Car PC

Kraziken · 05-19-2006, 04:34 PM

I just thought about doing a car PC setup.

I must have missed the post, or XCNTRK75 is too busy posting about his power mods to show off his other goodies.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=43094

And another cool CAR PC setup on a new Legacy GT.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=73485

I have a co-worker who has a setup in his G35, it's pretty slick.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

UTCiv · 05-19-2006, 04:41 PM

That is a pretty sweet setup!

Although, your links both point to xcntrk75s setup.

Man, I can't keep up with all of yous guyses mods!

tekkitan · 05-19-2006, 05:02 PM

both the same link, but nice setup. i'm just not too sure about having an lcd in my car

Kraziken · 05-19-2006, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekkitan

both the same link, but nice setup. i'm just not too sure about having an lcd in my car

Links corrected.

The touch screen interface is pretty intuitive in my co-workers G35. I wasn't sure if it was worth the trouble, but I think I'm sold.

xcntrk75 · 05-19-2006, 08:57 PM

Man the CarPC was one of the best mods I’ve ever done

You’ll notice in those pics the Legacy is still a 2.5 (NA) with automatic. That’s how long I’ve had the CarPC and it gets better everyday. I have since rebuilt the system (software setup) and now run WindowsXP since it boots so much faster and has more advanced hibernation. I also use WiFi so I can park in my driveway and transfer MP3’s to my car on the fly… But by far the best part is the engine monitoring capabilities. I’m constantly performing automatic logging of any situation when the motor is pushed.

I love it!!!!

PS: And yes I am busy working new mods and other tricks up my sleeves

MitchGT · 05-19-2006, 10:55 PM

Anthony - Are you an engineer or IT guy or something along those lines? I've seen your setup posted before but never realized the capabilities it has

Wiscon_Mark · 05-19-2006, 11:14 PM

Very nice Anthony!

Splinter on LCO has a pretty slick setup, mostly made for music playing.

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=22863

xcntrk75 · 05-20-2006, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitchGT

Anthony - Are you an engineer or IT guy or something along those lines? I've seen your setup posted before but never realized the capabilities it has

Good guess

Kraziken · 05-20-2006, 12:47 AM

I was thinking of a car pc setup, but was wondering how to run the entire stereo from the car pc, or where to put the normal deck.

Do you still have a cigarette adapter for power accessories? Where did you move it?

bhall · 05-20-2006, 12:48 AM

From the 1000 foot level what is involved here. How much are we talking minus the software and engine management stuff. How hard was the install as far as custom wiring and power management (key on/key off vs hibernation). The rest I am guessing is just straight forward hardware and software build, right?

Thanks for the info. If it sounds "doable" for me I will dig deeper for the details I am sure.

Anyone seen this in a BE?

xcntrk75 · 05-20-2006, 08:04 AM

All the info you could ever need can be found at MP3car.com…

The basic requirements of a CarPC are the same as a home unit. First you need a PC, some use laptops, some use old existing hardware resources, and some use mini-ITX motherboards designed for compact media rich environments. Of course you’ll need a means of display being a monitor, TFT touch-screen is ideal as you can use custom software designed for the mobile environment (i.e. large buttons which work for a car while driving, etc). You’ll also need input devices such as keyboard/mouse. This is less important as the touch-screen perform some of this function albeit limiting. You’ll also need to provide power such as a DC-DC power supply. Buying a quality power-supply will provide greater flexibility with power-up/shutdown features. My Opus PS for example, waits 10 seconds after the ignition power is removed, then provides a shutdown signal to the motherboard commanding it to enter hibernation. Once the mobo has successfully hibernated, the Opus kills all power.

As for the with or without head-unit approach; this is of long debate and is the preference of the user. You can utilize an FM tuner card in your CarPC, then interface the sound-card output with an in-car amp and you’ve removed the need for a head-unit.

Costs are all over the place. I built mine on the cheap, buying all used parts and using my own stuff where possible. My unit came it at about $600 bucks. I’ve since enjoyed the system so much that I upgraded my touch-screen from the inexpensive Lilliput to the higher quality Xernac.

If anybody has any questions, feel free to hit me up. I’d love to see this awesome modification in more subaru’s!!!

05-19-2006, 04:34 PM	#1
Kraziken Scooby Specialist Member#: 38629 Join Date: Jun 2003 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Northwest Vehicle: 1999 Legacy GT (STI) White	Car PC I just thought about doing a car PC setup. I must have missed the post, or XCNTRK75 is too busy posting about his power mods to show off his other goodies. http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=43094 And another cool CAR PC setup on a new Legacy GT. http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=73485 I have a co-worker who has a setup in his G35, it's pretty slick. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads. Last edited by Kraziken; 05-19-2006 at 05:39 PM.

