NTL Carputer Thread
04-21-09, 09:04 AM
#1
NTL Carputer Thread
I'd like to hear about local carputers and the folks who're using/installing them.
Who has a carputer?
What are you looking at for equipment?
Who has a carputer?
- JeffTsai
- (who else?)
What are you looking at for equipment?
- Power Supply
- Monitor
- Computer platform
- Operating system
- Applications
- Navigation
- Cameras
- Interface with car audio devices
04-22-09, 07:32 AM
#4
Lead Lap
Join Date: Nov 2008
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I am putting one in my car and kyles vette this month if you want to hang out and watch or hell I could do all 3 if you needed me to. give me a shout. I have worked with these a little bit and seen quite a few of them.
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04-28-09, 07:50 AM
#10
1.83GHz Mac® mini
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor 1.83GHz
80GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW Drive
AirPort Extreme 802.11g wireless network
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
$499.99
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I think I've finally found the computer portion of my carputer setup.
I want to try a Mac Mini based system.
Other ingredients:
- The power supply apparently has to be a Carnetix P1900 or P2140.
- MacPac power cable kit
- Mac y-adapter cable
But there's also something to be said for keeping the OEM radio (why fix it if it ain't broken?) and having the carputer linked in with it. *Sigh* Decisions, decisions.
[HOLY CRAP!!! -
2000 posts FINALLY!!!! It only took 4 years, eh?
] Last edited by Slooooooow; 04-28-09 at 09:24 AM.
04-28-09, 02:00 PM
#12
Driver
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: TX
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Being in the IT field, best option would probably be get a higher end CPU and underclock it. Get a Zalmans fan, you can even get a software program that does it on demand. I use one for my laptop to conserve battery life it will underclock my CPU at 50% battery life.
04-28-09, 10:17 PM
#13
Scott, congrats on the 2k posts, now on to the 5k goal
Honestly the best solution would be to get a used laptop, that's what I did in my car. I have a Dell 8600 under the passenger seat hidden away. My reasoning behind using a laptop is due to the nature of the design. It's designed as a compact package, cooing in a small confined spaced is factored for, it has very quick standby and bootup times compared to a desktop, and most of all it's designed in mind to be tossed around. The internal component durability is much higher than your standard off the shelf PC parts when it comes to constant vibration, knocking around, and shock. The packaging and size of a laptop is the best fit for a carPC IMO. I mean you don't have to take my word for it or anythig, but I've been sucessful with my setup for quite a while now
The other reason I used a laptop is because you can get an old 8600 laptop on ebay for around $150-250 range depending on specs. I put the 8600(my old laptop) in the car when I bought my new one...so no serious money lost on my part. I just upgraded the ram and hard drive to 320gb which was about $100. The other benefit of using a commonly found laptop such as a Dell is that if the motherboard fries, you can pick up a replacement on ebay for very cheap. Other latops might cost a fortune to find a replacement board and that's IF you can even find a replacement.
Honestly the best solution would be to get a used laptop, that's what I did in my car. I have a Dell 8600 under the passenger seat hidden away. My reasoning behind using a laptop is due to the nature of the design. It's designed as a compact package, cooing in a small confined spaced is factored for, it has very quick standby and bootup times compared to a desktop, and most of all it's designed in mind to be tossed around. The internal component durability is much higher than your standard off the shelf PC parts when it comes to constant vibration, knocking around, and shock. The packaging and size of a laptop is the best fit for a carPC IMO. I mean you don't have to take my word for it or anythig, but I've been sucessful with my setup for quite a while now
The other reason I used a laptop is because you can get an old 8600 laptop on ebay for around $150-250 range depending on specs. I put the 8600(my old laptop) in the car when I bought my new one...so no serious money lost on my part. I just upgraded the ram and hard drive to 320gb which was about $100. The other benefit of using a commonly found laptop such as a Dell is that if the motherboard fries, you can pick up a replacement on ebay for very cheap. Other latops might cost a fortune to find a replacement board and that's IF you can even find a replacement.
04-29-09, 07:00 AM
#15
Driver
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: TX
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Scott, congrats on the 2k posts, now on to the 5k goal
Honestly the best solution would be to get a used laptop, that's what I did in my car. I have a Dell 8600 under the passenger seat hidden away. My reasoning behind using a laptop is due to the nature of the design. It's designed as a compact package, cooing in a small confined spaced is factored for, it has very quick standby and bootup times compared to a desktop, and most of all it's designed in mind to be tossed around. The internal component durability is much higher than your standard off the shelf PC parts when it comes to constant vibration, knocking around, and shock. The packaging and size of a laptop is the best fit for a carPC IMO. I mean you don't have to take my word for it or anythig, but I've been sucessful with my setup for quite a while now
The other reason I used a laptop is because you can get an old 8600 laptop on ebay for around $150-250 range depending on specs. I put the 8600(my old laptop) in the car when I bought my new one...so no serious money lost on my part. I just upgraded the ram and hard drive to 320gb which was about $100. The other benefit of using a commonly found laptop such as a Dell is that if the motherboard fries, you can pick up a replacement on ebay for very cheap. Other latops might cost a fortune to find a replacement board and that's IF you can even find a replacement.
Honestly the best solution would be to get a used laptop, that's what I did in my car. I have a Dell 8600 under the passenger seat hidden away. My reasoning behind using a laptop is due to the nature of the design. It's designed as a compact package, cooing in a small confined spaced is factored for, it has very quick standby and bootup times compared to a desktop, and most of all it's designed in mind to be tossed around. The internal component durability is much higher than your standard off the shelf PC parts when it comes to constant vibration, knocking around, and shock. The packaging and size of a laptop is the best fit for a carPC IMO. I mean you don't have to take my word for it or anythig, but I've been sucessful with my setup for quite a while now
The other reason I used a laptop is because you can get an old 8600 laptop on ebay for around $150-250 range depending on specs. I put the 8600(my old laptop) in the car when I bought my new one...so no serious money lost on my part. I just upgraded the ram and hard drive to 320gb which was about $100. The other benefit of using a commonly found laptop such as a Dell is that if the motherboard fries, you can pick up a replacement on ebay for very cheap. Other latops might cost a fortune to find a replacement board and that's IF you can even find a replacement.
I am assuming this is going to be no by the age of the computer, your not running SSD are you? Are you booting from usb? Just seems to me using a standard HDD is going to go out rather quickly if the laptop is on alot while car is driving.