7 replies to this topic

[KGB]

Hey guys, I just got a new car and figured that was a good excuse to start from scratch with my car audio system.
I'm considering a car pc system and hope to keep it under $1000, including FM radio, BT and GPS.
Here's the plan so far and a possible build:

M4-ATX PSU from Ebay = $87 --> busted, got refund, need to keep looking or try to have repaired.

PC from Pioneer Computers (local) = $408
(Atom Processor, 1gb ram, 160gb hd assembled in case)

Lilliput 701 Screen, Radio Shark 2 Radio Adaptor, Pana Slot Load DVD drive, Powermate Knob from MP3.com = $490

BT USB already have

GPS receiver from DX = $40

The total is around a grand but now I'll have to keep searching for a PSU as well. Software will be freeware to start with, don't want to dump heaps of cash until I at least try out a few options and see whats what.
For audio I'll be hooking it up to a 4 channel amp (probably my Earthquake PH2200/4) and running my Morel Elates in the front and Rainbow Vanadium 8" sub in a ported box.

What am I forgetting? What problems do you see? Is anything a waste of time/money or could be substituted? If I go ahead with this it won't be for a month or so at least when I go back to work but I'm inclined to go with the "do it right, do it once" approach.

BTW, the new car is a Toyota Caldina.
Cheers.

Edited by KGB, 22 January 2010 - 09:18 AM.

[KGB]

Hmmm, second thoughts now as to whether its worth the cost. My Pioneer 7850BT does a good job with the tunes and BT, a new Tomtom to replace my fried one is only $180 and I can always plug in the ipod to the aux port.
It would be nowhere near as cool though and lack major storage for MP3's. DVD would be missing but I guess there's plenty of time to add that crap since my wife is still early days with our first....

That would make the audio system:
Pio 7850BT HU
Morel Elate front (2 way)
Rainbow Vanadium 8" sub
Earthquake 4ch amp
That would still be fine for a simple system, considering I've still got a whole roll of SD raammat (ie more than a dynamat bulk pack). Pretty much no $$$ outlay except for a new sat nav.

$$$ and time will be the deciding factor I think!

[nicr4wks]

I've been toying on and off with a car pc for the past year, I've got a Lilliput 629-GL in a bybyte doubledin case. The Lilliput is alright at night, having a resistive touch screen is a huge pain as it only works well with my fingernail, and when sunlight is around it makes the screen hard to see.

All of the front end software packages are extremely average with Centrafuse 3.0 being the best I've used so far, but it isn't free, and it doesn't render it's graphics on the GPU so you need a rather fast CPU.

However it is extremely useful to have all of your music & videos ready to go, you can grab a relay board and control certain parts of your car, display information about your car, gps logging of your trips, etc.

If you are willing to put in the hours and dollars, have a good understanding of PC's\car electronics and enjoy tinkering, a carpc can be very enjoyable and rewarding.

If you however aren't prepared to put in the hours and dollars, give it a miss. The initial setup and weeks of configuration can be enough to send you in to a homicidal rage.

[Big_Valven]

I have to +1. They are tempting machines indeed, but the cost and complexity will shock you these days. Getting it right is a daunting prospect even for those experienced in computers.

With double DIN media headunits doing more and more these days I see a time when the car PC is just not viable.

[PIONEERallTHEway]

Big_Valven, on Jan 28 2010, 10:38 PM, said:

I have to +1. They are tempting machines indeed, but the cost and complexity will shock you these days. Getting it right is a daunting prospect even for those experienced in computers.

With double DIN media headunits doing more and more these days I see a time when the car PC is just not viable.

hey mate i dont know what this baby costs. apparently it isnt released yet but is soon to be released. but i found an option audio media unit with bluetooth,gps,high def tv and windows 7 by the looks. check it out coz it looks to be right down your alley. except i got a feeling itll be a little outta your budget.

[HEKYEH]

Here's a link for it

http://www.optionaud...mart_autopc.php

[KGB]

Cool, looks pretty nice going by the limited info available. I agree it will likely be pretty pricey though as well!

[268669♫]

http://www.cartft.com/

Not australian but great site to build your own car pc.

Ant