Car mp3/media player (Install Pending)

finished the screen install, and took pics along the way :)

its a bit late tonight to post em up, but i'll do it tomorrow afternoon.

next step is wiring everything in. to do this, i basically just unhook the speaker wire block from the stock amplifier, then attach the female block on the end of it (so im not modifying the base system). after i have the wires off that block, i just determine which ones are for which speakers, and run them into the new amp. the computer audio output then goes into the RCA inputs on the amp. i can explain it all in more deatail tomorrow, im tired now, and inhaling all the paint fumes didnt help.
 
screen pics :)

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that looks like a nice lcd...it fits in well, no jagged cuts or anything....GREAT JOB
 
that looks like it came from the factory that way!! props on a great job...

how does the cf card and the rest of the computer parts for that matter deal with the cold and how do they take bumps? anyone?
 
This is more of a general question but with the touch screen lcd or any touch screen lcd how does it work exactly? I went on ebay and found the same lcd that you got but say I just wanted to hook it up to my main pc, do I just plug it in and the touch screen function works or does it have to have software loaded..things like that?

Thanks,
-Nigel
 
i havnt installed the computer yet, still need to run the wiring. but from what other people have said, the hd's dont have a problem with bumps, atleast modern ones dont. the g ratings far surpass anything you'd experience driving down the road

theres software for the touchscreen part, and an additional usb connection, i had mine on my main system for a while just playing with it :)
 
is there anyway u can give a final tally on the cost. since i'm seriously pondering whether i should do something like this.
 
Originally posted by Qwertyman
is there anyway u can give a final tally on the cost. since i'm seriously pondering whether i should do something like this.
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I would LOVE to do something like this in my jeep wrangler.. i dont know how well it would work though, being open to the elements during the summer (to an extent) and with the drastic changes in temperature during the winter (anywhere from -20*F to whatever the temp gets with the heater on)
 
hm, heres an approximate break down:

screen = 270
hd = 70
mobo + psu = 170
memory = free (found it around the house)

you'll probably need an aftermarket amplifier, because most stock ones dont have RCA inputs, but all thats up to you


im kinda wondering how my stuff will do in the cold weather next winter, but im not too excited about testing it out
 
what mobo and psu? and where? i dunno where to find a itx mobo, let alone a case
 
I'm trying to work around the issue of the computer sending audio to the amp I will have, are the outputs on a soundcard(onboard or otherwise) considered 'pre-amp' outputs or are they amplified to an extent?

It looks awsome, really clean stuff!
~Kris
 
Originally posted by StratocasterMaster
I'm trying to work around the issue of the computer sending audio to the amp I will have, are the outputs on a soundcard(onboard or otherwise) considered 'pre-amp' outputs or are they amplified to an extent?

It looks awsome, really clean stuff!
~Kris
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I would consider them pre-amp outputs, but a lot of amps also have speaker-level inputs if you need to use them....
 
Let us know how it sounds when your done. Not sure what codecs they use on that board or anything but onboard sound usually sucks.

Im a quality freak when it comes to sound. Main thing holding me back from doing something like this.
 
Originally posted by SKiTLz
Let us know how it sounds when your done. Not sure what codecs they use on that board or anything but onboard sound usually sucks.

Im a quality freak when it comes to sound. Main thing holding me back from doing something like this.
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There is an available PCI slot....
 
Well I was looking at my tower last night while laying in bed and it struck me, the front-x for the Audigy2 has a pre-amp RCA outputs so I'm going to be using it with my system.

That is one problem down and a couple more to go. I've run into an issue of where to put the CD drive considering the screen is going to take the usable dash area.

Another thing I'm worried about is the booting of the system, I am trying to find a way to get a quick booting system that will shut down without 'concerns' when I dont use the 'shutdown proceedure'.

Anyways, I'm sorry I'm highjacking your thread.

~Kris
 
Well, almost everythings done now :)

The amp power is run, the speakers wired, the inverter for the computer is setup, and best of all: everything works

I have a few things left to do (setup touchscreen, audio work, etc), so i'll wait to do a full update.


Also, for the boot time, just get everything setup and use hibernation, i boot up in ~20s
 
the best thing to do would be to get a new deck that has rca inputs. when i bought my last one, i checked for this sort of thing. my alpine has aux inputs...too cool...
 
yeah, i have aux inputs on my aiwa head unit, i plug my laptop into it all the time, and now i use that media engine thing. it is pretty sweet.

now i have like 3200 songs + some movies to choose from while driving my car!
 
During the summer won't the temps in the trunk get VERY hot. Especially if it is sitting out in the sun for a few hours and then you decide to listen to some tunes.
 
