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Mini PC / Mini ATX
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Posted by: Spork Lover
Im trying to help out a friend. He is looking for a small PC that will fit inside of a Car. I found one at ThinkGeek, and he is just looking to see if there are any other companies that may produce a small PC. There arent any power concerns, it can have a DC inlet like the Think Geek miniPC, or it can have the traditional power inlet. He has a LCD screen to use, and a keyboard / mouse. He has a way to patch the PC sound output into his stereo system, so speakers arent a concern either. If at all possible he would like to find one that has one expansion slot. He plans on using the PC for playing DVD's and MP3's...running games, and in the future he wants to try and set it up for wireless network access.
Mini ATX mobo suggestions are fine too, he is willing to put together his own package. Plenty of spare parts to build one, just dont have the key small parts(mini mobo..etc)
Thanks for any suggestions!
Posted by: Kdr Kane
The possibilities are endless.
A lot would depend on whether he plans to remove the PC from the vehicle or not. I would never recommend a PC to be permanently installed in a vehicle. The temperature extremes will cause the system to be unreliable and faulty quite often.
The video requirements are not very specific. If he wants to play games in his car, I'm simply going to recommend a laptop. Anything else is a waste of time. He's simply going to do it the way he feels is right.
Recommending another solution than a laptop is not a good idea in my humble opinion.
Posted by: Sops
I was planning on doing the same thing. I'm going to use a old p400 and either do some weird case mod to fit it under the seats, or mount the whole thing is the trunk.
I actually have a question, how is he planning to connect the PC to the LCD screen? Is is getting one with a PC hook-up, or running something like s-video out to the LCD screen?
Posted by: Canis Lupus
 Quote:
Originally posted by Kdr Kane
I would never recommend a PC to be permanently installed in a vehicle. The temperature extremes will cause the system to be unreliable and faulty quite often.
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Yeah, what Kane said ... unless you live in Alaska or any extreme northern state...
Posted by: Spork Lover
Its not going to be a full sized pc. It will probably be one that uses the mobile cpu's to help with the heat problem. It isnt going to be a unit that will be on all of the time, its more of a car show type thing. Im not sure if he is planning on making it a permanent fixture or not. I have already suggested a laptop, but like I said he is doing it for a show car, so laptop wouldnt fit in. Now that I think of it, it would more than likely be a removable unit so that he wouldnt have to leave the puter in the heat of the summer. Please keep the suggestions coming!
Posted by: Kdr Kane
If it's for a show car, then he needs to forget about using parts he has laying around.
He needs to get a Tablet PC that runs Windows XP.
Here is an example.
You can look up Tablet PC on Microsoft's website for more information.
Like I said, there's a ton of ways to go. It will all come down to what he wants in the end.
Posted by: The-AoD
Check into police systems. The cops around here have some NICE new systems, with keyboards and 15" LCD's wired into the dash. They cost a pretty penny, but with a 1.6Ghz processor and 512mb of ram, with a nice nVidia2Go card, it is worth it. And thier systems are actually integrated under the passanger seating, and have thier own power system integrated into the cars wiring through the firewall. 
Posted by: Null Actor
Another thing he might consider is getting a half-bay server PC case. They are relatively flat, he could probably mount it under a seat or whatnot.
One thing though, you don't ever want to use the machine while driving, since tiny bumps while a harddrive is operating can **** it up pretty bad.
Posted by: Sarc
Nova, what would be the point of putting a PC in a car if you couldn't use it while you were driving?
Have him check this out.
I'll probably use something like this when I put a PC in my car. 
I'll have to come up with some sort of suspention system for the hard drive though.
These things are saweeet! ... 
Here's a review that Anandtech.com did about it.
The other cool thing about these is that, if someone was to come up with a latch mechanism for the case, it could be pulled out of the car for a LAN party.    
Posted by: taco_fox
I dunno if this thread from www.hardforums.com will help any, but this tiny computer uses an 'Inside Technology 786LCD 3.5"(industrial computer board a.k.a. biscuit board) SiS630E Chipset.' That might be a little hard to come by.
Your friend should ask some questions in the Cool Cases forum of hardforums. I've seen plenty of car PCs there and they should be able to help.
http://pages.sprint.ca/ch33z1t/file...v3_Front_34.jpg
Posted by: ZeRo_MaXwInG
Quote:
Originally posted by Sarc
Nova, what would be the point of putting a PC in a car if you couldn't use it while you were driving?
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First of all, the only *SAFE* time for the person to use the PC would be when the car is stopped at a light (this is a stretch) or just parked somewhere. Cell phones are already a distraction and no one in their right minds would try driving while using a PC.
Posted by: Sarc
Quote:
Originally posted by ZeRo_MaXwInG
First of all, the only *SAFE* time for the person to use the PC would be when the car is stopped at a light (this is a stretch) or just parked somewhere. Cell phones are already a distraction and no one in their right minds would try driving while using a PC.
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This is true, but I wasn't trying to say that someone should actually interact with their PC while driving.
I was thinking more along the lines of having it just play MP3's and what not while driving.
But you bring up a very good point, it could be a major distraction. If miss-used.
Posted by: Grimlock
He could always fit the case with a damper system to stop it vibrating. I can understand why he would want to do it. mp3's, DVD's for passengers on a long journey etc...
Posted by: taco_fox
This might be a little late, but I just saw an ad for a VERY small (170mm x 170mm) mini-ITX board.
http://www.viavpsd.com/product/epia...otherboardId=21
It has an integrated CPU, video, audio, TV-out, and LAN.
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