i was just entertaining this idea with my friend. just wondering if you guys think it's better to buy an old laptop or just to build a computer out of scratch. the biggest problem i can see is the monitor an the power draw. i would like to be able to play DVD's, mp3's, use it as a navi, and maybe one day to control the NOS. any suggestions guys?

austin:

i know you're building your system, just wondering if you can give me some pointers.

 

right now computers are too much strain on a cars battery and alternator. You would have to upgrade thsoe 2 and get a seperate battery. For now, just get a an MP3 hard drive player for cars, get a screen and a dvd and navi and just use that

 

unx979:
bigman is blowing smoke . Computers are NOT a big strain on the battery, especially if they're built for that application. As you see in my sig, I have a computer in my car, which will control everything you stated, and a few other secret things for now A good system that will run everything you could want in a car can run easily enough off of a 250W power supply, which at max draw would be no more than 25A, and I have found ways to decrease this quite a bit. If you need help with this let me know. I can tell you it's a lot better than those pathetic mp3 players, of similar cost, and much more expandable.

I can definitely give you pointers. The first thing you'll want to ask yourself is how much speed you actually NEED. The faster the processor, the more cooling needed, and the more power drain. So get as slow as you can but still be comfortable with. Between AMD and Intel you want Intel because AMD runs hotter and sucks more power. Get a PIII not a Celeron, since they consume similar amounts of power, but the PIII has better processing power because of larger L2 cache. Second decide how much memory you need. Again as little as you're comfortable with. But realize (and of course I'd have to give you the software I wrote) that it is possible to buffer large quantities of information into RAM, thereby eliminating the worry of jarring the hard drives or cdroms. Third, decide on the amount of space you need. The slower the hard drive (RPM speed) the less power it consumes. And you will definitely want IDE over SCSI (power concerns). I suggest 5400RPM drives, and as few as possible. One larger drive consumes less power than two smaller ones. Make sure to get a good, powerful CPU fan and figure out how you want to cool the system. Then of course you have to decide on peripherals (the fewer the better...aka if you want DVD and CDRW get a combo drive) and lastly where you're going to put it all. If you need further info look for me on AIM as Austin519, or email me.

Austin519

 

austin:

you are da man!!!! i'll be getting in touch with you through AIM later thanks so much.

 

oh yeah on the subject of power, can we use the power converters that plug into the cig lighter? i saw on that has an output of 500 watts? how does that sound?

 

unx979:
"oh yeah on the subject of power, can we use the power converters that plug into the cig lighter? i saw on that has an output of 500 watts? how does that sound?"

Can we? Yes. Do we want to? Definitely not. Why? Because anytime you convert from AC to DC, or DC to AC, you lose a lot of power to heat...aka bad efficiency. Now a normal power supply is 80% efficient. Take that power supply, run it through an inverter with say 75% efficiency...and you now have 60% efficiency...aka for every 3 amps you need, you have to draw 5 amps...so for a 25A draw you have to draw ~40A. The best solution is to use a direct DC-DC power supplies...which boast 98% efficiency because of the lack of needing to convert power. Those with laptops also probably run DC-AC converters, then their power cord converts it back...but would do better using a power supply that I made for my laptop that just converts to DC and wires directly into the computer. Now where do you get one of these power supplies? Well, that's one of my secrets...as there are only 3 good ones on the market, all very VERY hard to get...there are plenty of standard ones...but not low heat very high efficiency We can talk if you want.

Austin519

 

Astroboy also has a computer in his 2002 TL-S. There's pic of it on here somewhere.

 

don't know how PC it is to post another www site's forums into this one, BUT...

One of the things I love besides my black on black TL type S (complete with ground effects and a naked, "no emblem" ass) is computers...

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....highlight=eden

just my two cents...

daylon2@yahoo.com

 

think about it .... Computer to control NOS ... it's not stable enough for that shiet.... Imagine you are spraying the gas and the computer freezed up and it keep spraying.... That ain't good

 

Bigmonkey70...which is why you'd have safety mechanisms...just like if your fuel pump shut off...but warning...old thread alert...

TLRunner

 

I've been working/designing on my "Computer Project" for quite awhile now...the only thing i need is $$$$. Before you start planning, plan on where you are going to place ur computer and plan how to cool it, how to get cool air to the computer and the hot air out.

I agree with Austin Recommendations. Adding a Computer will now add Strain on ur electrical system...you are only using 500Watt MAX. and i know some of you guys are run 1000 Watt Amps. 200-300 Watt should be fine, depending on what ur running. I wanted to use my comp. as a MP3, Aftermarket NAVI, DVD/Movie, TV, reverse backup camera, WLAN. I wanted a Mainstream system, nothing too weak, nothing too powerful. There is a balance between price and performance.

This is the system i'm planing to use.
1) CPU = AMD XP 1400+
2) RAM = 256 DDR
3) HD =80GB 7200 RPM
4) Sound Card = Sound Blaster Audigy
5) Video Card = Geforce 4 4600, and a TV Card
6) Network = Orinoco Wireless LAN Gold Card
7) USB 2.0 Dvd Drive, USB floppy, Mini wireless keyboard, touch pad.
8) Power = DC-DC PS 12 V, 5V, 3.3 V
9) Co-pilot 2002 USB
10) 12 or 15 inLCD Screen

I already have most off these components on my current cmputer, so i'm just gonna resuse them.

Planning to mount comupter in the trunk and have a DVD drive in the glove compartment. I would connect the DVD usuing USB 2.0, USB 1.0 will not work, running the from the front to the back, you will get too much data loss, USB 2 will take care of this problem (Firewire will also work). Mount a 12" or 15" LCD the center *where the radio is* attached to a swivel base, so i can flip the screen out of the way to adj. climite or radio. Touch pad either on steering wheel or where cup holder is. Wireless keyboard can be left anywhere. Internet can be obtained by sniffing out AP and leeching from them. Navi kit, Co-pilot 2002 USB, which is made to be a laptap NAVi system. Hook up a camera to the rear bumper and attached it to the computer so i can have a back up camera.

If ur goal is for MP3, i would recommend you get a DC-DC convertor, usualy aroudn $100, like Austin said, they are more effiecent, and they don't produce "Noise" like DC-AC converters do. They will have a hmmmmm noise which may interfere with ur computer /sound card. It's not really effiecent to convert DC to AC and then AC back to DC.

U also need sufficent cooling, AMD processors can get VERY hot!!!! Without sufficent cooling, they will heat up and MELT themselves!!!!! With P3, and P4 you are safter....they will not melt. On hot days i would open the ski-pass door thing, on cooler days, i would'nt worry to much. Heat is semiconductors worse enemy!!!!