Anyone running a carputer?
 

was looking online seemed interesting but anyone locally running it? or can give me pointers if I decided to go with it?

What are you goals for a carputer? I've setup a bunch of carputers in various vehicles, so I think I can help you out. I know there's a few other people out there that have done it too.

well i have a f700bt right now i think its great but if i can have a carputer put everything i need on a harddrive video's songs it'll be easier then converting and what not then putting it on the sd card

also I'll prob want to keep the navigation so prob be using iguidance.

I know computers in and out. A lot of people build it from a mini-itx platform. What i was thinking was to use the new dual-core atom 2.5" ssd hd then in the glove box or something have the disc drive and usb ports.

The computer build is the easiest task for the carputer. Get a 12V PSU, like the M1-ATX, and it's good to go. The hard part is picking a location for it. The glove box would be nice place, but make sure you take into consideration that there'll be a lot of wires running to the computer, and that space you thought you had, may quickly run out.

Do you have a sound system setup or do you plan to put one in? Is there a particular reason for choosing an SSD HD? Unless you're running games or HD content, you probably won't need to spend extra for a dual-core system, either.

My current carputer has been installed for 3 years, and it has run without any problems, other than people kicking it loose, because it's under my driver's seat. I go over plenty of bumps and rough roads, and the 3.5" hard drive is still running strong. It runs GPS, music, movies, etc... The Prius link in my sig has a few pictures of it.

^ thanks a lot

i have a pioneer f700bt right now prob going to take it out and put the carputer in.

the reason i want SSD is just for the os and programs, all the other stuff i would use external harddrive thru usb

how much money did you spend in it? want to see if its worth it just to make it easier for me

i have some challenging carputer plans for myself.

this is kind of hard to picture but bear with me here.

My plan is to run a mobile carputer (mobile as in i can take it out with me) using a samsung Q1 UMPC. The thing is like an overgrown PSP, touch screen, and has better hardware than most EEE umpc's and is nicer looking. Front end software is probably going to be road runner, but i'm not entirely set on that.

Features I'd like to have:
GPS, auxillary audio, nistune ecu tuning software (or simply datalogging software), tire pressure sensors, camera inside left side mirror (for taking left turns in my RHD vehicle), anti-theft camera, back up camera, bluetooth handsfree with my phone (easy since mic is built in), auto file sync with my fone (so new songs can automatically be uploaded from my fone to the UMPC, since i don't have an ipod/itouch/iphone. i use my sony ericsson as a mobile media player)

Thats all I can think of for my car so far. Anyways, I plan on getting all these features plugged into 1 USB hub, then route that cable to the docking station for my Q1. so when i get into the car, pop the Q1 into the docking station, plug in the USB and power (if needed) then start driving. after the vehicle is parked, i just unplugged everything and take the Q1 out with me.

^

wow i got to say thats pretty serious cause in order for the samsung q1 to be data logger and tire pressure monitor stuff like that will be hard to do, cameras is easy just need to have them ....

sync... wow thats totally different you need compatible phone with the interface.

Hey Presto,

Since you seem to have run tons of carputers, are they reliable in the car? I've toyed with the idea myself but worry about reliability and SQ. Any pointers?

Reliability is good. The only equipment failure/problems I've had is with the touchscreen, but that's to be expected with all the input happening there. I've used Xenarc screens in the past, but my latest screen is a no-name off eBay. It's the cheapest screen I've purchased, but it's proven to be the best of the bunch. For the past 2.5 years, it's been run through short operating cycles, as my commute is a whole 10 minutes. The backlight and motor are still in good, working condition.

I have no shock protection on the current carputer hard drive. Almost 4 years later, it's still running strong.


The sound quality off the on-board audio is decent. There's no noise, but the output voltage is pretty low, like 1 Volt. I am very happy with the way it sounds, though. I'm running the sound through a DLS A5 to Focal 165KPs and JL10W6v2. I remember early on, when I used an inverter to power the carputer with 110VAC, there was some noise. The problem doesn't seem to happen with the 12V PSU.

um.... how much did the setup cost you in total? thanks

With taxes/duty in, my carputer cost around $650:
Mini-ITX motherboard: $150
M1-ATX 12V PSU: $75
GPS: $75
SP-712 Ebay Touchscreen: $350

I threw in an 80GB HD, and 512MB of RAM that I had laying around, as well. The cost has come down significantly on touchscreens, from when I had my first carputer. That's where the biggest expense is.

so for your carputer do you have it running it in to an audio in of a stock deck or something? cause the audio out from a computer will be be enough right?

I have the audio going through an amp, out to components and 10" subwoofer. The current audio setup was almost triple the cost of the carputer. You could use the stock system, if you like. It really depends on how serious you are about sound. I built a carputer for my cousin's Prius, and he just used a Pac Aux-Box to add an aux input to the stock system for sound output, and he's happy with it.

the front end software, roadrunner, should be able to handle datalog from an OBDII ecu. my cars personally not OBDII but i have some seperate software that can do the datalogging. the front end software should be compatible with tire pressure sensors as well i believe.

the sync with my fone.. i'm not sure how to make it automatic yet, maybe have to dig up some macros stuff that automatically picks up files from my cell as soon as its in the area, but this is all in the works for now. very budget oriented, and portable. not your average carputer lol

I run a carputer. It consists of a laptop docking station in the trunk, and the docking station`s ports are all wired into the car. power, sound to the stereo, vga and usb connections to the touch screen in dash, it even is connected to the aftermarket ecu for datalogging and tuning.

The best part is that once I get to class, I undock the laptop from the trunk, and off I go.

^ nice quote :lol:

okay guys I'll try to build my own, following the guide I should be okay... for now LOL

if you want more information go to www.mp3car.com

bumpin this old thread....but i'm kicking the tires on the carputer idea as well. Only thing that is really holding me back is not having radio. I need my sports radio fix :)

Do any of you carpc users have am/fm radio? From what i've read on mp3car, the usb radio tuners suck, and my only option is hd radio OR installing a head unit. I dont really want to install a head unit...i want to install a 7" touchscreen in my double din slot, leaving no place to install a headunit.

Here is the parts i was plannin on using:
-M2-ATX 160W Intelligent DC-DC PSU
-Kingston ValueRAM KVR667D2E5/2G 2GB PC2-5300 ECC DDR2 DIM
-Intel BOXD945GCLF2 MINI-ITX DDR2 945GC Dual Core Atom 1PCI Motherboard Retail
-BU-353 Weather-proof GPS Receiver
-Microphone
-obdII scanner
-lilliput or cheapo ebay touchscreen