Home PC in GA as Car Entertainment Center.

[Sparky47]

I recently got a PC given to me. My buddy suggested making it my "stereo" in a sense for my 91 GA. My idea is to power the PC obviously with a converter. I figured possibly a touch screen monitor molded into the same spot that a head unit would be located. My question is however does anybody know of a soundcard that would put out the correct RCA signals to normal car audio amps? I figured on running one amp for my fronts and rears, and another for my subs. Personally I think that this would be an awesome upgrade simply for the fact of not having to carry cds around anymore. Anyway, give me your thoughts on this and let me know if you have any ideas as to what could make this possible. Thanks

[TheNewLMHDesign]

I'd get a nice sound card. It's gonna sound crappy coming from a crappy sound card. Just my two cents.

[Sparky47]

I agree, I'd get a really good soundcard. But I guess I'm really wondering if this is feasible and even worth it to try?...

[car audio dave]

its been done before...but are you a computer guru? if not then youll probably have major problems with the setup.
1) computer cant handle constant heat changes (extreme temps in cars)
2) hard drive will have issues with the bumps from the roads and the vibrations from the subs.
3) the computer will probably take up lots of space.

[Jibo]

What Dave said ;)

Most of the catr pc setups i have seen have been total customized getups, usually running some flavour of linux and usually doo take up some space, if you really want a computer in your car, ge ta laptop. If you are a computer guru, by all means go for it, just know that you are looking at a lot of work for something that can be accomplished from a mp3 deck ;)

[Dave C]

try www.tigerdirect.com or www.newegg.com
search through and find out. beware, SPDIF is not the same as RCA, even though the plugs are the same.

Quickly looking through, I found this...
click here (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=575677&CatId=0)
sorta pricey, so you might try to find something else...



I am actually considering doing this when I got a new computer... I would not advise trying it unless you have someone who knows their stuff help you. Personally, I think I know a lot about computers, but then I was talking with a friend about doing something like this and he brought up a million things that I hadn't thought of before (needless to say, he know's his stuff). Luckily, he thought it was a cool idea and offered to help if I ever tried it. Not to mention, we are both engineers so that is also a plus :)

[Sparky47]

well that would be nice to know someone who knows his stuff help ya out. If you decide to do this same project, definately do a write up on it.

[Dave C]

It might be a while... It's not at the top of my list :(
But if/when I do, I'll make sure to take lots of pics and do a write-up. :agree:

[Old Guy]

Originally posted by car audio dave
its been done before...but are you a computer guru? if not then youll probably have major problems with the setup.
1) computer cant handle constant heat changes (extreme temps in cars)
2) hard drive will have issues with the bumps from the roads and the vibrations from the subs.
3) the computer will probably take up lots of space.


:agree: The heat alone is the biggest problem. I've seen an install and the guy said that the summer kills it. He said that he originally had it in the trunk, but in the summer he couldn't cool it sufficiently because the temp never got down to operating levels. He then moved it inside the cabin but during the summer couldn't boot it until it cooled down.

The last time I saw him he had pulled it and installed a laptop instead. He said that the effort to make the PC work far outweighed the benifits, plus now he can take the laptop out and use it away from the car.

[RocketFast321]

That's the setup i got, my laptop rides shotgun

[Sparky47]

well I got to thinking about this, and wondered if I could build a new encloser for the PC out of plexi, it would be thick of course, and also install a liquid cooling system for pc's..?? also for the bumps and stuff thought about surrounding the case with that insulating foam used in sound studios and stuff...might work?

[Dragonwings]

Originally posted by Sparky47
well I got to thinking about this, and wondered if I could build a new encloser for the PC out of plexi, it would be thick of course, and also install a liquid cooling system for pc's..?? also for the bumps and stuff thought about surrounding the case with that insulating foam used in sound studios and stuff...might work?

Sure it might work... but for how long? PC equipment is not made to withstand the extreme temperature changes in a car. Not just the cpu, but all parts.. the circuit boards, etc.

By the time you've made all the adaptations necessary to make a car-suitable PC... you could have bought the devices that are MADE FOR A CAR.. with the added functionality of something made with that purpose in mind.

I personally have a 20 gig Iriver (Ipod-like device) that I hook up through my AUX in for the headunit. The Iriver has a remote (corded) that allows full functionality without having to pull out the unit. --- Not only do I have my mp3s in my car, but I can bring them with me as well when I leave the car. You will easily spend the cost of an mp3 player like that trying to get your PC to run well in your car.

But if you want the satisfaction of making a project like that, then by all means go for it. It definitely is possible, I have quite a bit of PC knowledge as well if you want some advice on the PC end. Please keep in mind, 140 F in a car is not uncommon. PCs have problems overheating with a 90-100 F ambient temperature. --- If you go with liquid cooling and place the radiator in the path of your A/C, and always run the A/C... then you're on your way to PC in the Car heaven. --We haven't even talked about power, RF noise if you're going with a plexi enclosure, etc, etc. ---oh yeah, and if you're insulating your PC with foam for vibration and such, keep in mind, you're also making it into a heat thermos (even with liquid cooling, heat accumulates through the motherboard and such).

[Dave C]

Originally posted by Old Guy
He said that the effort to make the PC work far outweighed the benifits, plus now he can take the laptop out and use it away from the car.





Thinking more and more about this, there aren't many advantages to putting a computer in my car, when would I use it besides for playing MP3's? (unless I got one of those car monitor systems, which would only be if I was actually tuning my car) Plus, I would rather get an iPod... or else get a laptop, new HU, and flip-up screen and find a way to connect them.

Dragonwings, did you hook your iRiver up to the stock HU, or do you have an aftermarket one? I'm guessing aftermarket since you said AUX in... Would anyone know how to do this with a stock HU? Maybe by using the satellite radio input?

I guess PFYC sells something, but for $180 I'd like to find a different way...

[Dragonwings]

Originally posted by Dave C

Dragonwings, did you hook your iRiver up to the stock HU, or do you have an aftermarket one? I'm guessing aftermarket since you said AUX in... Would anyone know how to do this with a stock HU? Maybe by using the satellite radio input?

Yep, I have an aftermarket HU ... actually an aftermarket everything stereo wise. :) I've added all the wiring behind my console so I have my phone, mp3 charger plugs all behind the console where you can't see them, and my rca goes through the little slit in the back of the little cubby hole.

But if it's a temporary solution, you can always buy an RF adapter for about 40 bucks.. (cheaper ones suck btw).. then you can just tune your radio to the output of the ipod. If you're an audio guy though.. you'll hate the RF sound quality...

Here's a great thread about hooking up mp3 players to stuff:

Click me for thread (http://www.misticriver.net/boards/showthread.php?t=14846)

hola if you need more info.

[Dave C]

Dragonwings, thanks a bunch for the link...
You'll prolly hear something from me after I've researched it a little more :D

[Sparky47]

I do have to admit that it really isn't necessary, but would be neat to have. Then again...well I won't say that word, but i'm not one of them...lol...