Advice please - Computer in my car

[J69ant]

Hi folks

Could do with a little advice. I have aquired a laptop ( just an old p166 ) .. Ive also got an old PC. Im planning on saving MP3s and playing them off the HD.. Ive just got a couple of questions..
Can i attach a laptop screen to a normal PC graphics card.. I it just a case of matching up the wires..?
Im also going to place a computer cd / dvd drive in the dash board.. Ive been told that IDE cables dont work for long distances .. ( ie the computer under my seat, then wired to the cd in the dash ) .. Would a USB CD drive work for longer distances..

Thanks for any advice

Regards

anthony

 

[metalac]

Well as far as the USB goes I guess it doesn't matter how long the cable is since some of those USB devices have freakishly long cables, but I dont' know about you using the laptop monitor, unless it has a video-IN port somewhere or something like that. I doubt you could just hack off the monitor and plug it in, not without some electrical knowledge and soldering i believe.

 

[zsouthboy]

Laptop displays usually have their own proprietary wiring scheme, search aroung on the internet, you never know, but it's doubtful.

how are you planning on actually controlling the computer? an optical mouse?

USB would work I think up to 2 meters(6 ft maybe?) so should be no problem there. just got one question, how are you planning on powering this thing? you do know that power from a car's alternator is usually not very clean, don't you?

I would like to hear how it turns out...

zs

 

[metalac]

yeah the power in the car is very strange thing, he would probably have to have some kind of a battery between the alternator and the computer so the batter could regulate that power a bit by itself.

 

[zsouthboy]

This would be one kick ass project to try and do, maybe when I get a car I'll try......think of it.... pR0n access almost 24/7...hehehe..

You wouldn't need like an athlon or anything to run it, pick up a cheap cyrix or whatever the hell they are called now and it doesn;'t even require a fan so you won't have to worry about overheating, a cool 5400 rpm drive, a usb cd-rom, and a COOL running vid card, and it's really not that intimidating except for the whole wiring scheme hehe

you could make the ultimate lan party pc: you don't even have to remove it from your car, you just run a cat5 cable and you're on, as long as you have gas in the tank

zs

 

[J69ant]

The Battery shouldnt be a problem - Im going to use a Gel battery ( think thats how its spelt ) - cost 3 times as much as a standard car battery, but will last for about 2 hours with a full ice install no problems.. Then ill just recharge it as a drive.. Thats not my major concern.. My uncle used to teach electrical engineering, so im sure hell sort all that.. Its just for at car shows really.. Cuz all these nice cars have PSX2 in em.. Id prefere sumat different ( and a lot cheaper ) , so if i get a CD / DVD drive, i can watch Movies, Play mp3s etc... And just to top it off, run a few classic games on MAME ) - Not looking good though.. Everyone ive spoke to says its a massive job to get a laptop screen attached to a normal PC (

Cheers for your tips folks

Regards

Ant

 

[d33pt]

no big deal.. just get a video card with tvout..then get an LCD with composite input and use it that way. it wont be as clean as a direct digital input to the lcd, but it's ALOT cheaper that way. also, for power, you can ask your uncle to help you make a regulated dc to dc power supply with +5,-5, +12, -12. Or, the easiest way is to get a 120v inverter. This has worked well for me. It's actually a pretty easy project. ive had my pc in the car for over 2 years.. works nicely...

 

[Evadman]

You must be installing a Spiral wound Optima GEel cell right? Those rock

I would sugest actually using a UPS on that system ( that is what I am going to do ) so the battery in the UPS will help filter the AC that the converter makes. DC current from a automotive Alternator is verry messy.