pics first(cause we all like pics)

 

update: youtube vid uploaded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvRXffeOSAQ

 

Specs:
Dell 2.5 GHz
512 Ram
80 Gig HD
Onboard vid and sound
DVD drive

I found this computer on the curb so I reinstalled XP and minimalized XP to boot fast (about 30 seconds right now)

Screen: Lilliput 7" touchscreen

Frontend: Centrafuse
current used for:
-music (mp3s)
-video (avi)
-dvd
-Gps
-bluetooth
-email/web/weather (when I have wifi signal)
-webcam (pointing out the rear window)

The program can basically do unlimited things but thats what i have it setup for now.

And then it can do anything windows XP can do.

I made a video thats currently uploading that shows the computer being used a little bit.

Theres still stuff left to do but most of the hard work is done

 

Doesn't look that bad. A micro or mini ATX system would be a lot better for a 'carputer', though.

Putting a nice thing in the car, then ruining it with Windows

 

well the dell was free, i did make a plywood case for it and got rid of about 1/3 of the volume. plus now it sorta matches the trunk carpet.

And im not much of a linux person, only use it once in a while at school. I did disable alot of the windows services though so it completely boots (no hour glass) in about 25-30 seconds. I can have centrafuse fully loaded in about a minute from the time I hit the power button. And also, I like windows xp

I did this whole setup on a budget also, the screen was the only real cost. All the wiring was bought on ebay with free shipping from hong kong so those costs were basically negligible. I do plan on buying a DC-DC PSU because right now my 300W inverter creates way too much EM interference that it messes with the audio. Then I will make my case smaller too once the big PSU is outta there.

 

It looks great, black max. How much did the screen cost you? I've been pondering doing the same thing for a while.

Did you by any chance rig it with some super wireless antennas to pick up on random internet signals?

 

the screen was $174 free shipping on ebay. just ebay search "eby701" for my screen.

Ya Ive got a usb wireless adapter with the external antennae, a GPS receiver, bluetooth for my cell phone, then a webcam that serves for whatever direction i point it (right now reverse camera) and it has the microphone for voice recognition and cell phone.

 

another note, the audio is wired into the AUX-in of the headunit. So I can still use the headunit to do radio and cds, and then i can switch it to aux for the computer sound.

 

some build pics of my case (since i already have them uploaded)

 

sweet

 

What's wrong with Windows? lol. I know you're somewhat a techie...you shouldn't have issues with Windows. The only time Windows is a POS is when people download a bunch of crap onto it. Even my Vista laptop is better than most machines out there because I know how to tweak it and get the most out of it. A typical user who clicks on popups saying, "CLICK HERE" will obviously have issues. It's not really Windows' fault. I never have OS problems. Actually, I never have PC problems period.

OP. Looks good.

 

heres a youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvRXffeOSAQ
This was the first time I got to use it in the car so im just pushing buttons... not really doing anything cool, but it shows the computer load up and the program a bit.

and a better pic now that its day.

 

Windows is just way too restrictive for how I work. Requires way too much use of the mouse, when the command line is faster 90% of the time.

There's really too much to list, I could go on for hours.

 

I love carputers. I so want to install one and have it linked in to my tuning software. realtime changes without a laptop would be bad ***.

 

hey blackmaxed95 that's cool man I like it!

 

just installed my zeitronix software but havent got a chance to really mess with it yet. If only I could connect my VAFC2 to windows.

thanks!

 

Nice man. I like it and it gives me some great ideas. I always have spare computer parts just laying(kinda like maxima parts ) around.

Never thought of just making it out of ply wood. Ive always wanted a car puter. the laptop in the car is just getting old for me....

Thanks for a great idea and it looks good IMO.

 

Seems like a pretty sick idea, just a shame that the box takes so much space, I know you can buy pretty powerful mini laptops nowadays and what not.

 

thanks. i know there are several smaller options. I have a laptop also but I didnt want to use that. I didnt mind the size, i dont use my trunk for much else anyways.

 

looks sweet

 

That is pretty sweet, how did you path your cables/what kind of cables did you use to get power to the compter and video/input to the monitor

 

Congratz. Carputers are fun

 

All the cables run from the computer in the trunk under the carpet to the center console. I bought a 10 ft vga extension cable, 3 10 ft usb cables, and a 10 ft audio cable. Its powered by a 300W inverter that is also in the trunk that has wires running under that carpet, through the firewall and to the battery. The screen is powered by the cig lighter now but it will be hardwired soon.

 

I was thinking the same thing. You can probably buy a NetTop for real cheap. It'll save a lot of space. Only catch is it doesn't come with drives but you can use external drives that you can put in the dash. The most convincing argument IMO would be that this dell probably has a 120 watt pentium 4 while the netTop has an N270 atom that eat 2.5W max which means you'll cut power consumption by at least half. and it's not like you're suddenly shelling out money when you haven't, all those add-on costs money too.

 

Looks awesome!

 

sweet!

 

Same here
Its annoying when I have to turn the screen on again after starting the car.lol

 

What kind of interference? Like a 120Hz hum?

 

I have one somewhat in the works and just got my obd2 usb thing. Now I have to find a program what wors with it. But that was my goal too, to have obd2, emanage and zeitronix software at the touch of the screen, makes for easy adjustments on the fly real time. Mp3car.com/forums has a ton of info how to do this, my somewhat build is on there if you do a search for maxima. I haven't updated it but I went with a mini itx board and an m1-atx. They sell the m2-atx now, dc-dc power supply and shutdown controller. makes it easier than an inverter on that platform. I see you got the pc for free so that's a plus, on the mp3car forums there maybe a thread on how to make your screen auto turn on. P.m sent.

