this is a repost that i posted on other forums i visit. my carputer has change a bit since then. i am working on a new center console. my components arent chillen on the floor anymore. but recently my screen fried, im getting a xenarc now and i will be doing a backup cam



I got a carputer that i built, hope you guys dig.
i am one of the very few who has mine behind the dash. basically you can do 2 things. have a whole computer like your house one and hook it up an inverter(which i dont recomend). or buy small parts. let me give u a part list of what i have

M2atx 160watt power supply with a built in startup shutdown controller(startupshutdowncontroller maintains the voltage when engine cranks and will automatically start the computer when key is inserted and turned) $80

7in widescreen Lilliput vga touchscreen $250

Via M10000 miniItx motherboard $184(its darn small,there is a new smaller one called an Nano itx but its way too expensive.

GPS usb reciver $80

iGuidance(gps software/maps) $100

Slot loaded dvd rom/burner $85(cheapest at zip zoom fly .com mp3 car charges 184 for it )

Laptop harddrive $80(use a laptop HDD because it can withstand heat and shock much better than a 3.5) in the pic is a 3.5 hdd i was using at the time. i may go back to that again

converter for laptoHDD to IDE $3
converter for laptop dvd drive to ide $3
512 stick of ram $ 50

200 watt wiring kit(car stereo wiring kit $20 (used my friends discount at bestbuy)

and then a Hu with an AUX i used my Alpine 9847.
the rca to headphone cable.
and if you got the cash get a usb soundcard($30 at amazon)

you are lookin around $935 just for what i have without the soundcard(i did not add the HU price either) so $935is a lot cheaper than paying like $1000-$3000 for the kenwoods,pioneers, and eclipses dvd screen units.

I can watch movies while i drive(if i wanted too) gps works well,the fact that all my music is on a hard disc thats great. I even wired my startup to my remote start so when i remote start ,i come to my car and windows is booted already. But if you install tiny xp your computer will boot in 5seconds flat9tiny xp is windows xp,except cut down to like i think 240mb,uses 64mb of ram. add a usb wireless card for $10 also go surf the web.

check out my pictures
before

after



Couldnt flush mount well ,dvd/cd drive kept crushing and i couldnt get the dvd in

nice setup

Did you do the screen surround yourself ?

Keep track of heat - some in-dash setups need to have additional fans to push the air out , and also some cars can get hot air coming through the gearstick surround - heated from the exhaust pipes and engine bay

from your experience with tinyxp thus far, what are its limitations? what have they cut out to make it down to that size?

Screen molded myself with a friend(more credit to him), i am tearing it down soon though, my Lilliput fried on me so i will be purchasing a Xenarc now, which means new mold. I get to do a backup cam finally now with this xenarx automatic switching.

i dont have any heat problems, but i did put an extra fan in there to keep air circulated.

I am not using tiny xp, i wanted to but my Centrafuse frontend wouldnt work with it

Tiny xp is cut out with all the networking features and a various of automatic drivers.


My goal was to try to keep everything OEM look as possible

Hey thanks for your PM from SMD.com, looks like your carputer is coming along nicely

Actually im in the process of a rebuild. my lcd is fried, so now im saving for a Xenarc w/ video inputs for backup cam. Once i get the new lcd i will relocate computer to trunk and run the wires to the front for lcd. i am however going to wait til i have everything ready so i dont have to take out my seats twice.

list of things to buy

- Lots of sound deadener to put on the floor,eliminate road noise
- some sort of new sound processor, looking at an h701 or a Drive30 to go all active
- set of midrange domes or ribbons, looking at DLS or Hertz
- fiberglass and resin
- new SI mag
- lots of 1/0awg wire, and various wires
- security screws
- wire loom
- and so on and on ....

basically im doing a full rebuild, and im going to do it right

Dont get the 8.4" Xenarc. Its the ONLY model that doesnt have reverse cam autoswitch (fkn PoS). They didnt tell me that when I asked - found out the hard way . It does have a great 800x600 native res though.

wont be an issue, since i can only fit a 7" widescreen

good looking bro

cheers

btw what kinda soundcard/sound processor are you using to go active?