I've moved on a bit too ordered the following(Clicky):
Travla C134 Case (http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=3#p237)
VIA EPIA Nehemiah M10000 1Ghz All In One Motherboard (http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=2#p175)
Panasonic slot load Slim DVD/CDRW (http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=5#p241)
IDE to CompactFlash adapter (http://store.ituner.com/ituner/micoflidead.html)
An Opus 90W 12V in car PSU which automatically powers up and shuts down the PC with the ignition. Discussed here (http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=17247)
7" In Dash Motorised VGA touchscreen (http://www.digitalww.com/VGA_GA700YY_indash.htm)Which is apparently not available till November now so may hold me up a bit

I plan to have the PC under my seat, the screen in the spare DIN slot above the Head unit and the DVD player mounted in the little odment hole under the ashtray. I already have an 80GB Laptop HDD which is lying around and for emergency re-boot I can use the CF adaptor with a 256MB Flash disk for Norton, Partition magic etc USB Wifi and Bluetooth for internet access and easy updating in the car :)

Will use Media Engine 2 GPS software (http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=16052) which will take care of managing the Sat nav, MP3 DVD and other movies etc. Win TV via USB supplies in car TV. I have the Motec lead and software so can use it for mapping on the move and more importantly can load different maps. eg an emergency map for normal 95 Ron unleaded if I get stuck or a mad map if I'm lucky enough to run a toulene race fuel mix :D

Should keep me busy on the winter evenings setting it all up :)

However has anyone any other good ideas I might consider??

[Edited by VinnyP! - 10/4/2003 9:51:15 PM]

whats the latest software to run on a pc stored in car for use as the ICE?

was thinking of using a palm as an interface to control the PC.

chiark i guess u proberbly know.. :)

anyone know of any cheap LCD panels (doubleDin sized) to connect to the PC (parrellel or whatever).. :D

ok i'll be a bit more accurate in questions...

I'm thinking of dumping my laptop (or a pc) into the scoob, so has anyone done this yet..?

if so what i want to know is:
-What OS did you plonk for
-What control mechanism do you use (keypad?)
-What other stuff you got running...

my list of requirements for incar-PC (CIN):
- play mp3's
- easy user interface (palm/lcd screen?)
- gps
- ecu logging
- bumpercamera viewing/recording :D

cheers,simon.

This isn't really any use to you, but I'm building an In-car PC for my Wagon - I'm writing the software myself and the interface is a touchscreen lcd panel. I plan to implement all the things you've mentioned, although lack of cash is currently holding up the project. Got the screen fitted, and started work on the software - but no PC yet :D

Rich

im looking at the www.mini-itx.com (http://www.mini-itx.com) motherboards as they are cheap but will play mp3's etc well :D

I'm probably going to go for a mini-itx board as well, but I want a bit more performance than the via stuff, so probably a P3/1.4GHz.

Rich

I have an in-car PC in my Bora. I'm using a mini-ITX 1GHz machine, with a Morex PSU running straight from the battery, and a 7" DCSCustoms LCD touchscreen. The machine's running Win98 (for speed) and software called MediaEngine (http://www.mediaengine.org)

MediaEngine is a very simple (and big) interface for Winamp 2, effectively. It does pretty stuff to format it all up, and allows Infra-Red, keyboard, mouse and touchscreen control. Very friendly.

Well worth a look, if you want to store a lot of music (I have over 30GB of mp3's on the PC)

where did you get the DCSCustoms screen from globits?

12v psu for motherboard = http://www.linitx.com

how does a PC with mp3 sound?
what about DVD playback too?what about nav too?

and a tiny PC made just for cars?

heres one.

looks dead cool, but i can't think why i want a PC in my car, won't that be too dangerous?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3036053743&category=14933&rd=1

any one fitted one?

The DCSCustoms screen came from the States. Chiark grabbed a pair for testing purposes, and I got the second one :D Very VERY good screen.

In terms of places to buy stuff, keep an eye on:
http://www.mini-itx.com
http://www.kustompcs.com
http://www.linitx.com

That's where I've got most of my kit from. I bought a Morex Cubid case as a start point, then removed the PSU from that, when I decided the case was too big. I now have a 2" high false floor in the rear passenger's footwell, and the PC sits under that with a pair of fans. Works a treat.

mp3 playback is very good. Not perfect CD quality, but I'm an audio nut and the difference isn't too painful. You can't use the standard mini-ITX sound card though - it sucks. I forked out £50 and bought a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 - very worthwhile investment.

