Need help with car computer/mp3 player

[DrRock]

I am building a computer for my car primarily to listen to mp3's but want to use it eventually for internet (when G3 tech is out), navigation, work, etc. I have figured most of the stuff out, I just wanted to run some things by some people who know more than me. I am using the motherboard (9.5" x 9.5") and chip (600 Celery) out of an HP, not as small as I would like, but I already have it. Integrated sound, video, 3 pci, 2 dimm. I am planning on using a soundblaster live value for sound and am going to put in a nic card to transfer files.

-Right now I am looking for a good and cheap riser card to make things a little more compact. I have found a place that sells a three pci one for $48. A little too much for me. Anybody know of a better solution or where I can get one cheaper?

-Another thing I am wondering about is the power supply. I have seen several do it yourself psu's out there, I don't have any experience with this though. What is better, a dc to dc psu or just to go with a power inverter?

-I am really in the dark about small video screens. Obviously I am really looking for something small and thin. I have heard about one that goes in the dash in a hole about the size of a regular car stereo and flips out when in use. Anybody know anything about this or have any suggestions?

-Which remote and fm transmitter do you guys recommend?

-LONGSHOT-I have a '95 Saab 900SE, does anybody know if I can use the computer/radio lcd to display information like which mp3 is playing? I was thinking there might be a way to do this through the cd changer hook up which is already in the trunk. I am thinking about hooking the computer up to the stereo through this also, any help with this would be extremally helpful.

-Any other suggestions or if you want to tell me what you did to put a computer in your car feel free. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Luden]

For a riser card i have no idea, i would personally try to get by without one unless it will make a large difference of getting it more compact. Either method with the ps will work fine but if you go with the inverter you get the advantage of power your screen/tv/dvd/ps2... etc. Heres a good price on an lcd, or a lcd/vcd combo , These guys also have a good selection. It would be easy to use winamp to display tags, or there are plugins made for winamp to display tags on an lcd..

 

[DrRock]

Lots of good stuff on those sites, thanks. What is the easiest way to hook the lcd up to the computer? It looked like all of the screens have rca inputs. Is there any way to do it without a tv card?

 

[arcas]

I assume you're taking about a right-angle PCI extender like you'd find in a 1u rackmount box. Check these guys out. I emailed them about a year ago about a 1u riser. I want to say they wanted $26 for it. Sounds like you're trying to install 2 PCI cards though so you're looking at $50+ (a short one and a tall one). Your 3-slot riser is looking like a pretty decent deal.

'course if you're going to spend $50 on the riser, and still need to supply a NIC and a soundcard, it might be more economical to sell the HP
mobo and use that money to go towards a more-integrated solution that has decent audio and lan on-board. People might laugh at me but I'm
thinking the Via EPIA Eden/C3 mini-iTX boards are looking pretty swank for a car-based computer. 170mm square. Onboard VGA, sound, firewire,
10/100 lan, svideo out...it's pretty much a low cost single-board computer (SBC). The C3 should be more than fast enough to handle most car-based
applications...

 

[DrRock]

Yeah arcas, I am beginning to think $48 isn't bad. I already have the soundcard and nic, that is why I was thinking about the riser. I am also kind of wary about onboard sound, my experience with it is that it sounds like crap, and it wouldn't be an option with the board that I have because it is so bad. That board that you are talking about doesn't sound bad at all. I think the key to that one is the s-video out. Does anybody know how the onboard sound is on that board? Can I use the s-video out for everything? Arcas, why would people laugh about that board, it sounds like a pretty good solution to me?

 

[BillClo]

If you use an inverter, you'd probably do well to make sure that it's a sine wave type, not modified sine wave. Most computer equipment doesn't care much for modified sine wave - true sinewave is the same type of electic current that your AC wall outlets provide.

Good luck.

 

[DrRock]

Can you repeat that in English please? J/K, will it say that on the box? I have never even heard of that, and I haven't seen any information one way or the other. How do I find out one way or the other?

 

[BillClo]

Most high quality inverters will say what kind of power they put out, whether it be true sinewave, modified sinewave, or plain sinewave. If it doesn't say on the box, call the manufacturer first before you buy and ask.

Unfortunately, since I can't show you what a sinewave looks like here, it's hard to explain. To make it really simple, true sinewave, is the same quality of AC power that you get from your power company. A nice and smooth sine wave, if you were to look at it on certain electronic diagnostic equipment. Modified sinewave isn't as smooth looking, and results in erratic performance in SOME equipment, notably computers and sensitive electronics. You can use modified sinewave for some things, like lights, motors, etc, but most electronics won't like it. Plain sinewave isn't remotely suitable for electronics use, so don't bother.

A good bet for high quality inverters might be marine supply shops - to the best of my knowledge, most boats have sensitive radios, etc, and they may be able to set you up with a good inverter. You may have to check around a bit, but make the effort.

It'd be unfortunate if you went to all that trouble to set up a car computer, and then damaged it because of a cheap inverter.

 

[DrRock]

Thanks Billclo, that stuff is good to know. Another thing I have been thinking about is hard drives. I have a notebook drive laying around. Can I use that and what are the pros/cons on using this compared to normal drive?

 

[CZroe]

Great link for the risers! My 1u PSU from atxcase.com (They sell on eBay too) just fried (I put WAAAAY to much load on it, though their auctions make them sound like they can take it), but it was one heck of a deal! They have PCI risers too...

 

[arcas]

Hmm. atxcases.com has nice prices. $6.50 for a low-profile PCI riser. Their 4U RM chassis for $138 is pretty reasonable too. Wish it had
more standard fans though. Then again, that 140mm fan is probably rated at 150+ cfm (though probably half that after you consider
the air filter).

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

You need one of these.

 

[arcas]

The ACE-865V looks very interesting. Their quote function isn't working for me. Any idea what this thing costs?

Might be tricky finding a mass-produced consumer mainboard that'll work on 65W but after doing some digging, I found the following Via Eden-compatible case that works off an DC power adapter and only outputs 4.58A (~55W). So it looks like Via Eden might be a candidate...

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

I think the one I linked to is $79US

 

[DrRock]

That little motherboard seems like a great candidate, does anyone know where I can get one?