Well, after going on at SWMBO about car PCs for about 12 months she's finally conceded that she won't divorce me if I go ahead and do it

So, budgets permitting, I'm on my way

I thought I'd open a thread so I can ask opinions etc.

The list of requirements in my head so far is:

Case - maybe this

ITX Mobo - Via Epia M2 looks interesting if I can stretch to one

At least 512Mb RAM

GPS Receiver

Touch screen monitor

ITPS Power controller - already bought from Ebay

Monitor and USB extension leads to the boot (maybe a USB hub in the dash)

Maybe a USB slot in the dash for loading in MP3s from flash disk

Amp for the speakers if I remove the head unit, or a head unit with Aux input.

I'm thinking of maybe putting the OS on flash disk to improve boot times.

The hardest decision is the screen - in-dash pull out touch screen (expensive - $550 for the only one I can find) or built-in screen in the double DIN hole in the dash (probably involves fabricating a surround - definitely would need to make a mount for it but would look cool)

Any thoughts>

The Sereniti's a good case...however, it uses a 240V AC power supply. So if you're connecting into a car, you'll probably end up removing this and using a DC-DC converter...

Rob.

The Sereniti's a good case...however' date=' it uses a 240V AC power supply. So if you're connecting into a car, you'll probably end up removing this and using a DC-DC converter...

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Good point. Maybe the Cubid cases are a better bet as they already have a 12v internal PSU - probably less expensive overall.

But I like that the Serenti takes a 5 1/4" drive - much cheaper than buying a laptop DVD-ROM and easier to replace if it breaks.

I'm planning to mount the PC box where the CD changer was in the side of my boot - loads of space there and next-to a power socket too. Though I might be better running my own power on a separate fuse. Also I might be able to re-use the in-place cabling for the CD changer for something!

I forgot to mention hard disk - doh! It'll definitely be a 2.5" laptop disk (probably 60Gb) as they're designed to cope with vibration and movement.

I suspect that what you'd save in buying the Cubid would be consumed in buying slimline devices...I think it might actually work out cheaper to get a DC-DC convertor board.

Or, you could get one of those things (the name of which escapes me at this present time), which converts a 12V supply to a 240V AC. Think they're about

I was thinking of maybe using a Griffin PowerMate as a separate volume knob for ease of use whilst driving. Bit expensive though for what they are!

But they look nice.

You could make a DIY i-Drive with one of them...

Rob.

Invertor is what your describing, takes 12v dv up to 240ac. chap ones use a square wave (I think) and that induces interference. Good to test with, but best overall is to get straight to 12v dc.

The other option is take any case, remove power supply and insert an opus power supply.

Or the ITPS in front of the built in 12v dc power supplies.

Look under your boot floor at the foam section, see articles for some screen shots of my install, fits perfectly with some cutting and is out of the way

There's a really good in-depth article on this in the November edition of Custom PC. The December edition has just arrived in the post (I subscribe) so will be the shops any day now, you'll have to hurry.

I didn't think anyone would actually want to do it though....

Has anyone just used a Shuttle XPC?

I've got one sat in front of me and it's ace!

Has anyone just used a Shuttle XPC?

You face a few problems with this:

1. It's a 240V power supply, so you'd need to strip this out and put a DC-DC converter in.

2. Power consumption - Mini-ITX stuff is all very low power consumption, so it has little impact on the battery/alternator.

3. Because Mini-ITX uses less power, it generates less heat - getting a Shuttle well ventilated in a car could be interesting.

4. You'd need to make sure your drives could handle shocks...not so much if you're using laptop stuff, but typical desktop components aren't great for it.

I'm sure there are a few other issues to overcome if you wanted to do this, but these are the first few which came to mind...

Rob.

OK, that's answered that!

I think I'll keep my Shuttle on my desk then! lol

Well the bits are coming together thanks to Ebay!!

There's a PSU, DC-DC converter, case and motherboard coming to me this week. I went for a 533MHz EPIA board - mainly on cost.

I have 512Mb RAM, DVD-ROM (stolen from SWMBO's PC ) and an 8Gb hard disk (might upgrade that later but I reckon I can get 200 albums on there so it should be more than adequate for now)

So I just need lots of testing, then a screen. :-)

And an amp. And a GPS receiver.

197 quid spent so far - but I already had the DVD, HD and RAM.

The 533MHz board is a good choice for in car, as it runs remarkably cool, and you can get away with just putting a heatsink on it rather than a fan too.

Which case did you end up with?

Rob.

I bought my touch screen about a year ago for

I went for the via Sereniti - good size for fitting in the car and also using some of my existing components.

I got a 60w DC-DC converter from linitx.com

As for the screen, I'm torn between the an in-dash pull out one and one like this

bigdaveakers - is that a double DIN hole in your dash? How easy was it to get the screen fitted in there?

I'd like the built-in look you have achieved but I'd rather not modify my dash if I can avoid it as the car is only four months old.

Problem is, the pull-out screen is $550 (about 300 quid) and I can only find it in one place in the US.

It is a double din size hole in my dash (obviously not in a Skoda though :() It was easy enough to fit, just remove the dash and it fits snugly up behind. All I needed to fabricate was a bracket to hold it in place, this is all behind the dash though!

Having the PC in the car is great, all the music I could ever want, going to put a DAB receiver in this winter, DVDs, OBDII, Sat Nav, etc etc etc