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        General >> Off Topic Subjects >> a pc in a scorp
        
(Message started by: cossie_al on Mar 24^th, 2006, 10:48pm)

Title: a pc in a scorp
Post by cossie_al on Mar 24^th, 2006, 10:48pm

Here we go another off the wall idea from Al,
Now then I am constantly taking cd's to the car to listen to while driving but when I change the disc it gets put in the glove box with about ten others and gets wrecked.
So the thing to do is get an ipod and put alll my sounds on that.
Thats all very well but thats only about 2 gig.
so if i had a device with 80gig there is room for other stuff like obd at the click of a switch.
Or if i get a touch sensative screen and hide a lap top in the glove box Ive got two birds with that one stone. obviosley a pc in the car has other benefits such as a reversinng cam etc.
Is this just an alcohol fueld notion or do you think its worth a stab }{ ;D

Title: Re: a pc in a scorp
Post by Kjetil S on Mar 24^th, 2006, 11:06pm

I actually have a PC mounted in my Scorp.

VIA EPIA MII1200 1.2Ghz mini-ITX mobo/cpu, 320GB disc on rubber feet, Opus 120W DC-DC PSU and a 5 channel USB sound card. Mounted in a wooden box in the boot, clothed with some fabric which matches the fabric in the boot.

7" Lilliput touch-screen on the dashboard, sitting in front of the center air vents. 4 port USB-hub next to the passenger seat which connects to the touch-part on the screen plus a mini-keyboard placed underneath the passenger seat.

Going to put in a slot-in dvd-drive where my cd-player is today.

All is hooked up to a 4 channel amplifier which drives the speakers.

So no, it's not just your alcohol kicking in ;)

Will probably post some pictures when I get the screen *properly* mounted and get a few bugs worked out.

Title: Re: a pc in a scorp
Post by Baz on Mar 24^th, 2006, 11:52pm

I got a 30 gig video Ipod which hooks up to the DVD system in the rear seats using a phono audio/video cable. Each rear seat passenger can watch either DVD, Video or Ipod movie. Still after the elusive and cheap freeview box made by visteon though!

using a device called an Itrip, the Ipod transmits music by magic onto a spare fm frequency on the radio.

I also have a 60 gig ipod which is going on ebay and it is full (60 gigs worth) of music. comes with an itrip as well so a lot less than a car PC.

Title: Re: a pc in a scorp
Post by Octavian_P on Mar 26^th, 2006, 7:14am

I will also be adding a PC in the scorpio. Whent for the cheap solution and used one of my old computers (700 Mhz CPU, 384 MB of RAM, 40 GB HDD, WiFi Network, ATi Radeon Graphics card). I have built for it an invertor form an old ups (cool now i really got electrifing seats at 220V). It runs verry god. Now i am waiting for the TFT-screen, which should arrive in 5-10 days (as a sample) and if all is OK, i'll order one and in about 1-2 months i hope the "carputer" will be up and running. Till then i'm strugleling with an amplifier for the car. It is quad channel and has 4 x 80 W (RMS power). Will folow and obd lead and lots of little gadges i'll think about.

Title: Re: a pc in a scorp
Post by Scorpioen84 on Mar 31^st, 2006, 12:52pm

I tryed a P3 600MHz pc in the scorp but my DC/AC converter didnt handle the powerneed of a starting pc...

I figured a Laptop was the easyes way to go... ;) I now use the Laptop and a FM-modulator to play music and video...

Biggest troble with stationary pc i car is the Hardisk whits is made for STATIONARY use, and not bumpy roads... One bump and u may have a deffect HD... The laptop HD can withstand more... And the laptop got a 15,4" screen... AND u can take it with u and use it for other things...

;)

Title: Re: a pc in a scorp
Post by admin on Apr 6^th, 2006, 1:12am

Go to http://www.mp3car.com

I built one and put it in my Chevy Venture with a 7" touch sensitive screen and I now have an 80GB harddrive with all my MP3s, Satellite Radio, Sat Nav and Wireless Internet plus a DVD player for movies etc - total cost around $700. If you hadn't guessed I live in the USA now :)

Steve

Title: Re: a pc in a scorp
Post by Octavian_P on Apr 6^th, 2006, 6:15pm

Tonight i'll do the first "car-puter" tests ;D, hope i'll do some pics and post ;)

Title: Re: a pc in a scorp
Post by cossie_al on Apr 7^th, 2006, 8:59pm

Ok,
The screen on my laptop just packed up so it is now carputer fodder all is okay with an external screen so I guess ebay will have to be searched for a touch sensitive jobby. :)
My brother inlaw is a software engineer and has offered to do some stuff to help me along the way.
will keap you all informed and I will try to take piccies along the way :)

Title: Re: a pc in a scorp
Post by Octavian_P on Apr 8^th, 2006, 11:00am

A verry usefull application for carputing is found here

www.centrafuse.com

Here is the first test run of the instalment

*AMD Duron 700 MHz CPU, 384 MB of RAM, 20 GB HDD, ATI Radeon 9250 (128 MB) VGA (AGP) graphics card / GeForce 4 MX 400, Wirless network, usb disk, 52X CD-RW Drive, Serial touchpad, standard (huge) keybord, lots of cables jacks and wires.

- the inverter gave huge amount of power
- screen works superb
- it was tested on a focus (mr. scorpio was low on gas, and has a verry old battery :P)
-....just look and laugh at the pics ;D

this is the future car-pc, in the down side of the case, the invertor could be seen (with huge transformer behind)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/Octavian_P/P1010564.jpg

the screen is on the roof of the car
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/Octavian_P/P1010560.jpg

Playing warcraft 3 (intro-movie)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/Octavian_P/t_p1010576_165.jpg

testing a carpc software (big buttons for easy touchscreen-acces)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/Octavian_P/P1010567.jpg

Title: Re: a pc in a scorp
Post by Scorpioen84 on Apr 8^th, 2006, 3:47pm

Nice...

about the same hardware i used in my test... ;) How big is youre DC/AC converter..?

( The GeForce 4 MX 400 draws less power then the Radeon 9250 (128 MB)... U probably know that... )
Wlan is a must have.. ;D
Also get a GPS antenna.. ;)

Looks good so far... :)

Title: Re: a pc in a scorp
Post by Octavian_P on Apr 10^th, 2006, 12:52pm

on 04/08/06 at 15:47:28, Scorpioen84 wrote:

How big is youre DC/AC converter..?

It's "custom" built from a UPS can give a peek power (about 15 min) of 800 W, and a nominal power of 350-400 W

on 04/08/06 at 15:47:28, Scorpioen84 wrote:

( The GeForce 4 MX 400 draws less power then the Radeon 9250 (128 MB)... U probably know that... )

Yes but the radeon is defenetly better for.....gaming ::)

on 04/08/06 at 15:47:28, Scorpioen84 wrote:

Also get a GPS antenna.. ;)

I would buy a gps reciever but can't find anywhere a gps map for romania >:( only for PDA :P

on 04/08/06 at 15:47:28, Scorpioen84 wrote:

Looks good so far... :)

Thanks, i hope i'll have the time and money to finish it......i'm now thininking of buying a second scorpio ...... a cossie...... ::) ...(wish me luck......because i'll need it ;D)