Need help with carputer

[Lamb]

I'm looking to build a carputer for audio (mostly), video and GPS.

What parts should I use?

- I'd need a 7inch touchscreen (so it fits the dash)
- Do I need a sound card to get better sound from my speakers? (I plan to add a subwoofer+amplifier to my audio also)
- Is it safe for an HDD in a car or an SSD would be more safe?
- Dangerous to have a carputer in winter? (-40C not good for the PC?)

Thanks!

Here's what I've been eyeing so far;

Motherboard (Needs WiFi so I can transfer data from my PC); NCIX.com - Buy Zotac H55ITX-A-E MINI-ITX Core I3/I5 LGA1156 H55 DDR3 PCI-E16 SATA WiFi Audio Video Motherboard - H55ITX-A-E In Canada.

CPU; NCIX.com - Buy Intel Core i3 530 Dual Core Processor Clarkdale LGA1156 2.93GHZ Hyperthreading 4MB Cache Retail Box - BX80616I3530 In Canada.

DDR3; NCIX.com - Buy G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL Ripjaws PC3-12800 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Core i5 1.5V Memory Kit - F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL In Canada.

HDD; NCIX.com - Buy Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB SATA2 7200RPM 16MB 8.9MS 3.5IN NCQ Hard Drive OEM 3YR MFR Warranty - WD5000AAKS In Canada.

Blu-Ray; NCIX.com - Buy Liteon IHOS104 4X BLU-RAY Reader BD-ROM Drive SATA Black OEM - IHOS104-06 In Canada.

Touchscreen (something like that) ; 7 Inch Touchscreen LCD with VGA LCD Monitors + TV on eBay.ca (item 260627422571 end time 29-Jul-10 00:46:16 EDT)

Need case? Which PSU?

[_dangtx_]

you could do that or get a used 100 dollar netbook and a 20 dollar adapter for the car plug cigarette lighter thing and off you go.

[Lamb]

Originally Posted by _dangtx_

you could do that or get a used 100 dollar netbook and a 20 dollar adapter for the car plug cigarette lighter thing and off you go.

I already have a car plug cigarette adapter for my Ipod, that I paid more than 20$ , but it sucks dinosaur balls... I'd like quality stuff

[dustin1706]

The computer components sound fine. You don't really need to worry about a mobo w/ wifi built in, as you can always pick up a usb wifi adapter.

I've considered this before, and there are two... well not even problems, but decisions to make.

1. Power. You either need to find a 12v input power supply or, you need to run an inverter and a normal 110v PSU. Inverters are pretty cheap these days, but still, you have to buy one and find a place to install it.

2. Sound output. Your car speakers won't just directly hook up to your PC. You will need an amp. Then you can just run a 3.5mm to RCA cable from the PC to the amp.

Also, It won't be cheap by the time you get your computer, amplifier, inverter?, screen(s), gps reciever etc.etc. (crappy screens can be had for cheap, but decent ones are still pretty expensive)

Check out the Garmin USB 18xusb reciever. I have one and it works great. Garmin GPS 18x Serial and USB GPS Receivers at The GPS Store

Check out mp3car.com They a store and a forum about exactly this.

I ended up just getting a top of the line Kenwood GPS/DVD unit with backupcam XM etc... I can hook up an ipod or memory stick to it with movies and music and control everthing on screen. Cost was about 2k CDN by the time I got the unit and all the adapters and such. I admit, a self built carputer would be cooler if done right, but it will probably take some time and money to track down all the parts and find a control software that you like.

[Lamb]

I do plan on getting an amp for the sub I will add so this is not an issue.

I think in the end the only small issue will be the powering, what to choose...but I have plenty of time to think about this :)

Thanks for your input!

Or something else could be done as I will need a laptop for school anyway? And may not want to end up paying 2k simply for audio in my car hahaha...thinking about it that's quite a bit of money there just for my car ^^ I'd have to check for some sort of usb connector that I could add to my dash...mmm

[Perineum]

Car PC, 12V Vehicle Computers, the makers of VoomPC

That will have a lot of what you need.... dammit, now I'm all hot and bothered to make one too. GAH.

[Lamb]

After posting on mp3car.com I've been told ''Why the i3 instead of an atom based setup?''

What a brilliant idea!

Motherboard/CPU; NCIX.com - Buy Intel D510MO MINI-ITX Atom D510 NM10 DDR2 PCI PCI-E-MINI SATA GBLAN Audio Motherboard - BOXD510MO In Canada.
RAM; NCIX.com - Buy G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ PC2-6400 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-800 CL5-5-5-15 240PIN Dual Channel Memory Kit - F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ In Canada.

PSU; M3-ATX 125 Watt - Smart Automotive Power Supply

with the same HDD, based off window 7, cuts the price a little bit! Not like a carPC is needing that much power I guess. :) The PC itself would come down to ~320$ + the screen for 300$ and another 300$ for the audio, not too bad!

@ Perineum: Haha man it's quite hard to resist when it comes to make a new PC whatever the use ^^