a 7'' screen - take a look.

I am also planing on fit another 7'' screen only to be used as rear view mirror. It will be located on the same place i put the white papper.

And the camera to be used as rear view mirror will be placed over the spoiler wing

**sbfn** · 09-13-2008, 10:46 AM

I just started to buy everything I need. This week I bought:

Used Mac mini - 1.83ghz with 1mb ram and 80gb hd. Since I have more memory from my MBP and Imac - I gonna put 2mb memory on the mac mini.

USB Hub 7 ports - Multi reader card - USB / Serial Adapter

Latter I am going to buy a lot of stuff from Mp3car such as

FlexUSB Adapter - MacPac Power Cable Kit - On/off switch - ROUND ROCKER SWITCH 5/BAG

Carnetix CNX-P2140 185W Dual Output Intelligent DC-DC Regulator + CNX-P5V 15 Watt +5V Regulator

POSITIVE WITH RED LCD DIGITAL VOLT METER CLEAR COVER

**Bxsteez** · 09-13-2008, 10:46 AM

oh cool. I saw that guys project. It was amazing!!!

I just realized ur si has automated climate control. That sucks for me not for you

My si does not have that and that dash piece that you there is exactly what i want my custom dash to look like excluding the buttons on the side and the knobs.

**dhantiflag** · 09-14-2008, 11:24 AM

hey, did that dash come with you car from brazil?

i need to find that dashpeice for my car.

**sbfn** · 09-14-2008, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by dhantiflag

hey, did that dash come with you car from brazil?

i need to find that dashpeice for my car.

No it did not. You can get it at http://www.coagent.cn/view_pro.php?id=17

If you need more info about it let me know.

**Bxsteez** · 09-14-2008, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by dhantiflag

hey, did that dash come with you car from brazil?

i need to find that dashpeice for my car.

I've been searching for it since i saw it lol.. I can't seem to find it. I'm thinking i'm gonna get nexson to fabricate a dash for me. He does some good work and he has great ideas too.