View Full Version : PC in XB


UrbanDrum
01-04-2004, 10:01 PM
I want a a Pc in my xb. Has anyone installed one in thier car?

HotBox
01-04-2004, 10:04 PM
your not the only one i want one toooooo
i remember seeing a topic i checked but couldnt find it
hopefully someone else will it had a link to an xB that had it installed

SCI_FIRE
01-04-2004, 10:16 PM
I would never have forseen ppl wanting DVDs in their cars, but I could definitely see a future rage in putting in PCs and video surveillance stuff.

UrbanDrum
01-04-2004, 10:19 PM
Dvd's in the car are very helpfull if you have kids. Specially on long trips. :wink:

Longoscion
01-04-2004, 10:37 PM
I belive Dave from the team was considering doing that. If you do that, you will need a touchscreen to move the mouse around.

DibujoB
01-04-2004, 10:47 PM
someone in TSW has one...it's awesome. He has a remote-mouse to make it work...no touchscreen. I wish I could remember who it was...maybe Dave.

UrbanDrum
01-04-2004, 10:58 PM
What does his car look like? I like for it at the meet today.

DibujoB
01-04-2004, 11:02 PM
it's a black cherry xB. I think it has leather in it. super nice job with the mods.

dulcimoo
01-04-2004, 11:14 PM
What about a touch pad? Cirque makes um and there are others. Might be less expensive then a touch screen ... no finger prints to see neather.

UrbanDrum
01-04-2004, 11:20 PM
Finger prints are no bueno

vpkb
01-05-2004, 12:10 AM
check out xenarc.com

UrbanDrum
01-05-2004, 12:18 AM
In dash PC :shock: Thats cool :!:
http://www.xenarc.com/product/cp1000.html

silkywilson
01-05-2004, 04:53 AM
I have been doing research on setting up my system for em xB when it comes in... this is what I have come to... Use a shuttle PC its small.. possably fit in the double din dash opening.. 7" touch screen... options are aboun if you would rather use the touch pad off of a laptop... or they have wireless mouse that fits on a finger like a ring with a track ball in it.., wireless keyboards and so on... they use a dc/dc converter for the power supply (Pcs are 12v DC already and the power supply converts 120V ac to 12V dc there are some regulation built into it for thinkgs like the MB but this DC/DC converter does all of that) The 7" touchscreen should fit in the double din opening.. in front of the computer... a slot load DVD rom in the lower dash that has the cover..(single din) and software to do read ahead to keep it from skipping durring CD or DVD playback.. now this is where it gets realy crazy... thats just the beginning.. use a 120 gig HD now you have more than enough room for every song you have ever heard in MP3 format.. Software is cheep and easy... try software for a DSP ( digital sound processor ) one hell of alot cheeper than a seperat DSP unit.. I think a USB XM radio setup for a PC is like $59... and lets go a little deeper... Navigation is simple software and a USB GPS unit..like what they use on a palm pilot... boundrys are limitless.. wireless network... and places like starbucks offers it.. you can sit in there parking lot and connect to the net.. or at home in the driveway.. there is already front end software out for this and it looks like a factory thing instead of a windows inviroment.. Mind you I have just coverd a little of what is capable of being done here.. Im looking t about $500 for the shuttle.. and $350 for the touchscreen.. Oh yea did I mention a decent sound card or the shutte has a GREAT onboard one thats got 5.1 surround built in? with seperate outputs that you can RCA directly to your amps?.. This will be going into my BSP xB when it gets here early Feb (I HOPE) .. Just sit back and think what we take for granted in a home PC... and then think how limitless it is in a mobile inviroment... :twisted: oh and sorry for the Book..

UrbanDrum
01-05-2004, 05:07 AM
it's a black cherry xB. I think it has leather in it.
I didn't see it. Maybe it didn't go or left early 'cause I didn't get there till around 8:00

scionracerxb
01-05-2004, 05:17 AM
yah..dave has one in his black cherry xb...i was talkin to him about it at the pomona show. He said that the motherboard he used is specially made to run on 12v with no convertor, but the downside is you can only run a 1ghz processor. It plays dvds ok when only runnin on 1 or 2 screens, but when u turn on the others, it starts to get kinda choppy. He also has the GPS installed on it which is pretty cool. he uses a touchscreen and a mouse i think. I was thinkin bout puttin a pc in mine, but it would have to be faster than 1ghz. I'll be doin some more research on this as well :wink:

