TeH Hi TeCh EF

[EFFalcon]

got bored the other week, and decided i'd whack a PC in my car for some extra multimedia entertainment.
A few months before hand i'd grabbed a cheap desktop computer, P4 1.6ghz, 20gb hdd, 256 or 512mv ram (can't remember) and all the other crap you get with a PC, this was only $150 and formed a base for the carPC, that sat idle for a while (as most things seem to do with me, lip spoiler anyone?)
Then Initial D got a job at autobarn, you beauty.. cheap bits!
He managed to get me a standalone 7" TFT screen for $100 so that made the deal even better, with the only thing needing purchase being the inverter i made my was out and picked up a 300w inverter for $80.

Having all the bits i needed i set out hacking up the PC case to fit under the seat.
I wanted it under the seat because i simply have too much crap in my boot, and there is more chance of more stuff going in there soon once an extra LPG tank goes in.
so with limited space under the seat i was restricted in what i could do, unforunately i needed to use a video card with TV-out whcih meant i had to get a seperate video card which then takes up more room.
i got a slim line card and chopped the bracket off so it sat in nicely, all good so far.
managed to find room for the hard drive to sit without being too hgih and got the whole lot under the seat.
Since i already put the inverter under the seat i was running out of space, the power supply wasnt gunna fit overly well, but its not too bad.
i can still easily sit in the back seat without any issues.

The screen was dummy fitted under the headunit quickly in an attempt to get it ready for GOR, i'm in the process of making it a bit more integrated.

piccies!
[img]hxxp://www.deleted link/pics/mycar/interior/screen1.jpg[/img]
[img]hxxp://www.deleted link/pics/mycar/interior/underseat.jpg[/img]
[img]hxxp://www.deleted link/pics/mycar/interior/power.jpg[/img]

the screen can easily be seen in both the front and back seats.
i know its nothin special, but it was a cheap project
i also need to get anther keybaord (mini one)

[LUXO_8]

cool! i didnt know the whole lot was done so cheaply, in that case well done!!!
cant wait to see what you come up with for mounting the screen properly.....

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

cool! i didnt know the whole lot was done so cheaply, in that case well done!!!
cant wait to see what you come up with for mounting the screen properly.....

hopefully something better than the job you did on the dvd player mount.. you're an idiot :P :hihi: :

[LUXO_8]

Originally Posted by woodstock_rocks

hopefully something better than the job you did on the dvd player mount..

really yagz??, nothing wrong with my dvd install....

[CruizinEB]

hahaha looking good but you need to get the vacuum out i think ;)

[EFFalcon]

the more people tell me to clean my car, the more i'll refuse to do it
MWAHAHHAAHHA

wanna see the exterior?
hxxp://www.deleted link/pics/mycar/exterior/tip.jpg

[CruizinEB]

Originally Posted by EFFalcon with his filthy EF :P

the more people tell me to clean my car, the more I'll refuse to do it
MWAHAHHAAHHA

wanna see the exterior?
http://www.deleted link/pics/mycar/exterior/tip.jpg

orrrrrrr noooooooo, god give me strength, CLEAN IT please:

[-jjM-]

Originally Posted by EFFalcon

the more people tell me to clean my car, the more i'll refuse to do it
MWAHAHHAAHHA

yea, that rule applys in my room aswell lol

time to strap wireless network card to it man, PICK UP SOME NETWORKS!!
nice power button switch too, add some wire too it and put it up front, that gos for a reset switch aswell

now all left to do is overclocked..or whateva u can overclock 1.6 too bwahaha (ahh man im a nerd :P)

good stuff john ill be next soon enought

[Obriza]

Originally Posted by -jjM-

yea, that rule applys in my room aswell lol

Yeh me too, have had the parents on my back for almost half a year now to clean it lol. You wouldnt be able to overclock the CPU that much as it would be pretty old, possibly 1.7 but i wont expect much higher.

good job anyway EF, now all you have to do is neaten it all up and your good, maybe also get a better sound card sometime in the future:P

[-jjM-]

Originally Posted by Obriza

You wouldnt be able to overclock the CPU that much as it would be pretty old, possibly 1.7 but i wont expect much higher.

i had 1.7 too 2.0, friend had 1.8 to 2.3 0_0 (i think it was nyawyz, could be wrong, but still high), if it was me, i would, i got plenty of cpus too kill, mwahaha

[Obriza]

Originally Posted by -jjM-

i had 1.7 too 2.0, friend had 1.8 to 2.3 0_0 (i think it was nyawyz, could be wrong, but still high), if it was me, i would, i got plenty of cpus too kill, mwahaha

That's pretty impressive to get that high, but then how long did it last?

......................

[FPVWEPN]

i really think u should take care of your car

[EFFalcon]

nah, the onboard jobbie does fine.
all it needs is stereo output to the headunit.
i really have no need to overclock the CPU, the limitation is the video card and there aint room for an physically bigger card.

[Obriza]

C'mon dont just stop at stereo output, go the whole hog and get surround lol.
Yeh i agree that there would be no need to overclock the CPU.

[EFFalcon]

keep in mind under the seat isnt exactly the best for cooling.
i'd even underclock it if it needed it, but its been fine

[THORNSPAWN]

Looking good.
If you need a bigger/better video card you can get risers to mount the card horizontally
you can get them for low cases like some of the Dell and compaq ones, I used to have a
couple somewhere.

[EFFalcon]

Originally Posted by THORNSPAWN

Looking good.
If you need a bigger/better video card you can get risers to mount the card horizontally
you can get them for low cases like some of the Dell and compaq ones, I used to have a
couple somewhere.

Yeah, i considered that.
the only reason i'd need a better video card would be for games, i won't be running the latest and greatest games on it so i'm not that fussed

[Obriza]

Originally Posted by EFFalcon

Yeah, i considered that.
the only reason i'd need a better video card would be for games, i won't be running the latest and greatest games on it so i'm not that fussed

You also would need a good video card if you wanna play DVDs on it too, that one might possibly be good enough but for that price i doubt it would be a very good picture. But also it depends on if you wanna play the DVDs from the computer or get a DVD playing HU?

[EFFalcon]

DVD's are all about CPU processing power.
when you're talking about a 7" LCD, picture quality from a video card isnt exactly a high priority, not to mention if you're using TV out ;)

plus.. i'll use divx etc more then DVD's

[Stevo]

thats pretty cool mate. Id like to do similar in my panelvan, but with a 21" flat for the rear or something

[InitialD]

Looking good john ;) Glad the screen worked out for you

[Kenaz]

Good stuff John! What would happen if you hit a big pothole? Would the computer stuff up or anything?

[Stevo]

Highly unlikely, its only the hdd that you have to be carefull with. Id say you will have no problems. Only problem i can see if connections rattling loose, but that aint no biggy.

Have you hooked up a pc fan to it john? Just incase for these warmer months ?

[Rmyers]

Good work John, i think your gunna haveto help me install a PC in the ED one day ;)

[EFFalcon]

the computer only has the CPU fan, i've monitored the temps and nothing seems to get overly hot, even on some of the hotter days we've been having.
so far its been goood

big pot holes etc havnt been a problem, it hasnt skipped or jumped anything so far.