I am new to the whole carpc idea and wanted your input. I really dislike the oem delco crap they put in my 97. I also dislike the look of aftermarket cd/mp3 players in the single din and double din format. So my only option left that I really love is the carpc with maybe a 7 or 8 inch touchscreen. My questions then begin to start. I guess all I really want to know is what all is needed. Besides the touchscreen, where did you guys get a modified dash, or did you just dremel your old ones? Also, what all components are needed? You can leave out brand names for sake of starting an opinion war, I just want to get it all in one pocket clearing wack. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

we all pretty much modified our own dashes. I know blown_z06 will mod them for a price, as well as c5kidd if you weren't up for the task. It is really simple though and you should read through the c5faq to see what you need to do.

components that are needed. best thing to do is copy someone that has already done it. if you check out the link in my sig i have a list of everything that i used. pretty much you need:
motherboard (via epia mini itx are the best imhho)
ram
psu and shut down controller (m2-atx)
screen
soundcard (the onboard sound isn't all that good. For most applications i'd probably recommend an active x-over and a usb dac for great sound. but you can get away with traditional soundcards too)
gps reciever/mouse thingy
hardrive (some say you need a 2.5" laptop drive..this is b.s. i've used a 3.5" for a year w no problems)
case
amp
speakers
i thnk that is about it (off the top of my head) but i could be leaving something out


In the link in my sig i have a complete breakdown on page 5 i think. check it out.

 

I would most likely do everything myself, as this is a daily driver. I was browsing around on mp3car.com. What do you think about their computer packages? Also, you mention speakers. Would the factory ones I have not work?

 

Here is what I have come up with.

Motherboard--EPIA SP13000
Memory-------1 GB DDR PC3200 DIMM
Power Supply--M2-ATX 160W DC-DC
OS------------Windows XP Home
Monitor-------Lilliput 7" VGA Touchscreen 619GL
CD/DVD Drive--Panasonic Slot Load DVD-ROM/CD-RW
Sound---------Soundblaster Audigy2
Keyboard-----MINI PS2 USB Keyboard

Do I need Wifi adapters and bluetooth?

 

i'm not sure about the best way to integrate a pc into the bose system since there is no internal amplification like you'd have with an aftermarket h/u. the 3.5" speakers and the rears are powered off of the bose head unit so you'd at least nead an amp (it could be a small one) but for a couple hundred more you'd be better off just tearing out the bose system. (you'll also save some money by not having to purchase the bose interface)

i've added notes on your setup:

Motherboard--EPIA SP13000 -- good board -- i have the m10000 and it does a great job. the 13000 is a better board.
Memory-------1 GB DDR PC3200 DIMM --- go with 512. 1 gb will slow boot times and not net you that much of an improvement for what we use these computers for
Power Supply--M2-ATX 160W DC-DC
OS------------Windows XP Home
Monitor-------Lilliput 7" VGA Touchscreen 619GL
CD/DVD Drive--Panasonic Slot Load DVD-ROM/CD-RW
Sound---------Soundblaster Audigy2-- this is a popular route but not my cup of tea. if you get amps with internal x-overs i'd opt for the usb dac or an m-audio audiophile soundcard. the audigy's don't have that high of an output voltage (i think they are about .2volts) where as the dac and m-audio (also the echo gina 3g card which i have) alll have higher outputs. check out this thread: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...hlight=usb+dac

i've talked with this guy during the developmental stages of this project and if i didn't have a unique situation i would definately go this route.
Keyboard-----MINI PS2 USB Keyboard

Do I need Wifi adapters and bluetooth? -- nope, you can add those at anytime if you feel like it.

 

Great advice! Thanks a ton man.

 

I was thinking of going a different route in using a MB that has a digital optical out for audio and running that into the Alpine PXA-H701 with the RUX-H701 as a controller for tuning the system, time alignment, active cross over etc... From this, I can go directly to my McIntosh amps and then speakers.

What do you think?

Jay

 

the alpine pxa is a nice unit. i had it in mine for a short while. with the via boards you can get digital out, you just need an inexpensive coax to optical converter and you're good to go. the alpine is a solid unit, has a nice 31 band 1/3 octive eq and gives you solid 4 volts out but in the end i didn't like the aftermarket look of the rux controller so i opted out of it. another option is going with the zapco dac. it deosn't have the 31 band eq; rather i think 10 band, but i'm pretty sure that is software based and hopefully with enough pressure they will update the firmware. another plus for zapco is that they use a balanced signal that is great for blocking out induced noise. (my new system is comprised of a fully balanced signal, from the computer to the x-over to the butler and zapco amps)

The nice thing about the dac is that it bypasses windows k-mixer and it's the prefered method of getting music off of a computer for almost every audiophile out there that is integrating a computer into there setup. If you combine that with an active x-over and eq; from audio control for instance. you will have a very solid system right there.

if you are going the pxa-h701 route and you would like a bezel that was made for that and a 7" xenarc, hit me up because i have one sitting in my closet that i plan on refinishing and selling when i send my new piece out to be refinished.

 

I might just do that. I really wanted a double din for my C6 but then I'd have no place for the Alpine. That leads me to a single DIN motorized but then I'll block the AC vent if I put it on top. I need to look into your other DAC suggestion and active cross-over. I've looked at a few active cross overs, but I'm not educated enough on these to know what I'm looking for. I've got the McIntosh amps already and I don't think they have balanced outs. You got some links to teh stuff you're using, I'd like to check them out.

Jay

 

most amps don't have balanced out. the amps i have amps are the only ones that i know of (and the new line of butler tube amps don't even have them. Does your McIntosh amp have an internal x-over? If they do, you could get away w/o using the active x-over.

the x-over i'm using is a zapco unit...err..i forgot the model # so i'll have to check that out tonight. I probably wouldn't recommend the zapco products for you case since they require a special power supply if you dont hook them up to a zapco amp. and then they also require a converter to change the balanced signal to an unbalanced signal (rca) and vise versa.

 

Just wanted to say hi, I am doing the same thing.

This is about the best looking console I have found yet:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=59492

 

heh...err that is a photochopped image

 

doesnt matter still looks good

 

I don't suggest the car PC yet, it's all too slow and unreliable at the moment. Wait for some new technology such as the SSD drives (solid state, as in flash) to become mainstream...

 

that sure is a gross generalization. how fast do you need your pc to be? i am running 1 ghz proc and 512 mb of ram and have never had any problems with it being too slow. unreliable? many of us have had pc's in our cars for years and haven't had any glitches what so ever. I've read of a few people that have totalled their cars and the pc was fine after the crash. Please state some facts and personal experiences to support your statement

 

OOOOOO FIGHT!!!!!

 

hahaha...hey that's my line!