Horsepower? Nah...Computing Power

[Straz85]

A couple weeks ago I was talking to my friend who is building a carputer for his '03 RSX Type S Turbo and realized that I can have in dash nav, Vag Com (on board), bluetooth, all my MP3's on-board w/out an iPod, all for well under a grand, so I decided to build one myself. I did some research, started ordering parts.

Here's what I've ordered/have so far:

-Lilliput EBY701 7" touchscreen
-Intel motherboard w/ Celeron 215, 533 MHz bus Mini ITX Motherboard
-Crucial 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 533 memory
-Hitachi deskstar 80GB 7200RPM IDE drive
-Turtle Beach Riviera 5.1 PCI sound card
-M2-ATX 160W mini-ITX PSU
-Custom screen bezel (purchased from blackvento36)
-Linksys 802.11g USB Wireless Network Adapter
-Dell CD ROM
-VAG-COM License with Micro-CAN Interface
-Navibe GPS antenna
-Flexible PCI riser
-Case fan
-USB extension cables
-VGA extension cable
-Amp install kit
-Custom case

This is enough to get me up and running with all my MP3's and Vag-Com.

Below is what I still need:

-4 channel amp
-Bluetooth adapter
-AM/FM transmitter
-USB Hub
-I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting, I'll update as I go...

Software I'll be using:

-Windows XP Pro
-iGuidance navigation
-Phone Control (for bluetooth)
-Roadrunner (This is the front end, basically an interface, but very extensive)




Justification/How I sleep at night:
If I didn't build this, I'd want the following:
-Aftermarket Nav: $1000
-iPod interface: $100
-Parrot bluetooth: $200
-Vag-Com: $250
TOTAL: $1550
My carputer's going to cost me $800-$900 when all is said and done and I will have all of the above, plus my Vagcom will be on board at all times, and I won't need the separate iPod for my music. Plus the coolness factor alone is worth a lot...

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Here's a mockup of where everything's going to live. The red is the actual hardware and the cardboard is the case I'm making for it.



Pay no attention to the labels I wrote on the cardboard (in pen), just the red photoshop lettering, some of it is wrong. I'll also be throwing the wireless adapter in there somewhere, but not in the case because it's already in a nice strong plastic case. There's so much room between the MB and HDD because there's a lot of cables (5 USB devices will be connected directly to the MB and another 3 to a powered USB hub). Also, the HDD will sit in some sort of soft foam for added shock absorption.


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Here's some shots of me testing everything yesterday...

All the parts laid out on the table. Kinda funny seeing the parts all over the place with the computer running. On the left is an old P3 I was going to use the PSU from just to run the carPC in my apartment, but it didn't have a 2x2 output, just 10x2, and my MB needs a 2x2 to run as well, so I had to grab the one from my other desktop.


Motherboard, power supply from my desktop, dvd burner from my desktop, PCI sound card w/ flexible riser


The cat was getting curious, right after I took that she was getting too close the MB for comfort so I made her move.


I had to take a bunch of parts from my desktop to use for the carPC, won't need them once it's in my car though.


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I'll hopefully have everything completed by Thanksgiving.

[ARRRRRRRR32]

damn thats one hell of a project. keep us updated. i want to see how it turns out.

[eurostylzmk4]

looks nice Brett, I contemplated this awhile ago when a fellow audizine member was selling his setup. As for the cool factor you could have hunted down the uber rare in dash vag-port module.. I forget who made it though. But it looks like it should turn out nice

[Handeye]

I guess the nav sofware doesn't have to run from the CDROM.

Are you going to be using a shuttle case? We use a really small power supply for one of my controllers at work. If you want I could track down who makes it.

[JFryauff]

Doesn't look like enough gigabytes...start over!

[Straz85]

Originally Posted by Handeye

I guess the nav sofware doesn't have to run from the CDROM.

Are you going to be using a shuttle case? We use a really small power supply for one of my controllers at work. If you want I could track down who makes it.

I just copied the Maps folder to the HDD and it works fine like that, otherwise yes, you would need to leave the CD ROM in.

I'm making my own case that will fit around my spare tire. And I have a PSU made for carPC's that's 6" x 1.77" x .8", it has an integrated startup/shutdown controller which will put the PC in hibernate when ignition is cut and take it out of hibernate when the car is started. It's called the M2-ATX

[Tran1.8t]

that a damn cool project, I wouldnt mind doing something like that one day

[shedpress]

Awesome project, Brett. I take it you will have sufficient cooling within the custom case? Keep us updated.

[Straz85]

Originally Posted by silverGTI

Awesome project, Brett. I take it you will have sufficient cooling within the custom case? Keep us updated.

Cooling usually isn't an issue with these. I am putting in two 80mm fans nonetheless.

[Handeye]

Originally Posted by Straz85

I just copied the Maps folder to the HDD and it works fine like that, otherwise yes, you would need to leave the CD ROM in.

I'm making my own case that will fit around my spare tire. And I have a PSU made for carPC's that's 6" x 1.77" x .8", it has an integrated startup/shutdown controller which will put the PC in hibernate when ignition is cut and take it out of hibernate when the car is started. It's called the M2-ATX

That M2-ATX looks a lot like the ones we use in our controller.

This is a sweet project. I may have to do something like this. And concidering the cost of a simple nav unit, I might end up with one.

[Straz85]

Originally Posted by Handeye

That M2-ATX looks a lot like the ones we use in our controller.

This is a sweet project. I may have to do something like this. And concidering the cost of a simple nav unit, I might end up with one.

Yeah...as long as you can deal with a few weeks of issues from putting together your own unit, it's worth it. I'm not sure how good you are with computers, only suggestion I have for people is if you aren't great at problem solving computer issues or don't have someone very readily available who is graet at it, don't undertake this project. I happen to work in IT so it's right up my alley.

[turb7]

that's such a useful and cool project! be sure to keep us posted

[tyama2891]

Looks good!
i don't think cooling will be a problem b/c ur running a celeron, not something like a quad core
but just a sugesstion, make the case tall enough that the heat can escape to some fan on the side of the case, or put the case fans directly on top of the CPU/cpu cooler

fan on top of the hdd maybe
im assuming you're going to take the liner (is that what its called) and cut it out so the case sticks out while still covering the wheel and stuff right

[db]

Brett great start you are farther than I ever was...when I started building mine for my MP3 three years into it they came out with the iPod. I stopped. Anyhoo do you still need an amp? I may have one for you.

[Straz85]

Originally Posted by db

Brett great start you are farther than I ever was...when I started building mine for my MP3 three years into it they came out with the iPod. I stopped. Anyhoo do you still need an amp? I may have one for you.

Yes, I do. Watcha got?