2005 Scion tC

**DelayedTurbo** · 04-21-2006, 03:09 PM

Plan:
Build a fully functional CarPC with DVD, Navigation, MP3, etc capabilities removing stock head unit completely. So far only have the computer, using a reasonably decent PC, full sized however, making a custom case and trying to remove as much as possible to get the power consumption down (in theory anyway :P).

Waiting on:
Need to buy screen, looking at Xenarc 700TSV, seems to be fairly decent. Along with anything else needed to power and fully utilize all features, mostly the random things I'll need for connections or extensions to be able to put things were they need to be.

Problems:
Still don't understand how to work the power, plus the auto power, etc...so it doesn't kill my battery, this will be the biggest issue. Also not sure how everything will sound running through the computer instead of the stock head unit, not only that but don't know how to hook up everything so there will be a delay.

Mounting the screen will also be an issue, and picking up another copy of windows or something to run on the computer and trying to figure out RR.

Overall there are a few stepping stones I need to get across so the process may take a while. Money is another issue in the way but hopefully I'll get this project done.

**bembowe** · 04-21-2006, 03:15 PM

Yo,
I have already gone through the whole process with my tc. The best feature i have put in my tc yet.

if you have any questions, feel free to ask

**DelayedTurbo** · 04-21-2006, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by bembowe

Yo,
I have already gone through the whole process with my tc. The best feature i have put in my tc yet.

if you have any questions, feel free to ask

Mainly my big questions are, how do ya power it appropriately with the shut off etc...how did you eliminate the stock head unit out of the equation without losing sound quality, and is a real pc too much, or do I need to build one of these micro bastards...hehe

**bembowe** · 04-21-2006, 04:48 PM

lol, i went with the micro bastards. and I am using the m2-atx power supply to power my pc, screen and external usb. The m2-atx has 160w of power way enough to power the epia sp 13000 processor. The m2-atx also has a start up and shutdown controller with different settings.
I set my system to hibernate when i turn off my ride and my monitor is set to auto power so i have never drained my battery.

If you are just thinking about the basic functionality of a car pc, ie gps, music, video you might be better off going with the smaller processor machines. the biggest challenge in using a real pc is finding a good power supply that has the functionality of startup and shut down controller without using an inverter. unless you are doing some high processing, go with the mini atx processors.

As far as sound goes. I got rid of my stock head unit simply because it is bulky and it does not have an aux in. I bought a sony cd reciever with aux in which connects my pc to the reciever. The quality is amazing, way better than stock. I place the reciever behind the screen and placed the screen right where the receiver was.

here is a link to my project if you have not already seen it
Midnight tc Car pc finally done.

Originally Posted by DelayedTurbo

Mainly my big questions are, how do ya power it appropriately with the shut off etc...how did you eliminate the stock head unit out of the equation without losing sound quality, and is a real pc too much, or do I need to build one of these micro bastards...hehe

**DelayedTurbo** · 04-21-2006, 05:19 PM

What screen is that your using? It looks like it fits right in there! Thats the basic idea of what I want to do but cash wise I gotta be real careful...

**bembowe** · 04-21-2006, 05:26 PM

well, not quite. I am using the lilliput 629 which I fabbed to fit the console. if you are interested in getting one created for you just let me know. if u want to take on the task yourself, i can give you some tips.
I think the xenarc should be the same size as the lilliput that i used so with some fab you can make it look neat.

Originally Posted by DelayedTurbo

What screen is that your using? It looks like it fits right in there! Thats the basic idea of what I want to do but cash wise I gotta be real careful...

**DelayedTurbo** · 04-21-2006, 05:32 PM

I'm gonna try to get some pics up of the custom box, so far all I've done is taken two of the old pc's (build computers on the side) and I'm gonna strip em both, use whatever I can in the new custom box...I'm just hoping that the micro power supply can power all of this, and for the life of me I can't remember which mobo is better in the two comps...one of them is newer and I'm gonna have to look up there numbers...I technically have a 3rd computer I can use for parts but I'm holding off cuz in its past life it was a HP Pavilion..hehe...

By the end the computer itself will be a frankenstein...hehe, hopefully a low power frankenstein, gonna try to keep it real simple...

**DelayedTurbo** · 04-22-2006, 02:28 PM

Small update:

I downloaded some tech manuals for workin on my car. Its actually gonna be cool, my plan with these is, say I'm workin on the car and need to know something, press a button on the touchscreen and it pulls up the service manual! So I can read and get right back to work!

**DelayedTurbo** · 04-22-2006, 02:56 PM

Yet another small update:

Pulled apart one of the two PC's this one sucks, not sure if I can use anything in it, maybe the memory...other then that...blah...

**DelayedTurbo** · 05-14-2006, 01:51 AM

Finally an update the mobo, and a few other random boards...hehe...basically what I stripped out of one of my machines I had lying around. Building a case based on this mobo, the real trick is finding a nice spot in the car to hide it, perhaps under the floor in the back.