DVD playback? Yeah, it could do it with a DVD-ROM drive. But, the processor isn't up to much, even though it's a 1GHz. You'd need to get a much better graphics card to do it, but then you're getting away from the Small-Form-Factor of the original. Better to leave DVD playback to DVD players, if you ask me.

dscustoms screen is what I'm using - see review on http://www.diymp3.com

I'm writing my own s/w for the interface as nothing quite does what I want it to.

I'm running Win2k (not linux) on a Epia 800MHz board, with a Matrox G450 graphics card to give me true widescreen resolutions.

This project is now coming back on course as I've just about finished the ice for the moment :D

Should also mention that the G450 accelerates DVD playback to pretty good levels. I'm impressed at least :D

A couple more sources of in car PCs for you. The first is DIN mounting, the second is really tiny !
# http://www.xenarc.com/product/cp1000.html
# http://www.norhtec.com/products/gp/index.html

Cheers

Steve

starting looking at this again :)

have ordered a gps reciever and ide flash drive ;), looking at lcd screens atm...

still planning on using linux as the system..

Damn you lot! Just put ideas into my head!:)

hehehe ;)

you can't go wrong with the dscustoms one imho - I've still yet to see better.

Software-wise, Media engine seems to be the way to go...

got the gps reciever and it seems to work :D

anyone know of good GPS map/direction software?

Not great but the only one I could find for the PC with Voice was
here (http://www.directions.ltd.uk/products.php)

Just saw this in dash screen which looks interesting

Click! (http://www.digitalww.com/DWW-7VGA.htm)

http://cgi6.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=mini_lcd&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50

I've started getting bits for my incar PC dubbed "SiCC" ;)


SiCC is running although with WinblowsXP :rolleyes:

Here are the parts: (17cm x 17cm)
http://www.scoobyzone.co.uk/album_pic.php?pic_id=521

Closer Look of the main board:
http://www.scoobyzone.co.uk/album_pic.php?pic_id=522

A look at the ports:
http://www.scoobyzone.co.uk/album_pic.php?pic_id=523

All Connected together:
http://www.scoobyzone.co.uk/album_pic.php?pic_id=524

Looking at the best scooby forum:
http://www.scoobyzone.co.uk/album_pic.php?pic_id=525

Parts List so far:
1x Via EPIA Mini-ITX MainBoard (http://www.viavpsd.com/product/epia_v_spec.jsp?motherboardId=141) (V8000) with 800Mhz Processor
1x 256MB DIMM PC-133 Ram
1x 80GB Seagate Harddisk
1x 12V DC 60W ATX Power Supply
1x GPS USB Device
1x 256MB IDE Ram Drive


Things needed to do:
- Build Case
- Decide what OS to use (and then software)
- Decide what screen to get

[Edited by snowcrash - 9/17/2003 9:05:51 PM]

'orribly familiar :D

Check out the dscustoms screen review on diymp3.com - I recommend it :D

how can i connect my laptop to the car's ecu to check up on boost levels, etc. what cable do i need, what software do i need. my99 turbo

deltadash is what you are after:
http://www.ecutek.com/products/deltadash/

UPDATE:

case being constructed... :D

http://www.scoobyzone.co.uk/album_pic.php?pic_id=547
http://www.scoobyzone.co.uk/album_pic.php?pic_id=548
http://www.scoobyzone.co.uk/album_pic.php?pic_id=549

got my 7" tft xga touch screen now :D

I have been using Directions via Laptop for sat nav.

Had one or two problems but seem resolved.

As far as I was concerned big plus point I could use O.S. grid ref.

Does have a bit of trouble where roads have been diverted, but once you know whats going on no problem.

Have used it over 10k miles in southern England.

All the best

Cool Thread, got me really interested.

One question: rather than buiding a PC for the Car, why not just use a laptop instead?

let me explain, the laptop obviously has the motherboard, dvd-rom drive, etc all in. In order to get a plush installation for the car one could use the 7" TFT screen in the DIn socket and link that to the laptop, and use the touchscreen for keyboard inputs as well.

wouldnt that be easier??