CarPC Project

[mynameisdaniel]

4GB is heaps, well, maybe enough for Win7, I think my WinXP system is on 512mb.

I just took a video of my system going from hibernate to playing music and back to hibernate. Just trying to rotate the video and upload it now.

As for reversing cam, not sure if any had it standard, but I added mine to sit on top of my tow bar mount. It's attached via two rare earth magnets on each of it's 'feet'. Originally had it under the tow bar, but coming down a steep driveway put the camera into the asphalt so hence the relocation to above. Doesn't give as much angle in terms of seeing exactly how much room between the bumper and rear obstacles, but it's currently enough for my purposes without drilling any holes in the boot lid. May investigate it further but I'm happy having it where it is. I rarely look at the screen while reversing anyway.

EDIT:
Finally got the video rotated and uploaded

About 2 - 3 seconds in is when I turn the carpc on.

Nice! thanks for the video, I could definitely live with a boot time like that. The only thing that I don't like is that screen flashing blue throughout the process which almost all systems seem to have. I like OEM looking and working stuff so I'll have to work on that.

I don't have a tow bar so my bumper goes all the way down. I might custom make something like this as it's nice and subtle.
The only reason I really want the camera is to judge distances from walls. I can't seem to get used to how far back the car goes plus I'm scared of hitting something every time I reverse park, and I always reverse park given the chance

[ZeroPants]

Hey,

Cant wait to see how your build turns out, im also looking to build one myself (after i do some performance mods lol),

Im thinking about using this
http://www.bybyte.com/BBX-1_content.htm *Edit, Not sure is this is too long to fit into the dash however
with a Double din Faica kit as not not cut up the Cubby.

Will possibly fit a Zotac mini ITX Bord with a i3 and 4gig ram and win7 basic install and a 120gig SSD for decent boot times (you can mess around with windows 7 settings to get faster boot times again, Google it =)

[mynameisdaniel]

Hey,

Cant wait to see how your build turns out, im also looking to build one myself (after i do some performance mods lol),

Im thinking about using this
http://www.bybyte.com/BBX-1_content.htm *Edit, Not sure is this is too long to fit into the dash however
with a Double din Faica kit as not not cut up the Cubby.

Will possibly fit a Zotac mini ITX Bord with a i3 and 4gig ram and win7 basic install and a 120gig SSD for decent boot times (you can mess around with windows 7 settings to get faster boot times again, Google it =)

Yeah I was looking at those units for my old car. decided against it though. The advantage of running a computer in the cubby is I can run the audio through the McIntosh system instead of having to set up amps etc, plus if the radio plays through the head unit it's one less USB device to slow down the computer's boot time.

I've been doing some reading on motherboards and I think I'm going to go with the Asrock E350M1, it supposedly has great boot times, low power usage and the CPU is integrated into the motherboard (one less thing that can move/break from vibrations). SSD is a must, no moving parts like HDD plus the speed is so much better.

[ZeroPants]

Hey,

Cant wait to see how your build turns out, im also looking to build one myself (after i do some performance mods lol),

Im thinking about using this
http://www.bybyte.com/BBX-1_content.htm *Edit, Not sure is this is too long to fit into the dash however
with a Double din Faica kit as not not cut up the Cubby.

Will possibly fit a Zotac mini ITX Bord with a i3 and 4gig ram and win7 basic install and a 120gig SSD for decent boot times (you can mess around with windows 7 settings to get faster boot times again, Google it =)

Yeah I was looking at those units for my old car. decided against it though. The advantage of running a computer in the cubby is I can run the audio through the McIntosh system instead of having to set up amps etc, plus if the radio plays through the head unit it's one less USB device to slow down the computer's boot time.

I've been doing some reading on motherboards and I think I'm going to go with the Asrock E350M1, it supposedly has great boot times, low power usage and the CPU is integrated into the motherboard (one less thing that can move/break from vibrations). SSD is a must, no moving parts like HDD plus the speed is so much better.

Damn.. that Motherboard is quite Beefy for the price...mm more options to consider lol

[mynameisdaniel]

Bit of an update. I've ordered a screen already and should get that soon. Now I just need to find a fascia I can cut up to mount it behind.

