carPC finished, also battery relocation and audio Options

[K-ESD]

Here's what i've been working on for a while. Finished on june 28th - Went on road trip with it

In dash xenarc touch screen


CarPC:
AMD Athlon XP 3200+
512 ddr 333 dual channel
40g laptop hd
wireless b
soundblaster live


Subs
Infinity 1230w's powered by clarion DPX1001.2 (my ears still hurt)


Battery relocated




I also installed a compustar alarm, trunk poper and this:



Next thing coming is carpet for the trunk and some lighting

Thanks for looking

- Nick

[Cutrara]

Lookin' Good! You need some better pics though to show your work off. I'd really like to see a better pic of the screen molded into the dash.

[946thGenGT]

I'd be worried about all that bass with my computer right there. Vibration isn't good for hard drives.

Edit: Now that I think about it... I'd be more worried about the magnets in the subs than the vibrations.

This post has been edited by 946thGenGT: Jul 3, 2005 - 11:03 PM

[creis]

yeah that is gana be a big problem with the subs so close to the pc. you might ana put them on the other side and not have them up to full blast, or you will damage that pc.

ps: what did you use for your lining around the screen in the dash, I had some trubble doing mine with a vinyl linning but it worked out in the end.

This post has been edited by creis: Jul 4, 2005 - 2:50 AM

[orvillescelica]

nice! Welcome to the club. That volt meter is a good idea, i should install one too.

[Kadett]

Its not especially the PC that goes down moreover the HDD. They dont like them Basses, Thrust me!!!!

[K-ESD]

This thing is great. It turned out much better than i expected. Altho 90% functional and 50% cosmeticaly finished i am (again) overwhelmed with carPC features. This is also my most powerful sound system yet. 600wRMS hurts the ears, plain and simple. I have reached my in car entertainment goal - Next things to come, volume control, steering winamp controls, celing mount usb hub, GPS.

yeah that is gana be a big problem with the subs so close to the pc. you might ana put them on the other side and not have them up to full blast, or you will damage that pc.

ps: what did you use for your lining around the screen in the dash, I had some trubble doing mine with a vinyl linning but it worked out in the end.
[right][snapback]308206[/snapback][/right]

i used hot glue lots of it

I'm worried about the magnet and heat the most. I still have to do a few adjustments to reduce the vibrations but the case is very solid and everything is mounted on foam pads. The laptop HD is design to take a beating, which it does it's job just fine. Subwoofer vibration is low, it's the road beating thats bugging me right now. For sure the magnet is causing some errors in windows. It's not too too bad but still annoying having windows screw up once in a while. I'm working on a solution to shield my carPC from the magnets while still being able to have a side window (any suggestions?) My next concern, for some reason i have a heat issue. i'll have to create more ventilation in the hatch because after a long drive with this thing pounding it gets really hot in the hatch even w/o the cover. Amps and the carPC doesn't like heat :S

Lookin' Good! You need some better pics though to show your work off. I'd really like to see a better pic of the screen molded into the dash.
[right][snapback]308117[/snapback][/right]

Thanks
U are absolutely right, my digital camera is an old dinosaur. I'll try to borrow a better cam cause i do need some better picts.

nice! Welcome to the club. That volt meter is a good idea, i should install one too.
[right][snapback]308225[/snapback][/right]

Thanks - This is my 3rd carPC setup, i had a prototype that never made it and this one but in my corolla.

Old prototype


My current carPC while it was being built and before the water cooling broke.



The voltmeter is essential to my carPC. This thing is a very powerful computer, it drinks battery juice like a v8 drinks gas but i can still use it for aprox 1hr before i have to turn the car on again. Yay for spiral cell battery.

This post has been edited by K-ESD: Jul 4, 2005 - 10:56 AM

[95CelicaST]

I would be worried about the vibrations to the hard drive and also the interference the computer would have with the subs, and visa versa, I would put the cover back on that computer before it gets fried.

[shid]

The reasons you list are why I built my laptop under the seat

Good job.. but hotglue? :X

[lagos]

good job man!

if i was to do something like this, i think i would use a moded xbox. it would be pretty cheap to buy a basic screen, and just use the game controlers to select movies or music from a dashboard app running on the xbox.

[K-ESD]

------------carPC and subwoofer vibrations and EMF (electro magnetic interferance)------------
http://www.mp3car.com/ do research

Going back to the roots explained why subconsciously having the pc close to the subs did not appear a problem to me when i put it there. I was all psyched to work on shielding my carPC from EMF because i thought it was occasionaly messing up windows somehow.

(p.s. windows acting weird was my keyboard being squashed by my camping gear while i was on road trip, i just found that out today while unpacking)

The reasons you list are why I built my laptop under the seat

Good job.. but hotglue? :X
[right][snapback]308416[/snapback][/right]

I prefer desktop for many reasons also
what's wrong with hotglue?
thanks

[Digndoug]

Why did you mount your subs like that? Most do it for looks, but, from the design of the box it dosnt look like much for looks. Also what else are you going to do to the trunk or are you just carpeting and thats it?

[K-ESD]

Why did you mount your subs like that? Most do it for looks, but, from the design of the box it dosnt look like much for looks.
[right][snapback]308601[/snapback][/right]

why? for looks obviously, looks better than the regular basket in box design.
i'm offended by your comment "from the design of the box it dosnt look like much for looks. " what do suggest mr bigshot? finish my setup cosmeticly maybe?

Also what else are you going to do to the trunk or are you just carpeting and thats it?
[right][snapback]308601[/snapback][/right]

I'm going to carpet the front/top/back of the box, carpet the floor and do some "papier maché" on the sides to blend in the carPC and battery and to hide the strut towers. Once all that is done, painting it all (not the carpet) and adding some lighting.
Also i think when i do that and finish it i will keep it to myself in case it's not good enough for some people.
Thanks for your support

[Digndoug]

Why did you mount your subs like that? Most do it for looks, but, from the design of the box it dosnt look like much for looks.
[right][snapback]308601[/snapback][/right]

why? for looks obviously, looks better than the regular basket in box design.
i'm offended by your comment "from the design of the box it dosnt look like much for looks. " what do suggest mr bigshot? finish my setup cosmeticly maybe?

Also what else are you going to do to the trunk or are you just carpeting and thats it?
[right][snapback]308601[/snapback][/right]

I'm going to carpet the front/top/back of the box, carpet the floor and do some "papier maché" on the sides to blend in the carPC and battery and to hide the strut towers. Once all that is done, painting it all (not the carpet) and adding some lighting.
Also i think when i do that and finish it i will keep it to myself in case it's not good enough for some people.
Thanks for your support
[right][snapback]308685[/snapback][/right]

Hey sorry i didnt mean for it to sound bad, I ment make some curves or somthign with a bit of design, but its also hard to show your vision, from whats in your head until its done. I think your doing a good job, just not finished. I personaly dont like the look or thought of flip flopping the subs.. so thats why im not so intrigued. just my opinion. Please dont take what i say to heart. Im use to how my classes go in architecture. You can have a million great beautiful things, but the only things pointed out are the flaws or just somthign missed or somthign thats not perfect.

[K-ESD]

appology accepted
i promise there will be some curves, ur right about other not being able to see what i have in my head. I should've waited t'ill i finished it all before showing it. I was just so excited with my new setup i had to show it in here.

Thanks