So I've fallen in love with the idea of having a computer in my car. After doing all my research and finding the right parts that I need I have placed my first order of parts that will be needed to create the machine.

I'll be running a 7" touchscreen, Intel Mac Mini with Windows XP



You can check out my picture to see what the preliminary setup will be like. One question I had for everyone is there enough room in the dash to move the head unit back a few inches so that the touchscreen can fit right in front of it? I've heard a few rumors that it's possible but one delimma I have is that the guy I purchased the car from had the 6 disc changer head unit put in. Anyone know how far back it goes?

 

wat kind/brand/model screen are u getting?

 

my suggestion.... take out the radio... put the screen in its place... then take either the factory radio (if you REALLY want it that bad) and put it in the center console.... it would be easier to put an aftermarket in there... but this is just my suggestion... cause putting the screen in front of factory radion is just something you going to run into more trouble than its worth...

 

I wouldnt even use a radio honestly. Just get an amp and hook that up to the PC.

 

the only real reason I want to keep the stereo is so that I don't have to install an amp. Just makes for one less thing to buy and install. I will not be using any forctionality of the stereo besides the AUX in. I just need to know if there's room to push it back 1-2 inches.

 

if that is on while driving, get ready to burn right through some hard drives...

 

wat do u mean?
are u saying having the car pc on while the car is on is not good???

 

Having the HDD on while driving should not be a problem at all. The Mac mini will be cushioned in the glove box and from what I've read of others who have installed them, there's no real shock problem unless you're running over those huge pot hole on purpose.

 

You may want to check out a mini or nano-itx based system. If you choose the correct system, it can run on less power, less cooling requirements if you pick the correct ones.

 

not necessarily, ive have mine fire right up on below 0* 2 times a day for 3 months this winter and it still works without a problem. Hard drives are alot more resiliant than people think. Also, i am using a laptop hard drive so a 3.5" drive may be a different story.

 

youll be fine even without the cusion. Im riding on tein SSP coilovers which are very stiff and i use no cusioning at all and havent had a problem.

 

gortoc has a pc in his tc. check him out!

 

im just mad at myself for not thinking about putting a pc into my new car and im a big pc building guy too!!!

 

Uhhh, the topic is tC Pc

Yet, ur putting in a Mac

Sry, i'm just picky

Besides from that, make sure you get some good air circulation in that glove box

 

put the screen in the door dude... dont be ridiculous!



see my setup here - https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=135845

feel free to pm me or aim with questions!

 

Lol, Tasha, if I put this in your car, you will be set! Your car already has wings, it can light up a city - no... 2 cities, and now you will be able to post on the forum everywhere you go! (Home, Work, Car...).

Lol! :D

 

u already kno

 

I recommend getting a monitor that will retract back into the housing.

 

Lots of room behind it...gonna have to fab a way to extend the bracket, but 1-2 inches will not be a problem. I actually just moved mine into the glove box. I have to come up with a more permanent mount (fiberglass or something) but aside from that, the hard drive is stable. I do have to recover it because I corrupted part of the boot sector this past weekend because I forgot to unplug it while I was cranking my car over and over at the end of a turbo install (finding the problem). This was an issue because I have the M1 power supply and it has a start up/shut down controller. It would begin to boot, then it would have to shut down abrutply. No worries though.

 

and the game play on it is tight