Originally posted by amohedas
During the summer won't the temps in the trunk get VERY hot. Especially if it is sitting out in the sun for a few hours and then you decide to listen to some tunes.
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Or very cold during the winter....


still, I cant wait to see some pictures of everything mounted!! give up the pictures!! :p
 
Originally posted by MentallyDisturbed
Or very cold during the winter....


still, I cant wait to see some pictures of everything mounted!! give up the pictures!! :p
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that is why i use my laptop and just bring it inside when it is very hot/cold out side :)
 
Got everything mounted, and it works perfect. Its getting late now, but i'll post up pictures of everything tomorrow.

FYI, i wanst satisfied with the onboard sound, so i picked up a Creative Soundblaster MP3+ external usb adaptor. It has RCA outputs, and now the sound quality is perfect. It sounds just like the origonal cds.
 
He will end up promitia cooling it :) or running a radiator loop of the engine
lol....
 
i know that computers can be set to run with UPS software where the ups will tell them to shut off after they are low on power... so possibly, you could make the thing run on the car battery, (or put a second car battery in with an isolater so your main one can't get drained if something goes wrong) and somehow make something that tells the car to turn off when the voltage to it drops below 30 volts.. (ok, basically the alternator in a car is 14 V, a battery is 12, most cars electrical systems run at about 13.8 v or so when the car is on... when you turn it off it is on battery power, which is 12 volts..)

how are you dealing with the power anyways? do you have a power inverter.. (if you posted this already, i am sorry i dind't read it, but i just skimmed the post)

anyways.. nice job so far.. i am looking forward to seeing more pics.
 
Originally posted by scottatwittenberg
i know that computers can be set to run with UPS software where the ups will tell them to shut off after they are low on power... so possibly, you could make the thing run on the car battery, (or put a second car battery in with an isolater so your main one can't get drained if something goes wrong) and somehow make something that tells the car to turn off when the voltage to it drops below 30 volts.. (ok, basically the alternator in a car is 14 V, a battery is 12, most cars electrical systems run at about 13.8 v or so when the car is on... when you turn it off it is on battery power, which is 12 volts..)

how are you dealing with the power anyways? do you have a power inverter.. (if you posted this already, i am sorry i dind't read it, but i just skimmed the post)

anyways.. nice job so far.. i am looking forward to seeing more pics.
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they sell dc-dc converters for ITX motherboards that will turn on shortly after your ignition starts, and turn off 10 seconds after you turn off you car...

might want to actually read the thread
 
im going to run a line up for the switch later on, and get the other switches setup (main power, remote wire, etc)


btw, everything still works great, and im still going to get the pics up
 
been busy, but im going to run wire up for the switches next week, i'll get all the pics up then

sorry :x
 
i was wondering if you could let me know how you wired up the lcd and computer for power? Is the LCD connected directly to the battery and you turn it on/off manually, or is it hooked up to car power sequencer so it turns off/on with the car?
 
MentallyDisturbed said:
i was wondering if you could let me know how you wired up the lcd and computer for power? Is the LCD connected directly to the battery and you turn it on/off manually, or is it hooked up to car power sequencer so it turns off/on with the car?
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i'll answer that, there are many ways in order to power up your car computer a few of them that i know are power invertors, and shutdown controllers. With a startup of the computer the screen will not turn on, maybe some do i don't know, but can be modded to do so. Once u start the ignition switch though the computer turns on from hiberation mode and your ready to go once u turn the screen on. So what u need is a dc/dc powersupply (i think some have shutdown controllers in them) seperate atx dc/dc powersupplies with shutdown controllers, or power invertors to convert the power which u have to turn on manually or with a shutdown controller as well. The Lcd connects to the 12v psu on your computer with a molex connector which is easy to setup.
 
Qwertyman said:
i'll answer that, there are many ways in order to power up your car computer a few of them that i know are power invertors, and shutdown controllers. With a startup of the computer the screen will not turn on, maybe some do i don't know, but can be modded to do so. Once u start the ignition switch though the computer turns on from hiberation mode and your ready to go once u turn the screen on. So what u need is a dc/dc powersupply (i think some have shutdown controllers in them) seperate atx dc/dc powersupplies with shutdown controllers, or power invertors to convert the power which u have to turn on manually or with a shutdown controller as well. The Lcd connects to the 12v psu on your computer with a molex connector which is easy to setup.
Click to expand...


so pretty much its like this: you have your power sequencer (controls the flow of power, turns on/off with the car, all that good stuff), and which hooks up to your dc-dc powersupply, which is supplying power to your motherboard, hdd, cdrom, and your LCD?

the power seqeuncer must have to have a ground, battery and ignition wire connected to it to know when the car is on or off... right?
 
theres a 12v adaptor that came with the lcd, you can just use it how it is (cigarette lighter plug) or you can cut it off and hard wire it to a 12v source
 
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