Finally finished my car PC

[Designer]

Hey guys, long time no see....

Anyways, i've finally finished building my car PC (still gotta fit it in there), just thought i'd show it off a little first :D

Here's a shot of the empty case with the 12V PSU fitted:
http://www.performancextreme.com/pictures/empty_case.jpg

The Motherboard
http://www.performancextreme.com/pictures/motherboard_out.jpg
Via EPIA-M 1ghZ embedded CPU, with 256MB RAM (crucial DDR400).

Motherboard and everything bar DVD-ROM and HDD mounted
http://www.performancextreme.com/pictures/opencase.jpg

The finished system
http://www.performancextreme.com/pictures/finished.jpg

I managed to rescue the DVD-ROM and the 20GB HDD from that Sony VAIO lappy i had that got filled with a pint of cola. They work sweet as a nut, and the laptop actually was working before i gutted it even after the cola incident.
The monitor is an 8" Newvision 1024*786 touchscreen which can accept standard VGA (touchscreen on separate USB connection) S-VIDEO, and separate Vid/audio feeds via RCA so it should fit in well in the car, now all i gotta do is hurry up and get the software finished.

Still gotta figure out where the heck to the car/PC electronics interface in.

[David M]

Cool...I remember you talking about it a while back.

[Designer]

One thing i'll say against sony is they make slightly abnormal shaped CD drawers on their CD drives which meant i had to trim the sides of the drawer off with my trusty dremel before it would fit :)

Hmmm....maybe a case window next :D

[Panama Red]

Interesting project, Designer. Looking forward to the installation phase!

[Designer]

not sure if you guys remember the thread i started about this ages ago, but i was planning on interfacing the pc to the car's electrics so things can be controlled from tochscreen :), well, I've refined the interface a little since then as the parallel port based one was very cumbersome, bulky and had a slow response but this is the new USB version and it works pretty well (made by Velleman - requires assembly only)

http://images.qballcow.nl/weblog/k8055-k.jpg

it's got a really good polling time, so can be used for real-time gauge readout's like boost pressure or rev counter/speedo. plus it can accept 5 digital inputs from switches and give 8 12V outputs that can operate relays so i can turn stuff on/off from it :D

this is turning out to be a very good little project so far and i'm hoping to have it finished in time for the Trax car show as my car has been booked for a position on the RoverPower stand :D

[Byte 2.0]

put a PCMECH sticker on it :D

Actually very nice work. I am also interested in seeing the installed verison.

[Designer]

I'm hoping to get it installed over the weekend :)

[1badtech]

That's great. Where are you going to mount the PC? Do you mind sharing the parts that you used? I've been meaning to build one but too busy to do the research.

Thanks

[netnamakan]

Very nice job Designer, I remember you talking about this before and I have been looking forward to seeing how it came out. Certainly looks nice, very clean and professional.

Keep us posted :)

[spyder003]

Good job dude, that looks awesome. I wish I had the time, money, and patience for something like that.

[Tin]

excellent....cant wait to see her in action :D. BTW...is that a VIA Epia motherboard?

[Nav]

Outta curiosity, what car is this pc going into? BTW really, really nice work. Ive always wanted to do this but as a high school student, I didnt have the money, or tools, not even a dremel. (sigh). Oh well.

[WolfPac_Ite]

I always wondered how to really pull something off like this. Good job!

[Designer]

excellent....cant wait to see her in action :D. BTW...is that a VIA Epia motherboard?

Yes mate, its an Epia M, 1 ghz, I've found one little problem, i'm hoping the dvd-rom drive just needs a lens cleaner put through it as it's playing back from CD's ok but not always recognising DVD's (bearing in mind it came from a laptop that had a cola bath :) )


Outta curiosity, what car is this pc going into? BTW really, really nice work. Ive always wanted to do this but as a high school student, I didnt have the money, or tools, not even a dremel. (sigh). Oh well.

It's a Rover 800 Vitesse Turbo, happily running about 12psi boost (not bad for a 2L 16V lump) and putting out about 220BHP at the wheels, here's a piccy:

http://www.performancextreme.com/pictures/vit1.jpg
A bit of an old dog (K plate 1993) but these cost about £30k from new and they have really lush leather interiors (mine's got black split leather Recaro's as a factory-fit). Needs a lot of work done still before i can get good times on the 1/4 mile but i've got plans to have the ECU fiddled a bit as i got a boost cut-off that stops me running over 12psi, when i got that removed 250BHP+ should be achievable :D

[Nav]

I like it. It seems powerful like a souped up import yet elegant like a benz. This is one of the best pc/car mods I have ever heard of! I envy u:)

[Designer]

Photo's of installation coming soon guys, screen's already fitted in the centre console. I'm having to make up a VGA extension cable to go from the boot/trunk to the front for the monitor and a usb extension cable to go with it for the touchscreen side of things. Wish i'd found a better mounting location now as i've got so much work to do relocating things, had to chop away most of the centre console with a dremel cutting disc to make the monitor fit and now that needs some tidying up, relocating a boost gauge fron there to the A-pillar in a mounting pod, the hazard light switch and the dashboard dimmer switch also need to find new homes. Hopefully will have this done by the end of next week as i'm still waiting for some parts needed to move things (i.e. crimp connectors, vacuum tubing, surround for monitor etc.)

