mini ITX board

[CharlesMcKinney]

I'm looking for a mini ITX or possibly flex atx board to use in a car as an mp3 server, and possible video PC down the road, if I decide to install a monitor later. Basically I need a board and processor, and am wondering what to use for a PSU. I have an 80GB IDE HD and 256 SDRAM (I'd prefer an older PIII or Celeron system if possible to save cost), and I will only be using a CD-drive to install windows, then remove it. I will be VNCing into this to update it and install things, then plan on running everything with a USB keypad.

My question is to anyone who knows of any good sites to find the MB/CPU combo, and what to use for a PSU? I will be making the case out of plexiglass or the like, and if the PSU is too big, it can be external, but I'd prefer an all-in-one solution that could possibly fit in my glove compartment.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Charles

 

[KDu]

http://www.directron.com/miniitxmb.html

 

[Confused]

If you want any help, feel free to get in touch with me, check out my signature for my CarPC specifications etc


Confused

 

[CharlesMcKinney]

Thanks for the replys guys. I have been looking online for a mini-itx board, and saw the directron site. I have also seen these boards for as little as $50 on ebay. Is this a wise choice? Also, to confused, as you seem to have done this before, would it be easier to just buy a DC-DC ATX power supply, or to use a cheap AC PSU and buy an inverter? And how does the DC-DC PSU connect to the battery? I can't seem to find any decent pics on the connection method?

 

[Confused]

Buy a DC-DC power supply. Inverters are cheap, inefficient, and not very good.

Depending on what you get, you have 2 options on DC-DC PSU. You either get a case with an internal 55W PSU, and use a Carnetix CNX-P1260 in-line with it, or you get an Opus power supply, which is an all-in-one unit. They will connect to the battery in exactly the same way as a car amplifier. One permanent 12V, one ground, and one switched 12V for turning it on/off with the ignition.

If you check the site in my signature, under FAQs you will see an outline of the different power supply options.


Garry

 

[CharlesMcKinney]

Thanks, I read your FAQ page after I posted. BTW, nice site! I will be looking into the Opus Solutions pages, but I plan on making my own case for this, and custom-fitting it to the glove compartment.

As far as the line to the battery goes, is there an in-line fuse like on Amplifiers? I have already hooked up a 300W amp-sub setup, and am wondering if this will be too much of a strain on the alternator?

 

[Confused]

There is a 15A fuse inside the Opus, however if you do not have a fuse within ~18" of your battery I would recommend installing one!

It can use existing amp wiring should you want to I've got a 4ga power cable running from the front to the back of the car powering 2 amps and the carpc, and it's all fine from the standard alternator in my car

A custom case won't be that difficult if you are half-decent with tools/materials It might just be a bit of a jigsaw puzzle

I never answered your question about the motherboard...I wouldn't go for anything less than a M10000, the others are quite a bit slower (i've also got an Epia 800 in my dad's car so I've got experiences of them all ) If you are happy with the risks of buying from Ebay, then it'll be a great place to get them!

If you're looking for a touchscreen monitor, I would spend the extra money on a Xenarc/GAIN screen over the cheaper Lilliput screen, as the quality, both of the unit and of the screen are so much better on the Xenarc than the Lilliput This is something where the extra money really is worth it!


Garry

 

[sirspotti]

Confused, thanks for that linITX touchscreen review. I'm really thinking about getting the 8" one. How come you're not recommending that to CharlesMckinney though? Also, how is the audio output on your motherboard? It seems like a setup like that would sound like crap without an additional soundcard in the one PCI slot.

 

[Confused]

sirspotti,

At the time I did not realise that LinITX do ship to the US, whereas I now know they do! If you're looking for something cheap, then the LinITX monitors are great, but I still prefer the Xenarc/GAIN screens, even though the difference in quality isn't very much!

As for audio, I cannot complain about the audio output. I have upgraded my car speakers to a set of Kicker EX6.2, and I have tried with a SB Audigy and the onboard, and have not noticed the difference! I'm now using the PCI slot for a US Robotics 54g wireless card.


Garry