Couple of laptop "carputer" questions

Anakist · 19th July 2005, 3:24 PM

I am going to build an MP3 server for my car and want to use a lappy for ease of use, low power usage, compactness, and resistance to shock. It just needs to run an OS and Winamp, and have some way of attaching USB devices. A PCI slot or two would be awesome! Then I can run my sound card, a PCI USB card for WiFi, and a larger HDD.

I want it to standby basically as soon as the “mains” power turns off, then wake up when “mains” is back (car turns off and on). Should I use 9x lite or XP as the OS? Which has this feature implemented best?

I want to use my existing AV710, which is PCI; will I get a lappy with PCI? Should I get PCMCIA to PCI adaptor? Or just run everything from USB?

James

OCMunkee · 19th July 2005, 4:08 PM

I'd recommend a Via EPIA solution. I don't know how much you know about them, but they're basically small motherboards with an onboard CPU, they come with a PCI slot, which you can put a riser on to have 2 PCI slots.
They're not hugely powerful, but they'd easily handle anything you need in a carputer.

Plus IIRC there are special cases designed as in-car audio component sizes (I don't know bugger all about car audio) so you can slot it in easily.

::EDIT::
You can also get special power supplies designed for carputers too, which have some excellent features like filtering and you can set them to turn on/off with the car, without hard-off (cutting power instantly).

I don't know about OSes, I haven't used XP, but usually I'd recommend some distro of Linux (there's probably one designed for almost exactly what you want)

--Nathan

Anakist · 19th July 2005, 4:47 PM

How long is start up with them? It takes all of 5 secs to turn in from standby or hibernate or whatever.

Not sure of an EPIA system yet. Did think of it, but a lappy will come with a screen that I can use to start.

James

OCMunkee · 20th July 2005, 5:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anakist

How long is start up with them? It takes all of 5 secs to turn in from standby or hibernate or whatever.

I'm not sure, I haven't used them personally, but I think it's pretty quick. Either option would work, and I'm sure you could combine the two (i.e. it goes to hibernate when you turn off the engine then turns the PSU off)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anakist

Not sure of an EPIA system yet. Did think of it, but a lappy will come with a screen that I can use to start.

James

Good point about the screen, I had kinda forgotten about that

19th July 2005, 4:08 PM	#2
OCMunkee Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Melbourne, VIC Posts: 1,130	I'd recommend a Via EPIA solution. I don't know how much you know about them, but they're basically small motherboards with an onboard CPU, they come with a PCI slot, which you can put a riser on to have 2 PCI slots. They're not hugely powerful, but they'd easily handle anything you need in a carputer. Plus IIRC there are special cases designed as in-car audio component sizes (I don't know bugger all about car audio) so you can slot it in easily. ::EDIT:: You can also get special power supplies designed for carputers too, which have some excellent features like filtering and you can set them to turn on/off with the car, without hard-off (cutting power instantly). I don't know about OSes, I haven't used XP, but usually I'd recommend some distro of Linux (there's probably one designed for almost exactly what you want) --Nathan __________________ In Memory, Stuart Alexander King, (25/5/1988 - 20/7/2005) \|\| Irving: Apple MacBook Pro 13", Core 2 Duo @ 2.26GHz, 4GB DDR3-1066, nVidia GeForce 9400M 256MB, 320GB WD Caviar 2.5", \|\| \|\| Heinrich: Asus P5Q-VM, Intel E5400 @ 3.5GHz, 2x2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800, Intel GMA X4500HD, 1x64GB G.Skill SSD, 2x1TB WD GreenPowers, \|\| Last edited by OCMunkee; 19th July 2005 at 4:12 PM.