UrbanDrum
01-05-2004, 05:29 AM
I bet you could build a custon case that fits in the rear cargo space and run some home made cables to an adaptor board that could fit in your compartment under the radio. And i'm sure you could hide a receiver for a wireless keybourd and mouse and put a 7" monitor in the radio's place. But where would your radio go? Ok, what about the radio in the closed compartment under the monitor and the keybourd and mouse conections in those little knockout squares under the radio. :idea:

hahajoey
01-05-2004, 09:17 AM
i think overall a laptop is more pracitical.
considering with the money u dump on a
car pc.. u can take it anywhere. a laptop is
prebuilt.. kick ___ and no wiring this and what.
a power invertor is like 29-39 bucks at fry's.

anywhos
if u persist on trying to make a car pc..
i recommend something i was thinking about
dabbing into..
VIA Mini-ITX
they are COMPLETE motherboards with chips,
sound, video, usb and more READY TO ROLL for CHEAAAP
they range from 75-100 bucks for a starter one..
for example: for less than 100 bucks u can get..

**Mfg. Part Number: Via EPIA800 **
DIMENSION: 17cm X 17cm (grab a ruler and be SHOCKED at the size!)

VIA EPIA Mainboard Specification
Standardized Embedded Solutions for Total Mainboard Connectivity
Form Factor - Mini-ITX
- 170mm x 170mm
- Micro ATX Chassis Compliant
Processor - VIA Eden™ ESP 5000 processor
- 100/133MHz Front Side Bus
- low power consumption
- Optional Fanless
- VIA C3™ E-Series processor (EBGA package)
- 100/133MHz Front Side Bus
- 128K L1 and 64K L2 cache
Chipset - VIA Apollo PLE133
- VT8601A North Bridge
- Featuring integrated AGP 4X graphics
- VIA VT8231 South Bridge
TV-Out - High quality scaling and filtering
- S-Video or Composite video output
- Supports NTSC/PAL TV formats

Main Memory - Two 168-pin DIMM memory sockets
- PC100/133 SDRAM support
LAN - VIA 10/100 Ethernet LAN onboard
Graphics - Integrated AGP4X with 2D/3D Graphics Acceleration
- Motion Compensation for DVD playback
Audio - VIA VT1612A AC'97 onboard
- 3 Audio Jacks - Line-Out, Line-In and Microphone-In
- Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro Compatible
- Digital I/O compatible with consumer mode S/PDIF
Expansion Slots - 1 PCI slot
Onboard IDE - ATA/100/66
I/O Ports - 3 Audio Jacks - Line-out, Mic-in and Line-in
- Four USB ports (two USB ports located at rear side)
- 1 EPP/ECP parallel port
- 1 16C550 compatible serial port
- 2 External PS/2 Compatible Keyboard /Mouse ports
- 2 TV output ports (S-Video or optional RCA TV out)
- 1 S/PDIF out (optional and multiplex with RCA TV out)
- 1 RJ-45 LAN port
- 1 PCI slot (Note: support for two PCI devices)
Power Supply -ATX Power Supply Compliant
http://www.ewiz.com/img/MB-EPIA800.jpg
www.mini-itx.com

thats like a mini computer motherboard.. it can PRINT! output to those
lcd's everyone has.. 2 tv outputs actually.. lan port... pci slot.. i mean
thats badass.. and it runs off standard ATX power supplys.. like 20 dollars!

hahajoey
01-05-2004, 09:32 AM
just look at this picture
and read about the specs it has.. hell u can fit this in your glove compartment
AND have room for more.
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/images/epia800.jpg

vpkb
01-05-2004, 05:33 PM
silkywilson, the shuttle is too big, it's like 1ftx1ftx1ft

DJ_SpaRky
01-05-2004, 06:00 PM
Can anybody say custom console w/ the PC inside? That'd be the ideal place

I'm looking to get one of these Link (http://xenarc.com/product/MIS-DD.html)

Dave

silkywilson
01-05-2004, 06:37 PM
VPKB I didnt mean to use the case.. sorry if I was misleading.. It would be guts only and since the pieces are indevidual you can move them around into alot of places. maybe fab a small chasis for the MB with possible braketry for HDs, and so on..

UrbanDrum
01-06-2004, 11:06 AM
Can anybody say custom console w/ the PC inside? That'd be the ideal place

I'm looking to get one of these Link
How much is that though? :?

its_ikon
01-06-2004, 07:42 PM
Can anybody say custom console w/ the PC inside? That'd be the ideal place

I'm looking to get one of these Link
How much is that though? :?

depends on what you want to do. it would most likely be fiberglassed and you can design to how you want. the work would be about 600-1000.

