SunGodRA Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 I have being meaning to build a CarPC for nearly three years now, and have finally decided to do it! Thanks to Hynder (Alan), nrez123 (Nathan) and Tricky-Ricky who have given me inspiration in their posts. Ordered some bits, and they arrived yesterday... Kit list to date (I will update this as I go): Zotac ION N330 IONITX F-E Motherboard http://www.wstore.co.uk/index.asp?pg=pr ... rod=686875 Akasa Mini_ITX Case http://www.wstore.co.uk/index.asp?pg=pr ... rod=727542 WD Scorpio (Black) - 320GB Internal Hard Drive - 2.5" - SATA-300 - 7200 rpm - Buffer: 16MB Kingston 2GB DIMM 240-pin - DDR II - 800MHz - CL6 - 1.8 V - Unbuffered - Non-ECC Memory Belkin Mini USB Bluetooth Adapter - Bluetooth 2.0 EDR - Class 2 Windows 7 Pro 32 bit Centrafuse 3 Auto It only took 10 mins to assemble all the bits. I then installed Windows 7 Pro - boot time is about 30 seconds but that's not an issue as the PC will be in 'sleep mode' when not in use (sleep boot less than 5 seconds) The case I bought has DC input (12v) but I am not sure how this will cope in the car so I might need to get a Carnetix one which can handle cranking voltage and has intelligent shutdown if battery drain is too much etc. I will spend the next couple of weeks 'bench testing' before I install in the car. I tried to pair my iphone with the PC, but it was a complete pain in the a$$ and I gave up after an hour - then I found a piece of software called 'Bluetooth Soleil' and it work a treat! (I later found out that this was included with Centrafuse 3 ) Installed Centrafuse 3 and this is a great front end (but I will try others like Roadrunner etc.). Iphone pairing now works a treat - but I still havent worked out how to download contact list to CF yet. I am still undecided on what touchscreen monitor to use, so at the moment I am using VNC to connect to the box... Next on 'To Do' List: Find suitable SatNav software (USB GPS) Find decent front and rear cams (stealthed) Purchase Blatz cable and software Purchase USB I/O board to control various things in the car (inc finger print start) http://www.fusioncontrolcentre.com/Fusi ... /index.php Investigate voice commands (I have Dragon Speak 10) Skin CF3 That's all for now - but I will update as I go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac@TarmacSportz Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 Looks like you need that bottle of vino Nice work bud Not sure about the website on the computer though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunGodRA Posted August 20, 2010 Author Share Posted August 20, 2010 Looks like you need that bottle of vino Nice work bud Not sure about the website on the computer though The website wasn't posted purposely, I just happened to be posting something when photo was taken. At the end of the day all the forum politics is bollox anyway - this is a great forum, and so is the other one (still unsure if I can mention the name!, pathetic really!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 nice, i'll be interested to follow did you look at anything that was purposefully car orientated? (eg shock proof) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunGodRA Posted August 20, 2010 Author Share Posted August 20, 2010 nice, i'll be interested to follow did you look at anything that was purposefully car orientated? (eg shock proof) Yep - the hard disk has shock proof protection apparently - however I will be looking to replace it once installed with a Solid State Disk - price an issue at the moment £££ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 solid state definately no disc drive obviously, not planning on cd's or such like at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andlid Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 Woho cool geek stuff... solid state I'm not sure its worth it. Have a 64gb on my eee and it cost more then the pc itself! Also some guys talk about life will be hit by lots of read writes for swap and cache. Get two drives instead and image copy once your happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 yeah but it wont be hammering the HD that badly surely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 i know it's not a large SSD but might be useful ? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/233258 seems pretty quick too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andlid Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 i know it's not a large SSD but might be useful ? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/233258 seems pretty quick too half price what I paid for my 64Gb one typicall. yeah but it wont be hammering the HD that badly surely? Well on found on some ubuntu place that they recommended to turn off the swap drive to slow down writes to the SSD drive. Im not sure since its not been around for too long to know whats what really. My plan on mini pc would be to have a 2.5 inch drive with 160 odd Gb on it and sync with my server once I come into the drive if Ive changed stuff on it. In my mind a minipc drive in a car wouldnt have much new information written to it most of the time so it should be sufficient to set it all up take an image of the drive and store outside the car and use a SD card type media to move use files on the computer, or Wifi / Bluetooth via home while on the drive.. or via 3G with the HTC phone used as a internet router (Android 2.2) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
