Originally Posted by tiber

Thats the best thing to do.

A complete computer system for your car will run you roughly $500. Why so cheap? Because if you want a computer in your car, its probably because you LIKE computers which means you have done SEVERAL upgrades to your home PC, therefore.... you have 3/4 of the parts you need already at home.

Face it. Your not going to playing Doom 3 in your car. So you dont need mega power. If you want to run a GPS, your MP3 collection etc. you dont need anything over a 1.0mhz CPU. Dont know if youve seen it but this is what I have:



Its a simple AMD 1.0 microatx MB with a 80g hard drive and 256m ram. Running Windows XP and holds 5,000+ of my MP3s. Runs my Earthmate GPS which you see in the pic as well. And will soon have a bluetooth for internet connectivity.

Drivesoft etc, as mentioned above, as well as any other "premade" or "boxed" system, will limit your expandability and upgrades.

Just put together your own home PC, shop around for a nice small box, Shuttle makes nice microboxes. You want a barebone system already? You can try

http://www.cappuccinopc.com/default.asp

Screens? You go straight to the authority. This is ALL he does and has the best pricing.

http://www.digitalww.com/LCD_TM_701L_BLACK.htm

Thats the unit I have in my car here 7" TSK VGA:



$340 VGA installed with TSK (Touchscreen kit)

What I do suggest is NOT to get the OPUS powersupply. Its the only powersupply on the market, like Delirious posted, that powers down your PC and powers it up. Why not? Because first of all its only 150watts. Second of all it has issues with freezing your OS etc. Third...what if you dont want your PC on? The best thing to do is invest the $100 in a PURE SINE-WAVE INVERTER. This is the power suppply that will invert your 12v to 120v for your PC to use, and is "clean" power. The on-off button on your PC?? Run that to your dash and make a little button to turn your pc on and off from there.

See that little red button to the left and below my steering wheel? Thats the PC on/off switch.

So figure:

$340 for screen
$100 inverter
$50-60 for case
Everything else... you already have :D

Software?? You can choose http://www.mediaengine.org/ which in my opinion has all the capabilities of doing anything you want it to. Also.. you can choose from here: http://www.mp3car.com/software.php

Sorry if I wrote too much... but computers are my hobby and I can talk about them all day long Just hate to see people spending too much money on things that can be accomplished very easily... they just need the info.

If you have any questions.. dont hesitate to ask.

Originally Posted by Ericvpellegrino

Ok the computer is a good idea and all BUT.... Putting the freaking tower next to your subs has got to be the dumbest idea yet. You are going to ruin your hard drive. Give it time and you will see.

Originally Posted by redhalo

It's been proven time and time again that you will need a considerable much stronger magnet than that of a subwoofer to effect a hard drive in the sligtest bit.