Car PC - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

cmdevil16 · 03-04-2011, 12:21 PM

So im planning my install of my Car Pc, i will be putting in a 7 inch touchscreen where the HU goes and using a laptop i already have (it had a broken screen, perfect for carputer) just wanted to see what ya'll think about it and also wanted to see if anyone here has done it already.

nepali · 03-04-2011, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmdevil16

So im planning my install of my Car Pc, i will be putting in a 7 inch touchscreen where the HU goes and using a laptop i already have (it had a broken screen, perfect for carputer) just wanted to see what ya'll think about it and also wanted to see if anyone here has done it already.

If you do go forward with this, please post a how-to for us. I have an old laptop that I could use as well.

cmdevil16 · 03-04-2011, 12:29 PM

I definately will i also plan to make at least a short video as i know many people like myself like to be able to visualize it.

***FlawedLegacy*** · 03-04-2011, 12:54 PM

this sounds very interesting!!! please do keep us informed!

pinoyesv6 · 03-04-2011, 01:12 PM

what are you doing for sound?

cmdevil16 · 03-04-2011, 01:47 PM

still working on it but i am looking into how another person did it and hooked it into the regular stereo wiring harness

TFCommanderBob · 03-04-2011, 08:02 PM

You can't wire directly into the radio harness from the pc, because you will need something to power the speakers.

Make the FAQ section at www.mp3car.com your best friend

You can find tons of information on this subject.

I'm using:
Jetway Mini-ITX motherboard
AMD 5050e 45w CPU
2GB Ram
Onboard sound/video
64GB SSD Drive
BU-353 USB GPS
DSATX Smart Auto Power supply
Windows 7 32bit Ultimate
Centrafuse 3.5 Front End
Xenarc 705 7" touch screen

I'd assume like me you will ditch headunits all together. This means you need an amp to power your speakers. I installed an Alpine PDX-5 5channel amp under my drivers seat, and the computer goes under the passenger seat. Wire all your speakers with speaker wire to the new amp, and from your laptop you can take 1/8" audio to RCA splitters to the amp inputs to get sound from the laptop to your speakers.

The only challenge for the laptop end of things is powering it. My DSATX allows the PC to turn on with the key, and is set for a 10 minute delay to power it down (stop for gas it stays on, stay at home it shuts off). It can even be set so that your computer enters hibernation and powers back on with the key, and it monitors the voltage of your battery and doesnt power it down completely until your battery reaches your preset voltage (leaving enough power to start your car).

One of your most important choices will be your front end. Can't just use windows to operate your pc, it just isnt 7" touch friendly. I used Centrafuse because it was user friendly, but there is a free one out there called RideRunner (RR).

Check out these products for powering your laptop. http://store.mp3car.com/Automotive_D...ators_s/11.htm

I was excited to see this thread when I saw the title. I've been off and on working on my project for about 6 months, and just got my pc temp wired back into the car to test. It is definitely a time consuming and sometimes frustrating, but overall fun project. So far mine is back in and powering up/down and running music just fine. Now I have to ground it better and do the wiring more permanently so it doesn't whine for 30s while the PC boots up till the 3.5mm jack is active, find out why the GPS decided it doesn't like to connect to satellites, and get it to play nice with my iphone 4

thestone11 · 03-04-2011, 08:18 PM

You Tube

I wish we can have products like that for our rolla, especially if you are an iPad owner.

***SuperchargedMR2*** · 03-04-2011, 11:34 PM

I was thinking the same thing, how cool it would be if an iPad would fit where our radio fits.

That iPad fit looks awesome too.

msncorolla422 · 03-05-2011, 12:59 AM

yeah I saw a tacoma with the ipad set up....really clean for sure! I like this idea just too expensive for me :P

thestone11 · 03-05-2011, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperchargedMR2

I was thinking the same thing, how cool it would be if an iPad would fit where our radio fits.

That iPad fit looks awesome too.

Hey jim, you should look it up on youtube. There is a guy who did the same ipad mod to his prius.

cabur · 03-05-2011, 01:49 AM

Scorche sells a mount for Ipad in car.

thestone11 · 03-05-2011, 10:33 AM

Jim, here it is. This prius looks super rice except the ipad mod....lol. Is the owner trying to do an ironman prius?

You Tube

ChancreScolex · 03-05-2011, 11:03 AM

That must suck to have that whole thing built for the original iPad and now they cant upgrade to the iPad 2 because it wont fit in there

***SuperchargedMR2*** · 03-06-2011, 12:23 AM

That iPad looks awesome in the 2nd Gen Prius. I'm not sure how they would fit it into the dash of the 3rd Gen though as it's very different. They did a great job of making it blend in with the dash & the work looks top notch.