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CarPC Storage thoughts.

A

apopleptic

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Messages
340
I recently bought a carPC from a user here on the forums and I'm trying to figure out what I ought to do about storage.
I don't wan't to use rotational storage since that doesn't last long vibrating away in a car all day long. And my Budget is super tight right now.

The PC is going to be running Win7 with 1GB of ddr2 and a Celeron 1.8 single core.

Basically I can get a 40GB SSD for about $27, or buy a 64GB USB drive for a little bit less (or alot less depending on ebay)

I suppose I could pull the 120GB SSD out of my netbook, but then I would need something for that instead.

What's the consensus?
 
While vibration does have an effect on HDD, I think for what your probably going to want to do with this computer I don't think it will be a big problem. Laptops get by with HDD's, and even a lot of in-car entertainment systems come from the factory with HDD's built-in. I would probably choose a laptop HDD over a 3.5" HDD, I think they are more geared towards being jostled (could be made up though).
 
westrock2000 said:
While vibration does have an effect on HDD, I think for what your probably going to want to do with this computer I don't think it will be a big problem. Laptops get by with HDD's, and even a lot of in-car entertainment systems come from the factory with HDD's built-in. I would probably choose a laptop HDD over a 3.5" HDD, I think they are more geared towards being jostled (could be made up though).
Click to expand...

from your comment I feel like you have never had a HDD etch itself to death from vibration. I've opened laptop drives that had platters that looked like they were records with all the grooves scratched into them. And those laptop drives that park the heads to avoid platter damage aren't great, especially when they cause the system to constanlt hand from parking the heads.
This PC is going to be running at all times that the vehicle is running and it will be mounted in an area that will receive at least moderate vibration at all times.
 
A SSD solves multiple problems that usually occur in industrial settings. Vibration and heat come to mind. In addition since you are running a single core and only 1GB of RAM I wouldn't even consider mechanical storage with specs like those. Get the SSD.
 
I ran a standard 7200rpm WD caviar for years in my car PC. In teh back of an Isuzu Rodeo inside a compartment that I had build into the box of my 15' subwoofer. You would THINK it would have vibration issues, never had a single one. Only thing I did special was put some lil rubber vibration dampner o-rings where the screws were.
 
Personally, i would get the 40GB SSD (because it is cheap, and should be quick and durable) for the OS and initial storage; then add USB storage as needed. USB flash drives are dirt cheap as you mentioned, but go with the SSD for the OS.
 
Dalfo002 said:
Personally, i would get the 40GB SSD (because it is cheap, and should be quick and durable) for the OS and initial storage; then add USB storage as needed. USB flash drives are dirt cheap as you mentioned, but go with the SSD for the OS.
Click to expand...

Thanks for being the only person who addressed the question.
 
Absolutely get an SSD. Just because you could get a HDD for your application doesn't mean its a great idea.

I agree on the 40gb, especially since you'll have to be running 32 bit with 1gb of ram. Do yourself the favor and grab another gig of ram. It's really a world of difference. 2gb will also allow you 64bit, but then the 40gb will be 3/4s full of OS alone. 32 bit only needs about 20gb, 64 will get like 28gb or something like that. I'd have to check my TV PC. It's running 64bit on a 36gb Raptor and that's about all it holds.
 
]When I had a custom CarPC in the past, I used normal hard drives without issue. But makes sense to me to use a SSD nowadays, if only for the quick boot.

Btw, www.mp3car.com used to be a great site for this kind of thing.
 
Dalfo002 said:
Personally, i would get the 40GB SSD (because it is cheap, and should be quick and durable) for the OS and initial storage; then add USB storage as needed. USB flash drives are dirt cheap as you mentioned, but go with the SSD for the OS.
Click to expand...

x2.
 
Ok, so I'm going to keep my eyes open for an SSD deal. And also a new pair of low profile ddr2 dimms. or at least ones without huge heatsinks. My budget just hit bottom for a few days.
In the mean time I'm going to start playing with it with an old 160gb 2.5" drive I have just sitting getting (being) dusty, and see how it works. It's not going to go into the car until I have the kinks worked out because I don't want to deal with troubleshooting in the car.
 
apopleptic said:
from your comment I feel like you have never had a HDD etch itself to death from vibration.

This PC is going to be running at all times that the vehicle is running and it will be mounted in an area that will receive at least moderate vibration at all times.
Click to expand...

You are correct, I never experienced that. But as I mentioned I have experienced modern cars coming from the factory with warranties of many years that have HDD's in the radio.

I own a Lotus Exige with aftermarket suspension that is absolutely unforgiving on the road and I have been using the same harddrive based iPod since 2007 in it. I commute 1.5 hours each way to work and only use the iPod because radio reception is worthless. The battery and case of the iPod may be gone to shit, but one thing that hasn't faltered is the ability to playback music. Which is the only reason I haven't replaced it yet.

I addressed the question, by saying you could get a lot more bang for you buck by using a HDD instead of a flash based product. That being said my iPod is only a 40GB harddrive and its plenty of room for my music while driving, so 64GB flash may be fine for you needs.
 
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