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Car PC build **updated**


nrenz123

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I've had the Sat nav that i made 5 months now, its almost identical to the one nurrish made. I've been toying with the idea of building a Car pc for a little while because of the extra functionality, ease of use and power of a car pc.

 

I'm going to buying the components in the next few months once i have the spare cash but this will be a bit of a built log.

 

Basically the computer will be powered by a dual core intel atom dual core cpu with integrated nvidia graphics the combining that with a few bits i have lying around (250gb hard drive 2gb ram) i hope to have a decent car pc. using a Lilliput 629GL-70NP as the display and power will be provided by the following http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_1797.html.

 

Functionality wise i'll be using centrafuse 3, most likely Igo8, and OBD2 scanner linked to a bit of software called dashcommand. Hopefully bluetooth phone and wifi (for updating).

 

I'm going to be selling the sat nav i have currently on the forum and hope to get a few quid for it to help fund the build but it will be without the nav cubby as i will need it for the new build.

 

This give an idea of the Centrafuse software

 

Nath

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I'm putting together my hardware list now.

 

Starting with the motherboard which will be a Zotac ION N330 IONITX F-E Motherboard

 

It's a Dual core atom 330 at 1.6ghz, integrated Nvidai ion graphics and comes with wifi.

 

162351-front2.jpg

 

Visuals will be provided by a Lilliput 629GL-70NP 7" VGA Touchscreen

 

2d0e8d148e032e1e408a69cc5a3c0fee.jpg

 

This is a 7 inch widescreen 16:9 high quality XGA TFT LCD with touchscreen and anti-glare. Compact and slimline, the 629GL-70NP/C/T is used widely in factories and industrial products where essential widgets of information need to be displayed and interacted with. The high-brightness display combined with advanced anti-glare technology, the 629GL-70NP/C/T is optimised for use in light areas, such as under direct sunlight.

 

It features a high resolution LED backlit display, wide viewing angles, touch screen function, multi size display and more.

 

 

The case is an Antec ISK 300-65 mITX

 

CA-126-AN_400.jpg

 

Power will be supplied by an M2 ATX power supply

 

•ATX, 6-24V wide input range (not for boats) see m2-atxHV and technical reasons.

•Intelligent shutdown controller

•ON/OFF motherboard control

•Survives vehicle engine cranks

•Battery deep discharge prevention

•High efficiency, 160 watts output

•"Anti-Thump" Amplifier remote control

•15A automotive fuse (mini-blade)

•VIA, P4 and AMD CPU support

 

M2-ATX_Jul2007.jpg

 

 

I'll be using a 200gb SATA drive i have lying about as well as 2gb of ddr2 800 6400 ram. then it will be just a cas eof buying a bluetooth dongle, GPS antenna, and wiring the lot in.

 

Software wise im going to run windows 7 as the OS, but i will be disabling as much as possible to get it to boot faster. Centrafuse will be the main front end to the system. For navigation i will be using iGO 8 while DashCommand with provide me with the OBD2 software.

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I will be making a car pc install my self soon, on mega budget. Plan to do it with bits and pieces laying around. My biggest worry is going to be cooling, where do you plan to house it, and what case materials are you using?

 

Keep us updated!

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I will be making a car pc install my self soon, on mega budget. Plan to do it with bits and pieces laying around. My biggest worry is going to be cooling, where do you plan to house it, and what case materials are you using?

 

Keep us updated!

 

I'm going to place it in the glove box but am looking into buying another Bose sub cover and fitting it where the globe box would be and using the grill as ventilation. As for the case i'll be using one of these http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =CA-126-AN.

 

Most important things for me are that the system be fast and snappy and the screen must be readable in sunlight.

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Will do mate, should hopefully be putting it together over the next 2 months. I plan on taking a lot of pictures from stripping down the interior and removing the monitor from its case etc plus usefull things like where i have run the wires :thumbs:

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I received the motherboard and RAM yesterday, im on night tonight but tomorrow i'll be assembling it out of the box so that i can get the OS and other software installed. Will upload some pics :)

 

Oh the ram i bought off ebay is made by OCZ and have nice big Z's on them lol, shame it isnt going to be visable :p

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Ok here goes,

 

I had a few parts deleivered so i decided to start putting the hardware together.

 

I decided to change the motherboard i planned on buying to one without the added wifi. I found one that was £30 cheaper and decided to buy a wifi n dongle for 8 quid of the bay.

