New Project - In-Car PC
Haydz
Moderator
In-Car PC
OK so i've started a new project and i'm going to purchase these parts bit by bit as i'm a poor student at the moment. I will be updating this thread as often as i can.
Parts
The main housing will be a custom built alloy case for the mainboard, PSU and HDD. This will have rubber shock mounts on the bottom and also rubber surrounding the HDD. The case is going to be fitted behind the glovebox and will have a cold air intake and exhust ports ( ).
I will be using the M1-ATX Car-PC PSU, this should take care of any surges when the car starts and will mean i don't have to build my own PSU.
I chose to use a VIA EPIA mini-ITX mainboard which has processor, sound, LAN and video onboard. I will be using 256MB of DDR RAM. This setup should be more than plenty for playing music, browsing the internet, accessing GPS and possibly in the future, engine management. The low spec processor will also mean there won't be excess heat to try and manage. The ITX form factor will also allow for less space requirements.
I will use a Seagate 160GB HDD which should be plenty of space for music and the required software.
Wireless LAN will be accessed via a NetGear 802.11G USB dongle, connected via a USB extension cable. Once everything is running smoothly i will look at getting a vodafone datacard for wireless internet.
The screen will be a 7" LCD display and i will mount that according to NZ WOF laws. There will also be small form-factor wireless keyboard and mouse. Eventually the mouse won't be required as i will switch to a TFT touch screen.
All of this will connect to an amplifier unit for sound and i will eliminate the current headdeck. FM radio will be supplied via a USB Radio dongle. Navigation information will be accessed via a GPS USB dongle. CD drive will be unnecissary once the OS is installed.
Once i have the basics up and running i will integrate Hondata into the mix.
All wiring will be hidden and when not in use, the idea is that none of the components will be seen.
Operating System Software
I will run this all from Windows 2000 Professional unless i can figure out how to port Hondata and GPS navigation across to FreeBSD, of which i am currently compiling my own build.
OK so i've started a new project and i'm going to purchase these parts bit by bit as i'm a poor student at the moment. I will be updating this thread as often as i can.
Parts
The main housing will be a custom built alloy case for the mainboard, PSU and HDD. This will have rubber shock mounts on the bottom and also rubber surrounding the HDD. The case is going to be fitted behind the glovebox and will have a cold air intake and exhust ports ( ).
I will be using the M1-ATX Car-PC PSU, this should take care of any surges when the car starts and will mean i don't have to build my own PSU.
I chose to use a VIA EPIA mini-ITX mainboard which has processor, sound, LAN and video onboard. I will be using 256MB of DDR RAM. This setup should be more than plenty for playing music, browsing the internet, accessing GPS and possibly in the future, engine management. The low spec processor will also mean there won't be excess heat to try and manage. The ITX form factor will also allow for less space requirements.
I will use a Seagate 160GB HDD which should be plenty of space for music and the required software.
Wireless LAN will be accessed via a NetGear 802.11G USB dongle, connected via a USB extension cable. Once everything is running smoothly i will look at getting a vodafone datacard for wireless internet.
The screen will be a 7" LCD display and i will mount that according to NZ WOF laws. There will also be small form-factor wireless keyboard and mouse. Eventually the mouse won't be required as i will switch to a TFT touch screen.
All of this will connect to an amplifier unit for sound and i will eliminate the current headdeck. FM radio will be supplied via a USB Radio dongle. Navigation information will be accessed via a GPS USB dongle. CD drive will be unnecissary once the OS is installed.
Once i have the basics up and running i will integrate Hondata into the mix.
All wiring will be hidden and when not in use, the idea is that none of the components will be seen.
Operating System Software
I will run this all from Windows 2000 Professional unless i can figure out how to port Hondata and GPS navigation across to FreeBSD, of which i am currently compiling my own build.
Comments
thats freakin' awesome
Part of the point is that its not going to be seen and its not easily removable.
Even rubber mounted...I'd be a little leery, especially the hard drive.
And I wasn't suggesting a green-eclipse-Fast-and-Furious style laptop, but a laptop mounted in a hidden location, like under the seat with a remote monitor/screen.
That would be sick.
Good luck with the BSD port. I'm a Linux guy, and I've done some Windows programming, so if there's anything I can do to help, let me know.
Although, i do recall the days of harddrives that would be upset by even the slightest of bumps..
Judebert, i now know who to hit up when i have porting woes... Thanks!
Ie, thumb drives hold up better?
Seems a 8g could hold a os and some apps
and have others for data base/songs what not
Seems to me that laptops could be had for real cheap these days
as Mtx setups still havent really droped in price to much
any way good luck
Maybe because I still have to deal with stuff from those days...
mITX board - $100
160GB HDD - $80
256MB DDR - $30
NetGear 802.11g USB dongle - $40
LCD - undecided
KB & mouse - undecided
Then once the main system is up and running i'll start adding stuff. Those prices are NZD by the way.
http://crf50.no-ip.com/fourthgenhatch/discchanger.html
...its meant for CD changers but the theory still applies, right?
Thats a good idea and similar to something i dreamt of last night (weird huh?)..
You know those microphones used by recording studios that have those rubber bands going in all directions to stop rattle? Very similar to that.