[Designer]

Got the screen fitted over the weekend, here's a piccy:

http://www.performancextreme.com/pictures/screen_fitted1.jpg

The trim around the monitor needs sorting still but it took forever to get the thing to fit and i had to chop away most of the centre console innards with my dremel to get it in. Other problems had arisen in relocating the boost gauge (which was no 10 minute job) here's a link about that:

http://www.performancextreme.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24

That seemed to take forever but i'm happy with the way it looks now :)

Anyways, figured a way of switching it on/off, i didnt really want the PC PSU to be powered up all the time so a switched 12V is necessary, so now i'm installing a relay and drawing the supply from the amplifier's 12V supply, the relay will have it's coil controlled by the amplifier's remote switch-on cable from the head unit, that way the PC will have power when the head unit is switched on. I've also got to wire in a switch up front but connect it in parallel with the case's power switch so i can switch it on/off from the front if necessary. Hopefully i'll be doing the installation mornings this week :)

[netnamakan]

Looks amazing Designer, you are a very skilled worker :)

[neochivers]

where did u get the touch screen? i plan to do sumting similar now, great job

[Designer]

i bought it from a UK based company (as i live over there :) ) here's a link

www.mini-itx.com

but they also do a slightly smaller 7" screen at www.itx-warehouse.co.uk

[neochivers]

is ok i live in the uk too ... i think i saw that link in a mag. they were building a digital jukebox pc... that is a good idea y no hook up that computer to your car speakers the play mp3s through them

[Designer]

That's what i've done with this :) added an adaptor (same as the one below)
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/images/var/JVC-KS-U57.jpg

That allows me to put in a 3.5mm jack plug to RCA lead and connect it into the CD player's changer connection as a line input which has saved me the cost and other difficulties of adding a second amplifier. It works OK but i do need to reformat the hard drive now as i didnt bother since it was removed from the donor laptop, just installed the touchscreen drivers.

[neochivers]

have u read the PcPro mag with that article about the digital jukebox pc ?

[Designer]

Sorry, i dont normally buy PC mags, but i'll have a scout around online, can you remember who it was that made it?

[Jaggannath]

Long time no see it seems Designer... haven't seen you posting in a while, always have loved your mods, they're so neat. Obviously this is what's been taking up your time, looking forwards to seeing it.... waited long enough :D :P

[Designer]

Long time no see it seems Designer... haven't seen you posting in a while, always have loved your mods, they're so neat.

Thankyou :)

It's taking forever getting everything neat and tidy, made the mistake of driving the car with the PC loose in the back and connected which has resulted in a busted power adaptor (new one due by weekend). The whole boot is to subjected to an MDF build and re-carpet to incorporate the PC within the panneling and in keeping with the rest of the car. It MUST be finished by september before the car show :)

[Jaggannath]

Better get to work then ;)

[neochivers]

ok its Pc Pro isue 129 it is made by dennis Publishing LTD it adryees is http://www.pcpro.co.uk

[vachi]

you have done a outstanding job Designer

u should be proud of your self

[Lamilia]

what purpose would a car computer serve? I find it cool but I'm a bit confused. Is it supposed to be like a laptop only you don't need to charge it?

[Designer]

what purpose would a car computer serve? I find it cool but I'm a bit confused. Is it supposed to be like a laptop only you don't need to charge it?

well, imagine the cost of a decent MP3 player but hard drive based and capable of holding about half a years worth of a music, a DVD player which can also play DVD's from hard drive so no changing the discs, GPS, engine management integration etc. etc.

That lot separately would cost you something in thye region of £1k for a decent sound system capable of that and the other bist and pieces, well a PC can do all htose jobs and costs a little under £600 so advantages are:

1. a little over half the price
2. everything all bundled into one package so no separate equipment to install
3. can be upgraded just like a desktop pc (within reason)

Drawbacks

none

:D

[neochivers]

y not put a little selight on your car and sing up to setight internet and have internet on the road .... this reminds me of james bond:goldfinger where james' car as a little comp in it wich is used to track goldfigers car, meby you could put a ejctor seat in your car and machinggun headlights (lol)

[Lamilia]

well, imagine the cost of a decent MP3 player but hard drive based and capable of holding about half a years worth of a music, a DVD player which can also play DVD's from hard drive so no changing the discs, GPS, engine management integration etc. etc.

That lot separately would cost you something in thye region of £1k for a decent sound system capable of that and the other bist and pieces, well a PC can do all htose jobs and costs a little under £600 so advantages are:

1. a little over half the price
2. everything all bundled into one package so no separate equipment to install
3. can be upgraded just like a desktop pc (within reason)

Drawbacks

none

:D

whoa thanks for the info if I were big into cars and I was old enough to have a car I would totally get that.

[Designer]

meby you could put a ejctor seat in your car and machinggun headlights (lol)

:D

I'll just stick to a sports exhaust, uprated emgine management and stuff like that, although for my next project...........

[neochivers]

that movie was on last night to (ITV 1)

[Jaggannath]

well, imagine the cost of a decent MP3 player but hard drive based and capable of holding about half a years worth of a music, a DVD player which can also play DVD's from hard drive so no changing the discs, GPS, engine management integration etc. etc.

That lot separately would cost you something in thye region of £1k for a decent sound system capable of that and the other bist and pieces, well a PC can do all htose jobs and costs a little under £600 so advantages are:

1. a little over half the price
2. everything all bundled into one package so no separate equipment to install
3. can be upgraded just like a desktop pc (within reason)

Drawbacks

none

:D

Incorrect on the drawbacks mon frere.... one major drawback is the fact I'll want to nick it, and I imagine I won't be the only one :D

[Designer]

Well, i'm not too worried because i have a good car alarm :), plus the base of the case is bolted in so you'd have to take the hard drive, DVD drive, and motherboard out before you can remove the case from the car. And for the screen it's bolted in through a piece of 1" thick MDF i put as a batten across the centre console, so removing that is no easy task either :)

[neochivers]

clever

[neochivers]

can u post a pic of the computer working?

[Designer]

Will do as soon as i've made a new monitor cable and finished the audio installation :)

Slow going, lost of MMDF and perspex to cut and shedloads of wiring to do, neaten and hide

[neochivers]

well best a luck gettin it fitted