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whiterabbit06 · 07-16-2009, 12:51 AM

I just got a bunch of stuff in the mail today. I decided to put a computer in the car for music movies and internet. It's an AMD Sempron 2800+, 512mb DDR ram, 40gb HDD (operating system), 200gb HDD (music/movies), DVD/CD RW and an 8 inch LCD touch screen. I'm using my blackberry for internet. It's not broadband but I don't feel like paying for an aircard and the service.

Battle Pope · 07-16-2009, 01:15 AM

Looks like a sweet setup. How are you going to mount the hardware cluster?

whiterabbit06 · 07-16-2009, 11:15 AM

Well in my car the passenger side airbag has a snap in pannel and behind the airbag there is like a deep cubby hole that's big enough to fit the board in. I'll just use brackets to secure the board in the hole and then make some brackets for the screen and dvd burner. When it all gets put in there and tightened down so it doesn't come out, I'm going to mould fiberglass around the drive and screen and fit it to the opening. I'm gonna try to make it as hard as possible to steal. I was doing some looking around and some people were doing test of temps inside a car and they said that the air got as hot as 149f-150f on a 110f day. I'm not too worried about the electronics because the cpu max temp is a little over 70c which is about 160f and once the computer starts and I get inside it should cool down to safe temps. The power supply has an auto on/off feature that turns the computer on when you turn the car on and shuts down the computer when I turn the car off or when the battery gets below 11.2v.

Battle Pope · 07-16-2009, 03:46 PM

I would consider adding a ventilation port or duct. I wouldn't be concerned about the CPU as much as the hard drives, they grenade really fast in high temps.

805teggy · 07-16-2009, 04:32 PM

nice.. post pics of the progress

Jizared97 · 07-16-2009, 04:33 PM

MP3Car.com - Your source for mobile computing solutions! - All Blog Entries

You probably have already been here but they have a ton of stuff about carputers.

Drake · 07-16-2009, 11:57 PM

How are you addressing vibration?

cjvictoria · 07-17-2009, 02:11 AM

Dude you gots to show this to me when it's done.. or hell even while in progress.
Meet at sonic? lol

whiterabbit06 · 07-17-2009, 10:11 AM

I'm assuming you are talking about vibration in the hard drives. I'm using rubber gromets with the mounting screws. I'm not expecting to really have any problems with vibration though.

phyregod · 07-17-2009, 10:25 AM

Might switch to a laptop hard drive. They are built to handle vibration and bumps..

But that brings about the question: Why not just buy a laptop?

TurboMirage · 07-17-2009, 10:30 AM

you could have always stuffed a netbook with a 200gb HDD in there for under 400 bucks

whiterabbit06 · 07-17-2009, 11:59 AM

I already had the motherboard and the 40gb and I wasn't doing anything with it. I have a netbook, but I wanted something more permanent. I've always got a bunch of computer parts laying around. I was gonna use a 17" screen out of an old laptop i have but it is too long for that space. I spent $20 on the 200gb, $150 on the screen and $30 on the power supply. so a total of $200 so far.

whiterabbit06 · 07-17-2009, 12:49 PM

An update I got the glovebox out because I need to fix it and I'm going to put usb ports in it for the computer. I took out the airbag and started to test fit everything.

I think I'm going to mount the hard drives here on a bracket and tap into the a/c vent to cool them off.

whiterabbit06 · 07-18-2009, 02:07 AM

USB ports in the glovebox.

nofxSOHCcrx · 07-18-2009, 03:05 AM

That looks sweet. For internet needs, check out Clearwire. They provide wireless internet anywhere in you area. They are the first 4G network. Sprint bought like 51% of their stock, so they claim to be the first 4G network. Check em out and see if they are in your area yet. I don't know where you live, but I'm in Vegas and they just started up here. My brother works for them and their internet is actually pretty good. They're completely wireless. You could use it for your car, and your house at the same time.

I like how you're tapping in to the AC to cool, that's a pretty good idea. Hope it comes out nice, keep us informed!

Battle Pope · 07-18-2009, 04:00 AM

PDX was one of the first areas to have the new Clearwire service, and from the gizmodo writeup it was very good where the signal existed.

corvetteguy78 · 07-18-2009, 05:58 AM

No good can come from this

hondarin · 07-18-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiterabbit06

I think I'm going to mount the hard drives here on a bracket and tap into the a/c vent to cool them off.

What about when you're using the heater during the wintery months?

endlesszeal · 07-18-2009, 04:30 PM

cool beans man. props.

i want to see the progress too...

eventually i want to throw in a mini-itx setup or a netbook as mentioned above for thermal reasons and the whole setup will be around 200 bucks as well mninus monitor.

Jizared97 · 07-18-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hondarin

What about when you're using the heater during the wintery months?

I'd think you could just tap into it before the heater core.

whiterabbit06 · 07-19-2009, 05:22 PM

I really never use the heater because it doesn't really get cold enough here in Fl.

Jizared97 · 07-19-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiterabbit06

I really never use the heater because it doesn't really get cold enough here in Fl.

Just because you said that there will be a freak snowstorm.

whiterabbit06 · 07-19-2009, 08:01 PM

LOL, Yea I know. Even so I can close off the vents to that side.

Battle Pope · 07-19-2009, 09:52 PM

It would be smart to keep at least your defroster working.

cjvictoria · 07-20-2009, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jizared97

Just because you said that there will be a freak snowstorm.

oh damn i hope not..

being that i live in the same county as whiterabbit, it better not. lol

i vill keel you!!! hehe

07-17-2009, 02:11 AM	#8
cjvictoria Neon Owner Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: JAX, FL Age: 20 Posts: 2,098 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: '04 NEON Rep Power: 89	Dude you gots to show this to me when it's done.. or hell even while in progress. Meet at sonic? lol __________________ *XBOX LIVE* - jdmJO3 >>>Click ME<<< I have D16Y7 injectors and fuel rail fo sale. pm me if interested**.

07-17-2009, 10:30 AM	#11
TurboMirage Running on two cylinders Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southbridge, MA Age: 25 Posts: 18,155 iTrader: 1 / 100% Ride: 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer RPW E5 Coupe Rep Power: 338	you could have always stuffed a netbook with a 200gb HDD in there for under 400 bucks __________________ Home of the RPW built 2000 Lancer CC Coupe. See what is done to the little Evo5. "If you don't like what I've done with my car, I will gladly refund all the money you put into it."

07-18-2009, 05:58 AM	#17
corvetteguy78 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CT Posts: 925 iTrader: 2 / 100% Ride: 04 Audi 1.8T Rep Power: 92	No good can come from this __________________ Goodness Reflects the Light; And Evil Bares the Seed to all Darkness; These are Mirrors of the Soul; Reflections of the Mind--Choose Well


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07-16-2009, 04:32 PM	#5
805teggy lnly onceda boost is gone Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oxnard Age: 22 Posts: 68 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 96 teggy (RIP 02 TL-S) Rep Power: 1	nice.. post pics of the progress

07-16-2009, 04:33 PM	#6
Jizared97 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SC Age: 19 Posts: 705 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 97 ex coupe, 89 240sx Rep Power: 44	MP3Car.com - Your source for mobile computing solutions! - All Blog Entries You probably have already been here but they have a ton of stuff about carputers.

07-18-2009, 04:30 PM	#19
endlesszeal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,068 iTrader: 0 / 0% Rep Power: 68	cool beans man. props. i want to see the progress too... eventually i want to throw in a mini-itx setup or a netbook as mentioned above for thermal reasons and the whole setup will be around 200 bucks as well mninus monitor.

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