Toy_xbox
01-07-2004, 02:34 AM
Yeah,

I have one I installed and currently upgrading...

DVD, MP3, voice GPS, ODB2 engine Diags, XMPCR radio, 7" touch Screen, 10.4" touch screen, 17" panel should be done by the next show, Gyration RF mouse and keyboard, Custom desktop X interface, WIFI, XBOX fed through ATI all in wonder card, external USB 60GB drives with movies and MP3 files, AV inputs, Rear camera mod, video capturing. I am sure I am leaving something out...

I like the setup, and all its USB devices check out the following link for some of the install.

http://groups.msn.com/GearheadJr/toyxbox.msnw

Worst part of the MOD is all the cables and connections. Best part of MOD WIFI...

L8r,

TOY XBOX

UrbanDrum
01-07-2004, 03:50 AM
Do you go to the Cerritos meets? I want to chat and see that in person. I know hahajoey would like to see that too. :)

Toy_xbox
01-07-2004, 07:24 PM
Do you go to the Cerritos meets? I want to chat and see that in person. I know hahajoey would like to see that too. :)

Yeah,

Not sure if I will have it put back together by Sunday... working on center flip down replacing composite setup with VGA touchscreen and still working on cargo area mount for the 17" flat screen. If I don't bring the TOY XBOX, I will be in a Sublime Green Toyota prerunner looking truck...

C'ya there L8r,

Dave

UrbanDrum
01-08-2004, 10:49 AM
I just found a dope little P4 system for cheap...I'll tell you about it at the meet... Fits nicely under the passanger seat...

Toy_xbox
01-09-2004, 02:34 AM
I just found a dope little P4 system for cheap...I'll tell you about it at the meet... Fits nicely under the passanger seat...

Cool...

I have a Dell GX260 P4 Small Form Factor box I am working on but I really didn’t want to run an inverter all the time. I was going to compare it to the system I am running now, to see if it is really worth all the fuss changing it over...

L8r,

UrbanDrum
01-11-2004, 11:02 AM
I really didn’t want to run an inverter all the time.

Is there a power supply that can run off our car's 12volts that you know off. I'm not too hot on using an inverter either even though I already have one.

Toy_xbox
01-12-2004, 05:28 PM
This is the case that came with my system from Truman Mobile

http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info.php/products_id/33

This is a link to where I got my system... I researched all the parts I was going to use and Truman Mobile builds a system with all the components I wanted. I could have built it myself but for the cost it was just as easy to have Truman Mobile build it. Major thank's to Tj from Truman Mobile he hooked me up with the desktop X interface and configuration for the RF remote.

http://www.trumanmobile.com/featureinstall/Default.asp

korbendalis
01-19-2004, 11:48 PM
I have yet to scrape the cash together to setup a computer in-car. However, as an atlernative to a shuttle box, i found this single-din-sized PC

http://mobilevideo4less.com/mobile-pc.html

Personally i would never buy from a [dot]com called Mobile Video 4 less... just sounds untrust-worthy. However the PC they are using can be found at

http://www.cappuccinopc.com

Nicely enough you can customize at this site, plus they sell the Xenarc 7" touch screen displays, too

Kikaida
01-20-2004, 12:17 AM
I like hahajoeys idea of just using a wireless laptop if you need a pc in the XB (for obvious cost reasons). Or maybe even a PDA with wireless capability. Plus, you run less of a risk of it getting ripped off!

Skywalker
01-26-2004, 02:24 PM
It is not the hardest task to put a pc in your car. But I am curious what you all intend to use it for?

FLXB
01-28-2004, 12:01 AM
just wanna bump this up

im working on gitting info on putting one in when i get my xb ive been looking at a lot of pice that some of you posted why not put it behind the plastic panels and lengthen the cable or ir the keyboard and mouse instead of the box under the seats or the cube in the back it will be hiden behind the panels im gonna do a full write up on this when i get rollin in the xb

chad

Skywalker
01-29-2004, 01:46 PM
I am curious what you all intend to use it for?

Toy_xbox
01-29-2004, 03:22 PM
I have co-pilot GPS, Autotap realtime engine diags, XMPCR radio, rear mounted camera feed, I can play and record dvd, mp3, wma, avi, mov... I can download team members digital pics, video's etc. at meets, I have WIFI to connect to the internet, have my xbox connected to it,

Future upgrades will be multiple camera's to view and record suspension travel engine movement, the lovely ladies, :shock: the list could go on....

http://www.trumanmobile.com/featureinstall/Default.asp