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05-19-2006, 04:41 PM	#2
UTCiv Scooby Newbie Member#: 30695 Join Date: Dec 2002 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Does your mother sew? Vehicle: BOOM , Get her to sew THAT!	That is a pretty sweet setup! Although, your links both point to xcntrk75s setup. Man, I can't keep up with all of yous guyses mods!

05-19-2006, 05:02 PM	#3
tekkitan Scooby Newbie Member#: 111884 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Olmsted Twp, OH Vehicle: 2000 Legacy GT Ltd White Birch	both the same link, but nice setup. i'm just not too sure about having an lcd in my car

05-19-2006, 08:57 PM	#5
xcntrk75 Scooby Specialist Member#: 60224 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: NOVA Vehicle: 2008 FXT Sports 2.5 Dark Grey Metallic	Man the CarPC was one of the best mods I’ve ever done You’ll notice in those pics the Legacy is still a 2.5 (NA) with automatic. That’s how long I’ve had the CarPC and it gets better everyday. I have since rebuilt the system (software setup) and now run WindowsXP since it boots so much faster and has more advanced hibernation. I also use WiFi so I can park in my driveway and transfer MP3’s to my car on the fly… But by far the best part is the engine monitoring capabilities. I’m constantly performing automatic logging of any situation when the motor is pushed. I love it!!!! PS: And yes I am busy working new mods and other tricks up my sleeves

05-19-2006, 10:55 PM	#6
MitchGT Scooby Specialist Member#: 73684 Join Date: Nov 2004 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Kirkland, WA Vehicle: 2012 4Runner	Anthony - Are you an engineer or IT guy or something along those lines? I've seen your setup posted before but never realized the capabilities it has

05-19-2006, 11:14 PM	#7
Wiscon_Mark Scooby Guru Member#: 94945 Join Date: Aug 2005 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Stevens Point, WI Vehicle: 1995 Legacy OB 5MT 2003 Forester X 5MT	Very nice Anthony! Splinter on LCO has a pretty slick setup, mostly made for music playing. http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=22863

05-20-2006, 12:47 AM	#9
Kraziken Scooby Specialist Member#: 38629 Join Date: Jun 2003 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Northwest Vehicle: 1999 Legacy GT (STI) White	I was thinking of a car pc setup, but was wondering how to run the entire stereo from the car pc, or where to put the normal deck. Do you still have a cigarette adapter for power accessories? Where did you move it?

05-20-2006, 12:48 AM	#10
bhall Scooby Newbie Member#: 56015 Join Date: Feb 2004 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Denver, CO Vehicle: No you're a towel!	From the 1000 foot level what is involved here. How much are we talking minus the software and engine management stuff. How hard was the install as far as custom wiring and power management (key on/key off vs hibernation). The rest I am guessing is just straight forward hardware and software build, right? Thanks for the info. If it sounds "doable" for me I will dig deeper for the details I am sure. Anyone seen this in a BE?

05-20-2006, 08:04 AM	#11
xcntrk75 Scooby Specialist Member#: 60224 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: NOVA Vehicle: 2008 FXT Sports 2.5 Dark Grey Metallic	All the info you could ever need can be found at MP3car.com… The basic requirements of a CarPC are the same as a home unit. First you need a PC, some use laptops, some use old existing hardware resources, and some use mini-ITX motherboards designed for compact media rich environments. Of course you’ll need a means of display being a monitor, TFT touch-screen is ideal as you can use custom software designed for the mobile environment (i.e. large buttons which work for a car while driving, etc). You’ll also need input devices such as keyboard/mouse. This is less important as the touch-screen perform some of this function albeit limiting. You’ll also need to provide power such as a DC-DC power supply. Buying a quality power-supply will provide greater flexibility with power-up/shutdown features. My Opus PS for example, waits 10 seconds after the ignition power is removed, then provides a shutdown signal to the motherboard commanding it to enter hibernation. Once the mobo has successfully hibernated, the Opus kills all power. As for the with or without head-unit approach; this is of long debate and is the preference of the user. You can utilize an FM tuner card in your CarPC, then interface the sound-card output with an in-car amp and you’ve removed the need for a head-unit. Costs are all over the place. I built mine on the cheap, buying all used parts and using my own stuff where possible. My unit came it at about $600 bucks. I’ve since enjoyed the system so much that I upgraded my touch-screen from the inexpensive Lilliput to the higher quality Xernac. If anybody has any questions, feel free to hit me up. I’d love to see this awesome modification in more subaru’s!!!