CarPC Project

[ZeroPants]

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?

I have been driving around in my 08 without a Cubby/clock for a few weeks (did some measuring and was too lazy to put it back lol) and im not having any problems, so id assume its fine without the clock.
When i get around to doing my build im leaving the clock out as well.

[mynameisdaniel]

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?

I have been driving around in my 08 without a Cubby/clock for a few weeks (did some measuring and was too lazy to put it back lol) and im not having any problems, so id assume its fine without the clock.
When i get around to doing my build im leaving the clock out as well.

Cheers, ended up just doing it and I haven't had any warnings, or more importantly, airbags blow up in my face yet

[ZeroPants]

Any updated pics of the screen fitted yet mate?

[mynameisdaniel]

Haven't had time to take proper photos yet but the screen has been mounted and wired up working beautifully.

I've got it running off my iPhone for now. Basically there's a plug from my centre console I plug my phone into. It charges the phone as well as feeding the audio out into the aux input of the headunit and the video out goes straight to the screen. I've got the phone set up so whatever's on the phone's screen is on the in dash screen. It's great just like this as I can run the TomTom app full screen, the only thing it's really missing is touch screen control of the app but it's not a huge inconvenience.

Here's a crappy pic of the screen in position. The screen is very bright during the day. I'll put up some progress pics when I can be bothered and take some good photos of the finished product soon.

Still need to take it back out and repaint it as it's not quite perfect first...




Edit: Found this photo of the screen during the day when I first tested it.

[ZeroPants]

Very nice man its looking good!

[WheelieBin]

I meant to check this out on the weekend. Looking good!

Any progress on the actual PC front? I'm sticking with what I have in the Gen3, but in a few years time a Gen4 with a full CarPC build is definitely on the cards.

My housemate has been looking at putting a CarPC in his Lotus Elise since he got the thing more than 5 years ago, he still has bits laying around LOL

[mynameisdaniel]

Very nice man its looking good!

Thanks

I meant to check this out on the weekend. Looking good!

Any progress on the actual PC front? I'm sticking with what I have in the Gen3, but in a few years time a Gen4 with a full CarPC build is definitely on the cards.

My housemate has been looking at putting a CarPC in his Lotus Elise since he got the thing more than 5 years ago, he still has bits laying around LOL

Cheers. Not yet, shouldn't take long to do though. Going to go with something a bit excessive I think though, a quick i5 is definitely a possibility... Just a matter of money now and I've decided the exhaust is first

Yeah it's a good addition, the only hard part is moulding the fascia really. Haha I can see that happening to me if I don't do it all at once...

[mynameisdaniel]

Started work on this again. Gathering parts for the computer itself, as well as fixing the fascia to get it perfect this time. Also got the software I need.

Software:
Windows 7 (I'll strip it down to the essentials once it's all running)
Centrafuse Auto 4 with maps as a front end, music player, navigation etc
BlueSoleil for automatically connecting my iPhone to the computer via bluetooth and managing contacts

Hardware:
Motherboard: AsRock H77M-ITX
CPU: Intel Core i3-2100
RAM Patriot G2 Series DDR3 1600MHz 4GB (will only run 2GB if I can get memory usage down enough)
SSD: OCZ Agility 3 60GB SATA 3
Case: M350 if I can't find somewhere to fit the computer without a case
PSU: M2-ATX, still yet to order this
GPS: Nokia LD 3W (to be upgraded later)
Bluetooth USB adapter
ELM327 OBDII USB cable
Cables: HDMI, lots of USB extension cables, various 3.5mm cables etc...

I'm tempted to run radio through the computer instead of using the headunit as that way whatever is playing will automatically mute when I make or receive a phone call or use voice control. Opposed to me having to reach all the way to the AUX button on the headunit (or press the steering wheel control)

Here's a pic of what the front end will look like, nice big buttons to press and hopefully a very smooth interface with the i3. I've also modified Windows 7 a little to remove most microsoft/windows branding so now the interface has Subaru logos and tbSTi logos/wallpaper


EDIT: Also fitted a reversing camera which automatically switches, need to rewire it a bit as there's a 2-3 second delay before I get picture after changing to reverse. It's very well hidden, you can see it in this photo (just) and that was the angle it was most noticeable from

[Victripper]

That looks awesome... I like the fact that you have removed all the view of Windows 7 and made it in a custom build. Is there benefits to use Win7 over WinCE which is used by most systems?

As I already have a factory system that works fine this is just a nice to know.