 

The board has an onboard Intel Atom 330 CPU which is a dual core chip running at 1.6ghz, the board also has onboard graphics provided by an Nvidia ION which is basically a Geforce 9400. It all comes in a very small package as you will see from the pictures.

 

DSCF1029.jpg

 

The memory i bought off ebay was a nice little supprise, the ram is made by OCZ and has nice Z emblems on them. Just a shame your not going to see any of it.

 

DSCF1031.jpg

 

Next, the Hard drive which is a 3.5" 7200rpm 250gb Hitachi drive i had from and on build, you can see how small the motherboard is compared to the drive :p

 

DSCF1032.jpg

 

I havent yet to order a case so i decided to just set everything up on a desk to get the system up and running in the mean time.

 

DSCF1046.jpg

 

I've decided to use windows 7, i know XP would probably be slightly faster but 7 has a lot of native support for devices like the touch screen i will be using.

 

DSCF1039.jpg

DSCF1045.jpg

 

After Windows was installed i set about installing all my drivers and software. As stated before im using centrafuse, dashcommand, igo8 and scanxl.

 

Setting most of this up was quite simple the worst part has been getting the bluetooth working properly i may have to wire in a swtitch to get it to turn on after windows boots as sometimes it causes centrafuse to hang.

 

Embedding Igo into centrafuse was also a pain as its not officially been released, it was just a demo that a lot of enthusists have worked on to improve it. however it is working now.

 

I am still waiting for my bluetooth GPS receiver to turn up but at the moment im just using my phone's GPS connected via usb as the GPS receiver for testing.

 

So basically as things are everything is installed, im just waiting for my Wifi dongle, Bluetooth GPS and my OBD scanner to arrive, once i have these then i'll set them up but all the software is in so it shouldnt take long.

 

Here's what it looks like this far.

 

 

There are some issues with dashcommand not opening correctly but that will be sorted asap.

 

Next on the list is order the specialist automotive power supply, monitor, case then to install it in the car.

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How will this cope with heat henerated? if its put into glove box will it not overheat? let me know how you get one with windows 7 and how you plan to have it start, cold boot/hibernation etc. Thanks for the build log mate.

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I'm undecided wether i will put some black hexagonal mesh into the door of the glove box, or possibly use a cover from a bose sub. and install a fan there.

 

What im thinking thought is to cut the glove box door and install this:

 

IMAG00881.jpg

 

The system doesnt generate much heat at all, the hottest part so far has been the hard drive!

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Looking good bud. Shouldnt have a problem with heat at all, I have my Mac Mini in the letterbox cubby between the rear speakers and it never gets hot.

 

Remind me later and I'll send you the command for getting DashCommand embedded. You have to get the command flags in the right order in CF otherwise it doesnt set the window name right and then CF doesnt pick it up to embed it :bang:

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A few more bits have arrived,

 

All i need now is the case, power supply and monitor. Then just install the lot into the car.

 

My wireless N dongle for wifi and connecting to my home network while parked outside. ill mainly use this to update music folders etc.

 

BoBZhYB2kKGrHqIH-CwEtqyCo7BoBLl4tpW.jpg

 

The microphone i will be fitting for the bluetooth phone.

 

BpcvCHQBGkKGrHqQH-CgEuW0gCbCBLresGN.jpg

 

A bit self explanatory this one, but this is my bluetooth gps unit :)

 

BplLWBGkKGrHqMOKj0EuuHFc0soBLs2kGkz.jpg

 

Finally my favourit bit of kit, the code reader.

 

ed67_12.jpg

 

It supports all OBD2 protocols:

 

• ISO15765-4 (CAN) • ISO14230-4 (KWP2000) • ISO9141-2 • J1850 VPW • J1850 PWM

 

Output protocol: RS232 Baud rate: 9600 or 38400

 

 

It has transmission and receiving lights on the box so you can see when it's connecting.

 

Indicator LEDs: OBD Tx/Rx, RS232 Tx/Rx,

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That code reader is going to stick out a mile. Have you seen where the socket is? It will hit your legs that. You might want to get a 90 degree angle adapter

 

Any idea where i could get one mate?

 

Better yet .. get yourself a Bluetooth OBDII Reader:

 

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16921

 

:thumbs:

 

That would have been perfect, but as ive bought this ne now ill bear with it. i've had a look at the socket and im happy there will be spare room, just have to wedge is in as titdy as possible! obviously i'll be using the obd daily but i could sell the one i have bought on to a more part time user and get a bluetooth one.

 

Nath.

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