The screen is a Lilliput 7" 669GL-70NP/C/T-H with auto switching. It's basically just a cheap(ish) resistive touch screen screen with a few features, high brightness to help with daylight readability, HDMI 1080 input (mainly because DVI plugs are really big) and auto switching so when reverse is engaged the screen automatically switches to a reverse camera input. It seems to be very popular and has few common problems so should do the job nicely.

Also ran some wiring through the firewall to a power distribution block, all ready for me to just plug in the screen and computer.

[Lib 3.0LR]

Here's my set-up

[mynameisdaniel]

Nice, did come across yours, very well done. I've got the same screen so mine will come out very similar hopefully, although I might try and relocate all of the buttons under the screen as they seem like they'll rarely be used anyway.

If you could do it again would you change the angle you mounted the screen at, or is it fine how it is?

[Lib 3.0LR]

Nice, did come across yours, very well done. I've got the same screen so mine will come out very similar hopefully, although I might try and relocate all of the buttons under the screen as they seem like they'll rarely be used anyway.

If you could do it again would you change the angle you mounted the screen at, or is it fine how it is?

Well I find it ok at that angle just need to find a good Centrafuse skin

[mynameisdaniel]

Nice, did come across yours, very well done. I've got the same screen so mine will come out very similar hopefully, although I might try and relocate all of the buttons under the screen as they seem like they'll rarely be used anyway.

If you could do it again would you change the angle you mounted the screen at, or is it fine how it is?

Well I find it ok at that angle just need to find a good Centrafuse skin

Okay awesome Been playing around with Centrafuse 4, I quite like the standard skin, the buttons are nice and large, makes navigating and controlling easy so I might stick with that. Then just add some Subaru logos for loading screens/shutdown screens

Any chance you remember what sort of paint you used?

[Lib 3.0LR]

Will look in the shed and get you that info.

[Lib 3.0LR]

Sorry for the crapy shots

[mynameisdaniel]

Thanks George! I really appreciate that, had no idea what I was going to use

[ZeroPants]

Bit of an update. I've ordered a screen already and should get that soon. Now I just need to find a fascia I can cut up to mount it behind.

The screen is a Lilliput 7" 669GL-70NP/C/T-H with auto switching. It's basically just a cheap(ish) resistive touch screen screen with a few features, high brightness to help with daylight readability, HDMI 1080 input (mainly because DVI plugs are really big) and auto switching so when reverse is engaged the screen automatically switches to a reverse camera input. It seems to be very popular and has few common problems so should do the job nicely.

Also ran some wiring through the firewall to a power distribution block, all ready for me to just plug in the screen and computer.

Can i ask why you chose the Resistive Screen and not the Capacitive ones they offer? one would assume due to dash heat and what not the Resistive screen would become out of sync and need re-adjusting?

[mynameisdaniel]

Can i ask why you chose the Resistive Screen and not the Capacitive ones they offer? one would assume due to dash heat and what not the Resistive screen would become out of sync and need re-adjusting?

Because it's cheaper

I did consider a capacitive screen, but didn't seem worth it. If you've ever used a touch screen in a car resistive is much easier to use while driving. You don't need multi touch while driving and with resistive if you hit the screen very lightly by accident (aiming for a button then hit a bump in the road) it doesn't matter. Plus you can just sort of jab it with your fingernail rather than having to touch it properly

Had a cheapo eBay headunit with a resistive touchscreen in my old car. Never had any trouble with it, even if the screen comes out of sync very slightly it's not going to make a difference with the big buttons I plan on using

[mynameisdaniel]

So the screen is almost done, just finishing up the shaping of the fascia so it looks good, then a coat of paint and it'll go in. Pics to come soon.

But before I can put the screen in I need to do some more wiring. I've got constant power directly from the battery so I can safely run everything from that. But I need an accessory trigger so the screen and computer come on with the key turned to accessories. The problem here is that the accessories line cuts when the car is cranked. I don't want the screen flashing on and off as that'll look pretty average in my opinion, might try it first to see though.

But what I was thinking is, run an accessory wire to a relay in line with the constant power source. That way on accessories the screen comes on. Then, run an ignition wire to the same relay (Ignition stays on through cranking). Install some diodes so they don't interfere with each other and I'll have constant power from accessories, through cranking... Thoughts? Or possible problems with this idea?

Also, being an 07 model, my clock is just a clock... I won't have any problems if I just leave it unplugged like the >06 models do?