Does anyone have an in car PC? If so, where did you get it and how do you like it. I am looking for GPS, WIFI and central information for all my guages instead of pods. Thanks.

 

Don't have one in my car.

However we run a 12 volt Xenarc Technologies system in our Helicopter and it works great!

 

I think Wiretap has one installed in his X. Most are assembled by the owners themselves, using a small-form factor PC and in-dash display, but I've also seen a few that are being sold as all-in-one double-din units with the software already installed.

You can try reading the forums over at MP3car.com ..they're about the best source of info around for anything carputer related.

 

I would love to find a good one.

 

Crutchfield used to sell the Azentek Atlas double-din carputer (LINK), but it's been listed as discontinued for quite a while.

Mp3car's store sells the Guru double-din (LINK), but it's listed as "experimental".

Also found this one by NISU (LINK) that looks nice, but unfortunately there's no specs listed and it doesn't even seem to be for sale anywhere.

Other than finding an all-in-one double-din carputer, you pretty much just have to build up a system of separate components yourself (ie, double-din monitor, mini-itx computer w/automotive power supply, gps receiver, am/fm receiver, amplifiers, and front-end user interface like Centrafuse or Road Runner).

 

Dont go the all-in-one route... its too expensive and you cant replace failed parts or upgrade them.

Piece it together with a small form factor installed in your trunk that connects to a touchscreen up front. Can get your wifi, hd radio, great audio and any other gadgets you want. Just make sure that the software you choose, you read the reviews. Some of the car operating systems have really crappy GPS built in.

 

Just so you guys know, There should never be a need to run any of the core or athlon X2 or phenom series CPUs in a carpc. They can get really hot, and considering the turbo and DP are just on the other side of the firewall, it is not at all a good idea to run them in our cars. I would highly recommend building something by yourself using a athlon neo or an atom. Better yet, the newest Fusion CPUs from AMD that include the GPU on the same die as the CPU are going to be released. This will save even more power and run cooler overall.

 

^^ Yeah, but you could always use the speed-stepping feature of the Core CPUs in power management to keep things in check. That, and I'm pretty sure for the double-din units, they're using the Core Duo processors with lower TDP designed for laptops, and not the hotter desktop variants. My Core 2 Duo U7600 TZ usually runs much cooler than my Atom N270 netbook, and they're almost identical in size.

Atom is pretty decent though, but not perfect.. it'll usually handle playing a HQ youtube video just fine, albeit at near its limits.. I'm just not sure how well it could handle multitasking a running GPS app, running audio playback, and any other programs that might be running behind the front-end. Might be okay, but you'd probably be pushing the Atom near its limits almost all of the time.

An Atom powered double-din with an SSD and LED-backlit touchscreen would be a great solution, and would run quite cool.. but I don't know of a company that has ever sold one yet.

BTW, most CPUs usually put out around 70° C where as many turbos can hit well over 1000° C, so I'd imagine the firewall in our cars can handle it. I'm guessing that most of the heat generated by in-dash units is due to the devices having built-in amplification.

 

I haven't installed one in my car, but I have for other people. It is definitely the way to go.

Use a mini-ITX based motherboard with the automotive PICO-PSU power supply. Use a SSD for the hard drive so it is more resistant to heat and bumpy environments. You can build the CarPC for just a few hundred bucks.

I'd recommend one of these screens:
http://www.revo-sys.com/65_inch_doub...pc_monitor.php

It has everything to plug-n-play into the evo and utilize the factory speakers without the need for a separate amp. It also has readily available touchscreen drivers. I've used the Liliput monitors and I have grown to not like them. The quality is shoddy and the touchscreen is one of the worst I've used.

For your OS, use Windows 7 and Centrafuse. It is by far the best software I've used for a CarPC. It does OBD2, GPS, internet, email, phone sync, etc. The skin support makes it match your car color themes too.

EDIT... here's a parts list.

Case: Winsys Winsis Wi-05 mini-ITX w/ 200w PSU (throw out the power supply)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811234032

PSU: 120w DC-DC Pico PSU w/ Automotive Ignition Turn On/Off
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/m3_atx

Motherboard: ZOTAC G41ITX-A-E LGA 775 Intel G41 HDMI Mini ITX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813500047

CPU: Intel e3300 (Wolfdale) Socket 775
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116264

CPU Fan: Silverstone NT07-775 (slim heatsink fan)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835220034

Memory: OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227124

SSD: OCZ Vertex 60GB 2.5'' SSD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227394

Total is a little over $400. (not including a touchscreen)

 

^^^^nice links! thanks for the info...plus its with in a reasonable price!

 

I like centrafuse for its GUI but its GPS has horrible reviews....

 

Yes that is one of the only downsides. What I do for people is put Navteq as a shortcut in the Centrafuse launcher and you're good to go.

 

i run a carpc but i need a 200 hd radio controlled through usb.

ive been radio-less since freaking december. does anyone have an alternative?

http://store.mp3car.com/ProductDetai...ctCode=COM-109

edit: sorry, i didnt mean to high jack the thread... op, youll need to realize this if you plan to use the oem harnesses to power up the carpc because you will be getting rid of your radio...

 

Alternative to just 200 stations? How about internet radio with thousands of stations. just tether your cell phone to get internet while you drive.

 

sorry what i meant was the only option for me to have a radio is buying a $200 module from mp3car. i dont have internet as of this moment in the evo. as for tethering, i have nokia e71, not sure if it can handle itself as an internet source.