Car Computer

[napalm22]

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811190109
Mini-ITX 150W - $40

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500044
ZOTAC NF610I-K-E Mini ITX - $50

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148239
1GB 240-Pin DDR2 - $40 (getting two sticks)

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116039
Celeron 430 1.8GHz LGA 775 - Free (already have one that isn't being used)


Harddrive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211419
32GB SSD - $85


Screen
Here is the OEM Radio

Height: 5.3in
Top width: 8.6in
Bottom width: 8.2in

Here is the VGA touchscreen I'm going to put in my dash
http://www.amazon.com/inch-Desktop-Monitor-Touch-Screen/dp/B000Y50O2A/ref=pd_cp_e_2
Height: 6.46in
Width: 8.11
Resolution: 1024x768
Cost: $145

The dimensions aren't perfect, but I can cut some plastic and make it fit.

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Total: $360

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I already have a spare usb WiFi receiver laying around which I can use for wardriving, connecting to random hotspots, or to teather to my android phone and get 3g internet while on the road.

What do you guys think? How can I make this better/cheaper?

 

[Guest]

To be honest I don't really think there's anything which can be upgraded. If you've got that Celeron lying around you might as well use it. For a car computer you're not going to need more than 2 gigs of RAM (unless you're gunna video edit whilst driving )

I guess you're not going to use this for media storage if you're only getting a 32GB drive.

What are you actually going to use this for though? I mean, a computer in a car, sounds cool but what's it going to be used for? I guess you'll be installing Windows from a flash drive, which version?

 

[napalm22]

I was going to put Ubuntu on it actually. Plan on using it for listening to music and watching videos while on the road. I know 32GB isn't great for media storage, I just wanted a SSD for fast booting. I plan on dropping one of the 250GB sata drives I got laying around into it to store more stuff

 

[Guest]

Ah right then, I forgot about Ubuntu. Probably the best choice for a PC which has as little power as this. I'd wait for other people's opinions, but I'd say you're good to go

 

[jsc]

Plan on using it for listening to music and watching videos while on the road.

Sounds really safe.

 

[Guest]

I should hope he's referring to the passengers

 

[kio54]

asuming it's the passengers that are watching the movies, there really isn't much else you can do. that'll do what you want it to, and it's about the cheepest you can get it.

so go for it =]

just let me know when you're driving around the south-eastern part of iowa so i know when to go on vacation.

 

[jefe323]

I was going to put Ubuntu on it actually. Plan on using it for listening to music and watching videos while on the road. I know 32GB isn't great for media storage, I just wanted a SSD for fast booting. I plan on dropping one of the 250GB sata drives I got laying around into it to store more stuff

FYI: having a video playing in the dash like that is illegal in many places. I have an in-dash dvd player in my car and I know for a fact it is illegal in California.

 

[TomTomz]

All I can say is... THAT IS !@#$%^& AWESOME!!!