Car Computer Project - Needs to be small, any tips?

[silenkiller]

Ok, I'm trying to design a computer that runs inside of a car. Now I have some of the various issues worked out, and I'm trying to design a cheap and small computer that only needs to be able to play MP3's and DVD/Videos without any problems. Heres what I have so far - any suggestions?

Foxconn 3GTLM487-CA400N Black/Silver Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case Peak Power: 350W, Max Power: 250W Power Supply - Retail

Model #: 3GTLM487-CA400N
Item #: N82E16811153036

30.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3808110AS 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3808110AS
Item #: N82E16822148107

$47.99

Kingston ValueRAM 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model KVR400/1GR - Retail
$86.99


BIOSTAR TForce6100-939 Socket 939 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: TForce6100-939
Item #: N82E16813138264

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 2000MHz HT Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3000BPBOX - Retail

BOTH for $134.99

so right now thats 300.00 minus shipping. Granted I need the other basics, but onboard video should be fine.

Oh and I still have to add a nice sound card which gives me some type of RCA out - still looking into that. This thing will be wired into a fairly highend sound system.

Annnny suggestions? =D
Oh and all this is from newegg.

 

[k-]

if that's all you plan to do, bring the memory down to 512 and at least get a 7300gs for like $50.

Its still ALOT better than a integrated gfx card and it wont stutter on anything.



oh and also, dont buy that case and a psu.
trust me and At Least get this

Rosewill 350W psu (look at the reviews)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817182006
and this case (the only one that looks decent at the price)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811156054

*sorry, i don't know anything about sound cards.

 

[connor]

i know ive seen an article for a car pc that will do just that for you give me a little while i will try and find it i cant remember whether it was on toms or not.

and for sound cards im not sure about rca outs but i have an xfi extreme music hooked into bose speakers and the quality is amazing.

 

[TheMaster]

why do you need a case, is it going in your trunk?
Usually people put the computer in the dash and use a nano atx.

Also, i don't know how long that HD is going to last going over speed bumps. :lol:


Here read this, talks about some the stuff i mentioned.
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1858814,00.asp

 

[connor]

for about seven bucks you can go to radioshak and get the rca out adapter and it will open up your options for sound cards rather than the few out there. unless you would rather just have one with rca integrated in than the hercules theater xp

whats your budget?

 

[MOREPOWERPLEASE123]

The best site I have found for car related computer stuff is www.mp3car.com

 

[michaelahess]

I completely agree, that hd won't last long at all if you drive with the system on a lot, you need a laptop hd for an application like that. And making an atx case fit in a car isn't going to be pretty. Any cheap audigy will be more than you need for a car stereo.

Get a mac mini and find one of the many conversion to car pc links on the web, it'll cost a bit more but work a LOT better, and last longer too.

 

[cptndipshit]

x2 on a mini-ITX or nano-ITX. the onboard video of these boards have hardware mpeg-2 so they will handle DVDs fine. Mini-ITX start around $125 and include the CPU, some are fanless too. The nano-ITX board I'veen was $300 including CPU.

here is a power simulator to see how many watts you will need.

Very small 200w psu

Nice small car case $79

7" widescreen LCD w/touchscreen $215

 

[cptndipshit]

even smaller psu, only 60w though, and it runs down to 6v so your PC wont reboot with engine crank

mini-ITX store

Maybe a USB Audigy if onboard sound through 3.5mm to RCA adaptor isn't to your liking.

 

[TheMaster]

That won't work for his x2 3000, HD and his graphics card.
He might aswell invest in a generator to put in the trunk.
I hope you didn't have your heart set on putting a 20" CRT in the front seat aswell.

Seriously, you'll need to cut all that stuff down to a mobile platform you're running of a 12v battery.

CaptDipsh1t (lol) is giving you some good links.

 

[cptndipshit]

Also check out eVectra on Ebay. They use a laptop PSU, so you can just get a cigarette plug version, hack off the end and hardwire. Should be even cheaper than via boards, but are older PIII machines. I picked up a 933 mhz PIII with 256mb ram for $60 and run a lilliput 7"vga tcuchscreen, but the ITX boards are better and more up to date.

eVectra without outer case running off 12v. LCD pluged into extention cord at the time: