Going to go for a carputer!

Hi All,

After some advice really, going to order a carputer to sit in the boot and run either centrafuse or roadrunner software, might even try both and decide after that!

I am going to mount a 7" touch screen monitor in the centre console, taking out the factory fitted unit obviously. I'm going to use my JVC HU as an amp as i want to still have radio etc, i'm not sure where to mount the HU though, anybody got any good ideas?

I was thinking of installing it directly beneath the a/c heated rear window and air circulation button console? Does anyone know if i could get it in there? At the moment there is just a black covering panel.

Or, i could ditch the radio and use my cheap but fully functional amp to juice up the PC audio output and then buy myself a usb radio receiver for the PC?

Any ideas will considered, although your ideas may be plagiarized and as such not liable for any kind of payout.......

Well mate i would suggest that you keep the HU it does make things a lot easier. You should only mount the comp in the boot if you are using solid state due to vibrations if not i would try and keep it as far to the front as poss. May i ask what your intentions of use for this is as the spec build and installation is very dependant on that.

Basically i'd like to have a touch screen for access to all my music files, i have loads on my ipod and pc.

I might even try and connect sat nav to it and my moby for hands free. But i'll be doing it as and when and most important is that i don't want to rush it!

Yeah its not something that you rush i have had mine since Jan and havnt even got the software up and running yet. If you are a bit of a noob at this like well pretty much the whole world i would suggest you find a book called funnily enough How to build a car PC it does help get your head around it and show you exactly what to do. Dnt 4 get that you prob wont actually be able to play direct from Ipod with any decent Sound Quality so you really want to rely on the Hard Drive also solid state would not take long to fill up especially of you plan to have other software like Sat Nav. If you get any usefull info though just stick it up here for us to have a read.

OK, i will do. I'm looking at vibration and shock protection for HDD's, failing that i'll probably do a cockpit install......

will have to wait and see!

Solid state isn't completely necessary unless you plan on rallying with it. Most laptop hard disks are rated at about 300G @ 2ms which is ALOT. Anyone see Kovalinens crash ar Barcelona at the weekend? 140mph > 0 mph in about 50ms = around 120G.

You'd need to hit a ruddy big pothole to break a laptop hard disk. Even so, if you do want to protect your disk a little then some thick rubber grommets would be good, or mount it it in a 3.5in hard disk caddy with foam left and right and a square in the middle of the disk top and bottom. Might also do with a little fan to get air flow over it but they are very low power so wont get as hot as a normal 3.5 disk.

IMO SS isnt the way to go just yet! Not until it's nearer the price of magnetic storage!

Just my 2p!

OK, purchased a car computer and 7" screen, the carputer has a 2.5" laptop drive mounted on anti-shock and anti-vibration fixings, so i should be ok.

May even try and photograph what i do and upload it as well.

First thing i'm going to do is to make everything work outside of the car.....

Thank FCUK somebody who talks some sense how many computers do you think are installed in all race cars. I have been saying that having to use solid state is a load of rubbish for ages. The only thing that i would say is that the boot is not ideal if you have a large system as this could cause problems a 1000w RMS of bass may be a cause for concern but the sheer size of the magnet interfeering is my main one but even then the amps are fine sooooo.

Which one did you get and have you decided to use road runner yet or not. Please Keep me informed as it is the software bit that i really am struggling with.

OK, first off, i should admit that i'm a so called 'IT Expert' because i work as an ICT Network Manager, so i called some people up and they all said laptop drives are perfectly fine in a car, and have uprated tolerence levels for shock and vibration!

I purchased the carputer and screen from the same place, see the links below

Carputer - http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=11825
7" Touchscreen - http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=10773

I've looked ar Road Runner and for free it looks ok. But support wise its a mish-mash of forums, and you can only get help when somebody else has experienced and fixed the same problem. Also had trouble connecting my mobile phone to it as well.

Centrafuse, on the other hand, looks better, feels better and just works! Hence the cost, so i'm not sure at the moment. I think that i will have to persevere with RR until i can afford to buy Centrafuse.

Eventually i want to have Sat-Nav, Music, Video and hands free.

I'll also mention that at this point i will not be looking at upgrading the factory installed speakers. I'm not inclined for the big audio setups, if i can hear it and understand it, then that's fine with me.

Will keep you posted. Expecting delivery of the bits tomorrow.

Solid state storage looks and sounds good, but way too expensive and way too small in storage space. I did consider running the OS via USB stick on memory card but decided HDD is required for storage of my music, i can even rip some dvd's (which i own) onto the drive and keep my niece quiet when needed!

Your Right RR does seem to be the best for free software.

Have you had any thoughts on wiring it on bench. This is what i have which i presume the PSU is similar to yours.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-0Ghz-Carpute...dZp1638Q2em122
I think its a three pin i can only think of a Model train tranformer which is 12v if you can help me get it powered up i should be able to send you one as i am closely involved with Hornby.

Just seen this just need US Adapter.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Modified-AC-to...742.m153.l1262

You PC looks nice, looks better than mine!

I'm not sure what the wiring is for for the power supply, my plan is to build the pc and then run it outside of the car with a set of hi-fi speakers connected to my, which will all be powered by a long power capable gel battery (used on wheelchairs!)

So i'll connect the pc, amp and touch screen to that battery and test it till i'm happy with it. I may even use the gel battery as the power source with it put in the boot - i can then attach a solar powered panel to the battery which will trickle charge it during our sunny days! How cool is that!

Alternatively i would imagine that 12v transformer should work, as long as its not pushing out too much amperage.

The PSU off ebay looks like a low power laptop power supply which has been cut up and has re-soldered ends! But if it does the job!

When i was setting up RR i had alot of help from mp3car.com and digital-car.co.uk.

Pretty much all of the issues i faced were covered.

Road Runner isnt a particularly complicated program to fix anyway!