Is the system noisy either on bootup or when running and where do have you put the system or is it all in the same sort of form factor as the standard systems?

Is there a limit on the media you can play with that interface or can you select to use any program such as VLC in the background?

How do you deal with the shutdown process of the system, do you have a UPS or similar to ensure it shuts down properly or do you have to do this manually all the time?

Do you think there will be options to connect this up to the steering wheel controls or this more a thought later once most of the setup is set and done then...

[chris12]

Yeah, awesome stuff! Watched the video too, nicely done.

[mynameisdaniel]

That looks awesome... I like the fact that you have removed all the view of Windows 7 and made it in a custom build. Is there benefits to use Win7 over WinCE which is used by most systems?

As I already have a factory system that works fine this is just a nice to know.
Cheers, wasn't much point going for CE or a stripped down version. If you look at the video on facebook loading windows takes literally 1 second so nothing to be gained by stripping it back. I've just disabled all the useless services, half the boot time is the BIOS loading devices which I'm hoping I can get to work a bit quicker once it's all fixed in place in the car.

Is the system noisy either on bootup or when running and where do have you put the system or is it all in the same sort of form factor as the standard systems?
I'm running an i3 so I just used the standard fan/heatsink that came with it. It's not noisy (no case fans or PSU fans like most computers). It's a Mini ITX motherboard so 17x17cm. Not sure if I'll put in a case yet but the cases for them are pretty tiny (the kind of thing you'd mount on the back of your computer monitor). The problem there is I'd need to go for a lower profile CPU cooler to keep it slim enough. Not sure where I'll mount it, up front will be best as it'll make wiring a LOT easier and I can access everything without having to go to the boot etc... If it's too noisy I can just slow the fan down and underclock it a bit.

Is there a limit on the media you can play with that interface or can you select to use any program such as VLC in the background?
No limits at all, the software actually has a VLC plugin available so anything VLC can play this thing can play. I can also get any external program to work by adding a button to the interface which launches the program in front of the interface.

How do you deal with the shutdown process of the system, do you have a UPS or similar to ensure it shuts down properly or do you have to do this manually all the time?
Just a matter of wiring really, the PSU for these which is a special DC-DC type has heaps of functions. You can set it so when the acc is off, it sends a signal to the computer telling it to shutdown/hibernate/sleep etc and to turn on when the acc wire is active. Or you can put a delay on it, so when the car shuts off the computer keeps running for a few minutes/hours then shuts down.

Do you think there will be options to connect this up to the steering wheel controls or this more a thought later once most of the setup is set and done then...
It can be done, yes. I'm not planning to though. My setup will run along side the factory headunit/amp, simply sending aux audio to the aux input. That way my steering wheel controls will still work as normal, allowing me to control the volume and change from aux (CarPC) to normal radio easily.

I've replied under each question

Yeah, awesome stuff! Watched the video too, nicely done.

Thanks Chris

[mynameisdaniel]

Finished! Almost, kind of...

Ended up installing the computer without a case below the headunit. It's sitting above the ABS module that is underneath there. It's a pretty confined space so heat build up was my biggest concern, with a computer, heaunit and screen all using the same space. The computer is bolted to a motherboard tray from a case I cut up and flattened. This is velcrod to the ABS module so it doesn't rattle and takes most the vibrations while being removable. The computer is running the standard intel heatsink which can be heard slightly with the engine off, music off and air con off and your ear next to the headunit. So it's pretty good. I also mounted two 80mm silent computer fans a bit higher up which blow air from behind the glovebox and out towards the steering column to help move some air around. In the process of setting up some sort of program to monitor and warn if the temperature does get a little high.

The power supply is mounted a bit higher again to get the most of the airflow from the fans. I also have the SSD mounted behind the glovebox, again using velcro so everything is removable if need be.

Here's some photos of it all mounted. The wiring for the computer is fairly neat and out of the way, the loose wires are mainly for the head unit.







What's left to do...

New GPS receiver (old bluetooth one needs to be charged and takes a while to connect)
New OBDII scanner (old cheap one seems to jump the values around strangely while monitoring)
Digital radio receiver
Microphone for phone calls
Repaint fascia as I scratched it
Rewire screen with delay to avoid no signal message on startup
Lap timer software
Temp monitoring software
Dash cam recording system

[HoFF]

Nice work Dan

[HyRax]

That's actually the airbag deployment controller, not the ABS module, but otherwise it looks great!

[mynameisdaniel]

Thanks! Whoops, that's what I meant