DashPC in Syclone 1596

[gooche26]

Fantastic job! For a laugh look below to what my Typhoon had back in 2002. I would have killed for a 10" clean install like this one!

Originally Posted by gooche26

I have one of the BookPCs in my car. It is hooked up to a Pioneer In Dash 7" display. Anyway I had to get a power inverter and a 2nd battery because I didn't want it to eat my starter battery. The inverter is cool it allows me to run a Playstation 2 also. My CPU is mainly for playing Music Videos, movies on trips. Keeping track of Gas Mileage etc. Just recently I've set it to run with DM. I have it all set in the trunk of my TY in a box/shelve type system which holds my CPU, power inverter, starter and 2nd battery, battery isolator, caps, amps and (2) 10' subs. I doesn't take up that much room.
I'll see if I can dig up some pics.

In case you were wondering the stats of my CPU:
Pentium III 800mhz
512 RAM
80 GB HD
CD Writer
Sound Blaster Extigy USB Sound Card (for 5.1 dolby)
Everything else is on board.


That unit is really small. I wish they had that 2 years ago when I built my system. That CPU is half the size of mine. Although I still think I would have gone with the BookPC because I can use standard desktop parts (ex Hard Drive, CD Rom, IDE devices). Large 2.5 HD for my purpose would be to expensive.

I now have an infill G4 CarPC I'm probably moving to the Typhoon, but I'd definitively give this route a try.

[sytyguy]

Update: Nothing major has happened as far as the install, but I have been handmaking some adapters and extensions to allow for locating the components in an optimal place (as well as pre-planning for a AC friendly install). While a public version is still a ways away, everything I do to mine has reproduction in mind, so hopefully, there will be very little "polishing" to do for a final product.

The end goal is to provide a conversion service akin to the vortec intake mod. You send in a healthy radio/AC trim panel and we send you one out converted to the LCD, with the screen and components all ready to install. As ambitious as it sounds, we're hoping for a true plug and play system with no wire splicing or cutting*. I'll have a better outlook on fit/finish as well as a timeline and cost once mine is done. First and foremost is to finish my install....then onto additional testing and eventually production.

* Will depend heavily on what you chose to operate/integrate with the system. integration into stock speaker system (like my system will be) will require typical car audio wiring modifications.

[b00sted87]

Im not sure if I missed it? But, what model machine did you install and where is it located in the truck? The 10'' LCD is really awesome looking!

[sytyguy]

Originally Posted by b00sted87

Im not sure if I missed it? But, what model machine did you install and where is it located in the truck? The 10'' LCD is really awesome looking!

The "machine" is completely custom. It's not like I used an existing CarPC and hooked it to a universal LCD. The hard drive is a standard 2.5" SATA II laptop drive, but the LCD is an IFW variant and the board is a 10_HAB Palindrome unit that is being customized. I don't want to give out specifics, but for my personal unit, I reballed a later rev GPU onto the board. If I can get my supplier to provide the units already converted, it'll save time and cost on the overall unit. LT testing will determine the necessity of IMCH (NB) upgrading.

I don't want to get into a situation where every unit ordered is a custom config, nor do I want to overbuild the unit from the get-go. I think we all understand that we're powering a 10.1" LCD for datalogging and simple PC usage.....we're not pushing Blu-Rays or powering a 50" external plasma. Knowing that, I doubt I'll need to beef up a whole lot.

Location: Don't worry about where I had it during the pics....it most likely won't stay there. Remember, my truck is in a state of fitment and testing, so how this thing is currently setup has little reflection on the potential final product.

[sparkwire]

Have you made any progress on this? thanks.

[sytyguy]

Yes and no. The truck is no closer to having it permanently mounted in it, but I have ironed out a some enclosure fitment issues and some thermodynamic optimization. I really hope to have some major progress on this in the coming month. But life....yeah, that bitch be crazy.

[sparkwire]

I know the feeling, will be interested in any progress. thanks.

[canadian]

Mike, what did you do with the upper A/C vents behind the LCD? I have the interior of mine apart wondering if I can fit a double-din in there, but I also have a Motion Computing LE1600 sitting around that I might see if it will fit. Are you running an inverter, or 12v native power supply?

[sytyguy]

Originally Posted by canadian

Mike, what did you do with the upper A/C vents behind the LCD? I have the interior of mine apart wondering if I can fit a double-din in there, but I also have a Motion Computing LE1600 sitting around that I might see if it will fit. Are you running an inverter, or 12v native power supply?

My truck has no A/C, so the vents don't concern me, but I didn't have to modify the vents, as the LCD unit itself is thin enough to fit in front of them. As I had mentioned earlier in this thread, I we will look for ways to incorporate the vents into the trim panel for an "A/C Friendly" version of this install, but that is a distant second to just getting this thing working in my truck and the 2 other trucks we're starting with.

Power source - dedicated 12v.

[canadian]

I as well have removed this feature from my truck. Thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by sytyguy

My truck has no A/C, so the vents don't concern me, but I didn't have to modify the vents, as the LCD unit itself is thin enough to fit in front of them. As I had mentioned earlier in this thread, I we will look for ways to incorporate the vents into the trim panel for an "A/C Friendly" version of this install, but that is a distant second to just getting this thing working in my truck and the 2 other trucks we're starting with.

Power source - dedicated 12v.