350 Russ Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 dammit man that is cool! how much has all this set you back out of interest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurrish Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 I miss mine Might get onto another one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunGodRA Posted August 20, 2010 Author Share Posted August 20, 2010 dammit man that is cool! how much has all this set you back out of interest? I have had a couple of pm's about costs, so here you go! (I am fortunate that I work in IT so I get things at cost price ) To date I have spent: Motherboard and processor £104.00 Case £41.19 Hard disk £43.05 RAM £24.98 Bluetooth adapter £5.26 Windows 7 Pro FREE (Microsoft Gold Partner status) Dragon Speak 10 (PC can accept voice commands) FREE Centrafuse front end software (using trial atm - but it cost $79, available on torrents also) to buy: Touch screen - not sure which one yet - budgeted approx £200 Front and rear cams - estimate £15 each Nissan CAN BUS lead and Blatz software (engine management and diagnostics) approx £100 Fusion Brain Version 4.0 (I/O board to control various aspects of the car) $59.99 Finger print scanner for engine start - approx £35 I budgeted £500 for the project, but I am sure it will cost more as I will want it to do more things David PS I would be happy to build this for anyone else that was interested, at cost price of course Edit: I forgot Satnav - not sure what to use yet, but USB GPS receiver approx £25 - software extra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andlid Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 dammit man that is cool! how much has all this set you back out of interest? Windows 7 Pro FREE (Microsoft Gold Partner status) PS I would be happy to build this for anyone else that was interested, at cost price of course on the first one, you'll see that it's not covered to install it on a PC for home use in a car on the second one I'll hold you to that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunGodRA Posted August 20, 2010 Author Share Posted August 20, 2010 i know it's not a large SSD but might be useful ? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/233258 seems pretty quick too To be honest, the existing drive is good enough - it is fast (7,200rpm) and has shock proof technology - I have tested - see pic of my son, he is shaking this vigorously and I am watching an MP4 and there was no problems... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunGodRA Posted August 20, 2010 Author Share Posted August 20, 2010 dammit man that is cool! how much has all this set you back out of interest? Windows 7 Pro FREE (Microsoft Gold Partner status) PS I would be happy to build this for anyone else that was interested, at cost price of course on the first one, you'll see that it's not covered to install it on a PC for home use in a car on the second one I'll hold you to that! My operating system is legit! but there are many ways of not paying for this! Anders, if you can tare yourself away from your potato farm and come down south I will gladly make one for you :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andlid Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Looks like you need that bottle of vino Nice work bud Not sure about the website on the computer though The website wasn't posted purposely, I just happened to be posting something when photo was taken. At the end of the day all the forum politics is bollox anyway - this is a great forum, and so is the other one (still unsure if I can mention the name!, pathetic really!) **REMOVED**, **REMOVED**, **REMOVED**. No problems or 'pathetic' politics here dude. I'm sure you missed the that Tarmac posted afterwards. Generally that means it's a joke..... Nice PC build, will watch to see how this turns out, I like these geeky builds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunGodRA Posted August 26, 2010 Author Share Posted August 26, 2010 I'm still waiting for for bits to arrive, so in the meantime I thought I would have a play with Centrafuse. Had a play with skins - its actually a lot easier than I thought... Here is CF3 normal skin Here is a skin called Aqua which I modified with the Zed logo: (the green circle around the logo indicated I have internet access ) I have also download some open source Front End software called 'Ride Runner' (formally known as Road Runner) - it is very configurable, and being open source its free! I will post pics of it when I have had a proper play. I cant wait to get all this installed in the car now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H5 Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Those screen shots look very good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andlid Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedy Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 any more on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunGodRA Posted December 14, 2010 Author Share Posted December 14, 2010 no updates yet - been busy with other things and waiting for weather to warm up a bit - too cold to be playing with the car!!! All bits ready to fit now - might have a crack at it in a couple of weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Good work bud. I have a Carnetix CNX-P2140 sat at home doing nothing if you are interested? One of, if not the best Car PSU's available. Yours for the postage and a donation to the forum /runs to check he hasnt thrown it away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunGodRA Posted December 14, 2010 Author Share Posted December 14, 2010 Good work bud. I have a Carnetix CNX-P2140 sat at home doing nothing if you are interested? One of, if not the best Car PSU's available. Yours for the postage and a donation to the forum /runs to check he hasnt thrown it away pm sent Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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