 

Hey Black_Maxed i like it, but dude. Pease Its HUGE~! and your running it off an inverter? thats a No-No! well at least you got it for free!

The Case is interesting, im glad to see you actually took some things into consideration! Cooling, consturction, and what not.

Now, i would like to make a suggestion however. But if your not a Fan of Xbox's just forget i even said a word about this.

What I Would Do in your Situation AKA what i AM doing and Have Done In The Past.

Xbox

Yes the Original Xbox.

Now real quick some history.

The Xbox's Technical Specs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox

A Slow computer in todays modern world. But when situation specific. A Very Mean Machine.

Back when i was 14 I was into Xbox Hacking/Modding and i learned a great deal, and among the things i learned was..

1. Whats better than a Media Center Specific PC you can pick up from a Game Store Used for 30 Bucks, that can Play Games, Play DVD's, CD's Ect!

2. It Boots in around 10 Seconds.

3. Dolby 5.1 Need I Say More

4. Plenty of functionality and customization oppertunitys.

5. Linux. Once again Need I Say More.

6.It can be converted to do pretty much anything. Weather you want a Very Slim Case, A DVD Burner, A Giant Hard Drive, Controllers For 4, Media Center Remotes, Pretty much anything your heart desires.

Im sure theres more but who cares if your reading this your interested if your not, well then you already dismissed this idea.


Obviously some of this takes some time to accomplish. But if your actually tech oriented or willing to learn you can hack an Xbox and Set it up with XBMC (Xbox Media Center [If anyones ever heard of it at least] ) In around an Hour Or two. And thats if Your Really New to some of this stuff.

All of this is Very well documented on a site known world wide as Xbox-Scene.com where there are Vast forums, also containing many other interesting topics of conversation.

Back when i still had a Single DIN LCD screen and not my super awesome new AVIC-F700BT I ran a similar setup with XBMC in my car, ran it off a 125 Watt Inverter. WOrked Great. And becasue i had been into this kind of thing a long time i threw a 80 GB hard drive in it and had all the movies and Music i could ever need.

Tats just some food for thought for some of you guys if anyone is contemplating a similar setup to Black_maxed95.

 

Just got back from a little vacation guys so I can respond to this now. I realize I didnt go about doing the computer and power supply the 'correct' way by most carputer standards. I plan on changing it tho. Right now my setup was quick and cheap. I am going to get rid of the power inverter for a m2-atx DC-DC power supply soon. In the future I will probably completely rebuild the computer with a smaller form motherboard with a low power CPU and an SSD. But for now I have a working system that makes me pretty happy.

As far as the xbox idea, Ive heard of ppl modding the xbox and Im pretty computer savvy but I think I would rather just stick with a more standard PC.

 

Im going to be getting an M2 Pretty soon as well. Hint Hint theres a couple on Ebay for cheap. Lets jsut not go into a Bid war over them k!

 

Same here bro! Haha, but that is because I have this program called RETURNIL and its like a reset button in time for your computer, you can do whatever you want, and I do mean WHATEVER, I went to every possible free screen-saver site, to every possible free sexy pictures of girls site, and some other things I can't mention and when I was done I had like 30 extra desktop icons and some wierd programs in my start menu (I.E Viruses, worms, and all that yummy stuff) and so I restarted my computer and all of it was gone, it was like I never did, what I did; but I actually did it.

 

Most educational institutions use similar software to keep their systems in line.

Most common I've seen is Deep Freeze - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Freeze_(software)

 

Yeah haha, before I made my choice I looked at several of those virtualization programs and Returnil and Deep Freeze, both are the same in fuctionality I think, except Returnil was a set it and forget it type of program.

Right now I have Sandboxie and Returnil which is overkill haha. Also I have seen that some people use VMWare for the same purpose but it sometimes leak data into the real system and so I went for the program that was free and easiest to use and the most reliable according to reviews, and Returnil stayed ever since

 

This forum is awesome, I'm a member over there as well and have been waiting to pick up a Mac Mini once their prices go down to use as my carputer. My biggest question is concerned around glare, I know when I was looking at mine many people were saying to stay away from the Lilliput's that arn't coated (If you look on their website you know what I mean) because the glare makes them unreadable and were advocating the ridiculously more expensive treated Lilliput's

Have you considered getting a Bluetooth or USB GPS dongle? These get you completely free GPS and can be used in software to get lap times and telemetric data. My cousin uses his Carputer to Analyze his lap times in his tracked Evo as well as look at throttle position, ect. These are really great tools.

You should also look into using the Wii remote as an accelerometer. I've done this in my car using a Mac Laptop and Darwin I believe software. This gives accurate 0-60 times as well as a quatermile (on the street). There are so many awesome posibilities with some software background and GUI experience.

Just my 3 Cents, Goodluck!

 

I imagine you're referring to the blasphemy (Intel) minis? You can get the G4s for ~$250 all over eBay.

 

Ordered a 180W opus DC-DC PSU. It has the auto start and shutdown like the m-series and many say they are more reliable.

I drove my car today for 60 miles in the sun and the glare on the screen of my lilliput eby701 wasnt too bad. It was still readable/viewable but it definately was more difficult. Those transreflective sun screens are way too much IMO. They are about $700.
I have a GPS dongle, Im still waiting on my bluetooth dongle and USB wireless adapter though.

 

been there used it, worked great. Just gotta find yerself a Copy.

 

my carpc build is about 99% done. I got my Opus 180W DC-DC power supply hooked up and running.
Just have to wire in the power switch where that hole is, and replace the stereo wire since mine broke and I only get audio out of the left side.


pic of the fake face plate i made.