I just got a 08 X and it came with the nav unit, I was really excited until I used this thing. I would rather use my Droid 1 cell phone instead. So I want to sell it and build a carputer for it. That being said:

Do all of the speaker wires terminate at the OEM rockford fosgate amp? If so, could I just throw a better 4 channel under the seat and be g2g?

Plus i think that with the battery being located in the trunk the entire wiring of a custom system should be a bit smoother.

If anyone hs any Ideas or experience it would be great. what would be the best way to go? just buy a dual core atom nettop or build my own?

Also what it the biggest touchscreen I can fit in the mmcs hole that will be left over.

Thanks guys

 

I 110% agree with you! I wish I had done my homework on the MMCS, I would have not gotten it if I had known what a complete turd floater it is.

 

Well the good new is now I can ebay my mmcs and build an extremely nice car pc without spending an extra money. My question is if I should get a dual core atom with or without an ION IGP.

Also how would I hook the 6 channel audio up to get 4.1 sound in my car instead of just stereo.

so much stuff to research ahhhhh.

 

No need for a dual core. You want to minimize heat and noise in this particular setup.

For a carputer, the important things in the computer itself (netbook is a good start) are low power consumption, silent, small and quick start-up. You do not need dual core, nor do you need much memory. You'll likely be running RoadRunner?

Do a lot of research on the screen to see where you want to draw the line between price and quality and I don't know if I'd recommend using the existing bezel from your MMCS as the screen size is not standard at all. The JDM bezel is literally OEM quality and standard screen size, I believe you can throw a 7" touch screen in that, as well as the cheaper Scrothe or w/e and the even cheaper one that I will not mention because nobody should ever have to deal with that piece.

You want to minimize effects of glare and get good resolution out of your screen. Low end touch screens will run $150 (Lilliput - eBay) to $500 (Xenarc - mp3car) and even $700 anti-glare that can be seen in direct sunlight (Lilliput - mp3car special).

There's mini-ITX platform boxes available from mp3car.com and maybe you can get ideas from them and shop elsewhere for the same types of things for possibly cheaper.

Some easy requirements to meet and ideas for consideration:

1.6Ghz Intel Atom Processor (dual core not necessary, only adds heat and power consumption)

1gb ram

160gb+ hard drive
OR
40gb+ solid-state hard drive, will need 60 or 80 if you want Windows 7 in 64-bit which is overkill

WiFi or 3G card can be plugged in to a USB port

Navi software usually comes with a GPS mouse (antenna) to plug in to USB

 

awesome advice my friend, thank you.

I will more than likely been running centerfuse. Is there an iGo nav option for that? I've used it in the past and love the 3d and smoothness of it, plus custom car (blue evo icon ftw).

I have win 7 32 bit i can throw on there and left over ddr 2 from an old computer, so i'll probably build myself.

As far as boot times, i use the SSD/HDD hybrid 500gb in another machine and love it to death, probably get another one.

The reason I was asking about 8" was because I've seen the 7" double din setups and really don't like the half inch ir bezel on the right side.

Here is what i'm planning:

7 or 8 " screen
single core atom
3 gb ram
500 ssd hybrid
gps
hd radio
bluetooth and wifi for tethering internet from droid
obdII for data logging and such
4 channel amp replacement under the seat for ease of wiring

where would be the best place to install pc? I read somewhere on here about on the right of the glove box.

thanks for your help.

 

A little bit of work with the dremel and you can get a 8" to fit in there

 

ok so i looked on revo-sys.com and they post mechanical drwaing of there open frame displays (nice).

8" open frame 16:9

6.993" x 3.951"

7" open frame 16:9

6.055" x 3.655"

Now I just have to remove the front panel and do some measuring yay. I really like the way my stock bezel looks with the silver accent and the RF logo (since I have the system and all).

I think i have figured out the startup and shutdown stuff and all, the power supply i'll be using has a 12v out for remote screen on and off and an anti "bump" relay for amp on/off.

so all-in-all, the way i want to do it is:

turn on key - computer comes out of sleep/monitor turns on/ 5 seconds later amp turns on.

would i be able to run the stock sub with an aftermarket amp without blowing it up?

will any aftermarket 10" subs fit in the enclosure?

 

install the main components of it under the passenger or driver seat

 

I'm actually considering doing the same thing. So it can hook up to my Kenwood DNX 9140 with EvoScan and see my digital gauges.

Here are my open ended questions:
1) How can we set it up so it automatically starts up and turns off when the car is started?
2) Will windows CE be adequate for this?

I found this: http://www.dashwerks.com/dw_dssc.php

I wonder how easy it is to integrate with existing carputers. I have built 50+ pcs in my life, so not worried about doing it, just getting it right.

 

This got me thinking as well...

I might be intersted in doing this as building it is a piece a cake....it's the fit/finish software side, I'm nervous about.

Centrafuse looks great, and plug in support seems nice as well.

Are you guys building a case to fit all components in-dash in the OEM location, or are you hiding the PC and just installing the Screen in the OEM location?

Edit...

Also, side note, what do the MMC units usually sell for on Ebay and what is general cost of Carputer $600?

 

Would this work in-dash guys?

http://store.mp3car.com/Black_Double.../enc-032-b.htm

 

I built a car pc in my lancer gts utilizing the stock 6 disc RF unit, initially a mini laptop but then built my own car pc that sits under the passenger seat and a lilliput touch screen.

here are some old pics

http://s470.photobucket.com/albums/r...puter/?start=0

i WAS running roadrunner but now have centrafuse 3 it is much better.


Intel BOXD945GCLF Intel Atom processor 230 Intel 945GC Mini ITX (65.00)

PNY Optima 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) (35.00)

SLim mini itx case that fits nicely under the passenger seat (100)

M2-ATX (160w) Intelligent DC-DC Car PC Power Supply (85.00)

Lilliput intelligent touchscreen with bybyte double din kit (200)

scosche dash kit (40)

Ground loop iso (20)

I did this build on a budget so yes the processor is basic , 2 years ago as I was at the time saving for a house, flash forward to now carpc is still running great and ive been in my house for a year now


oh yeah forgot to mention im running a standard laptop hdd as it was leftover from a laptop my brother broke ...boot up time is less than 40 seconds or so by th etime im pulling out of my street to the first light centrafuse is loaded and playing music.

 

Did the Car PC Power supply turn off the computer based on the key? That's my biggest question.

 

M2-ATX (160w) Intelligent DC-DC Car PC Power Supply (85.00)


look up that power supply its great and yes it does, mine has a 30 second or a minute delay (i forget what its set to) and it doenst just turn off the computer it properly shuts it down.

 

The best power supply for a car pc is the PicoPSU 125w M3 ATX.
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/m3_atx

You hook up a lead to your ignition so the computer automatically turns on and off when you start or shut off the car.

Use Centrafuse for your Car PC interface over the top of XP or Windows 7.

For the computer hardware, I'd recommend a LGA775 based board -- the ZOTAC GF9300-G-E. It has everything you need on it and higher performance nvidia graphics. Just add a low power processor like Intel e3400, a 60GB SSD (saves drive life for road bumps & boots fast), and a 4GB RAM kit.