[Bobboau]

I have renewed intrest in my car mounted computer idea, I want some people to give me options on micro atx mobos and cases (especaly) preferably _without_ power suplies.
and I'll need at least one usb port, preferably 2, if anyone has good dc-dc power suplies I am looking for them too

[aldo_14]

Car-mounted-computer?

[Bobboau]

I want a small PC that can run off of 12vdc and have it hooked up to my car stereo, then transfer all my mp3s to it, and you can sort of see were it goes from there, it will include a remote controle (wich I already have) and a small LCD screen

[aldo_14]

Right.  I presume CD copying or hooking up an MP3 player is cost or tech prohibitive, then?

[Flaser]

It would be usefull for a lot more things - the shotgunner can write notes, check an electronic map, surf the net(?).

[Lightspeed]

Play FS2 and hook up the controls to those of the car

[Bobboau]

exactly

haveing a bunch of cds or an mp3 player was the origonal concept, but they all have storage limitations, if I get a micro pc and hook up a 250GB HDD I won't have to worry about running out of space, and I can watch movies and play games, and it would just be extreemly cool, and be the ultimate symbol of my ubber geekness. think about how cool haveing a computer integrated into your car would be. now I'm not looking for some beast of a machine all I realy need is something that can run mp3s and avis (how is Linux at this?, especaly the AVI part).

[Liberator]

The biggest hurdle is not so much the hardware, but macguyvering a way to have the thing start up and shut down with the engine.

Also, it doesn't really have to micro-ATX unless you've really got a small car with no room.

[Bobboau]

I want it to be out of the way, I could do a full ATX tower, but I'd rather have something that could probly fit under one of the seats, I even looked at some micro ITX models but that was too small, I think a largeish micro-ATX case is the best way to go.

as for the start up thing, I don't think that will be a problem.

[magatsu1]

what car is it, just out of interest ?

[Nuke]

also you are probibly gonna need to use laptop hard drives. standard issue hard drives are not rated to handel the inertial load of drivng. laptop hard drives are designed to handel this.

[Liberator]

If you cram it under a seat the question becomes how do you clean it?  The fans and HSF vanes, I mean.  Putting it under a seat would be like sticking a desktop on shag carpet.

I'm going to do something similar to this in my bomber when I get some free cash(some years hence methinks, but it's a classic this year and will be an antique in 2009).

[Bobboau]

/*looks at the pc sitting on the floor for the last year and a half*/

I didn't say I would put it there, I was just saying I could fit it there. more likely I'd mount it in the trunk.

but anyway, I have yet to see anyone sudgest a good case or mobo.

[Liberator]

To be honest it might be better to fabricate one yourself to meet your specs than to buy one that will probably work and spend time and money, as well as risking blowing the whole thing.

I did do a little diggin however and found this.

It only has 2 PCI slots, no AGP and only one HD, but it does apparently have a CD drive.  It would certainly work for what you would be able to do in a car(music, maybe a movie or some wardriving).  Though you could cram a FX 5200 in there and maybe get decent gaming performance.

I would opt for some kind of oversized touch-screen that has room for a standard display size(1024x768?) and a soft-keyboard.  That way you don't have to fool around with mounting a bunch of extra hardware in an already cramped space, what with enviromentals and dashboard gauges.

Also, you live in Illinois right?  It gets cold there in the winter, cold enough to damage unprotected electronics gear like would be in your trunk?  I seem to remember that RAM and such gets unreliable and very vulnerable to damage below 40 F.

[Bobboau]

the cold could be a bit of a problem.

[kasperl]

I'm partial for the "build it yourself" idea, but not so sure how hard it would be. The notebook HD point sounds valid, but notebook drives are a lot more expensive.

[Bobboau]

well I'm not going to build a case myself, an'd my pcb etching skills are lacking so I'm probly going to buy a case and mobo made by someone else.

[kode]

go with mini-itx. the epia M10000 ought to work fine in a car system.

for power supply: http://www.mini-box.com/itps.htm and http://www.mini-box.com/pw-120-M.htm combined, perhaps? getting a power sequencer is a must if you're going to run it off the car power, as that's 14v and a helluva lot of current.

as for a case, anything that's 17*17cm ought to work...

[Liberator]

I only meant fabbing the case, of course you'd still buy the ITX mobo and other stuff from a vendor.

[Janos]

Pimpin' My Ride, nigga.