New Project : In Car PC / Sound System

[Havok316]

Hi all im thinking of starting a new project for my car. As im having problems with my standard head unit and dodgy speakers ive decided to rip it all out and design a new system. Im thinking of using an EEE-PC to mount in the disk changer bit in the glove box and use a touch screen that unfolds. Not sure whether to have it in place of the head unit or have it so it pulls outwards from the glove box and a sliding keyboard (if req). The only snag il come across is the audio for the car. Id like to install a semi-decent 5.1 surround system but using car speakers.

Questions before proceeding

1. Does anyone know if I can put phono leads on car speakers and use them via the pc?
2. Are there any power related complications? i.e Battery Upgrade, convertors etc
3. Is it possible for the PC to boot up once the ignition is on?

Planned Setup as follows

- EEE-PC
- 8 inch Touch-screen Interface
- Bluetooth
- GPS
- Possible USB Broadband Dongle
- Windows XP Media Center
- TV Reciever
- Slimline DVD/CD player
- slimline keyboard
- small mouse and pad
- USB / E-Sata connectors for the dash
- a Semi-Decent sound card

Lastly I was thinking of making a custom center console housing for the touch-screen but not 100% sure as of yet. I know Seat already have one might just modify it to suit. I might find it will be easier buying a Hand Held PC in the long run.

Any Ideas suggestions are gladly noted

 

[Cupra Kev]

Sound output wise, I imagine the easiest solution would be PC -> Amp using Phono leads and then the amp takes care of powering/delivering to the car speakers.

For powering it based on the ignition take a look at http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=10#int - 12V DC car-specific PSU's for PC's - targeted at Mini-ITX boards but may be adaptable for the EeePC

Good luck and let us know how it goes - interested in doing something similar myself

 

[stpete]

To be honest i would say dont use an eee pc use an itx board based on the intel atom pocessor, with the new chipset coming v soon it'll only need passive cooling and be fast enough, have look at these http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=47, then add custom car case inc psu so it'll work well with car's ropey power (noisey and up/down) http://linitx.com/viewcategory.php?catid=186, for screens the world is your welk, where do you want them and how many? use a wireless keyboard and mouse and it'll be sweet as! Hell you got me thinking now!!! What about rgb in for reversing camera or gps for satnav even 3g wireless for mobile seatcupra.net!!!!

 

[Havok316]

Not sure what you're planning to do about the sound card, but you won't be able to change what the EEE comes with (which may be 5.1 capable in hardware but will 99.9% certainly lack the requisite connections to actually plug in the speakers). One option might be one of the external USB Soundblasters that Creative do (or similar from another manufacturer), but I don't know how beefy a CPU they might need as shunting stuff around a USB bus isn't as "cheap" as PCI/onboard. Also, being an external box it'll need more space and it'll need a power supply.

Obviously you can hook as many speakers up as you like to your stereo source though and still get "surround sound" in the sense that it'll come from all corners of the car, if that's what you mean? I'd argue that actual 5.1 is wasted on music though and that using the stereo source and just using your amp to output that to multiple speakers would be fine?

Sound output wise, I imagine the easiest solution would be PC -> Amp using Phono leads and then the amp takes care of powering/delivering to the car speakers.

For powering it based on the ignition take a look at http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=10#int - 12V DC car-specific PSU's for PC's - targeted at Mini-ITX boards but may be adaptable for the EeePC

Good luck and let us know how it goes - interested in doing something similar myself

To be honest i would say dont use an eee pc use an itx board based on the intel atom pocessor, with the new chipset coming v soon it'll only need passive cooling and be fast enough, have look at these http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=47, then add custom car case inc psu so it'll work well with car's ropey power (noisey and up/down) http://linitx.com/viewcategory.php?catid=186, for screens the world is your welk, where do you want them and how many? use a wireless keyboard and mouse and it'll be sweet as! Hell you got me thinking now!!! What about rgb in for reversing camera or gps for satnav even 3g wireless for mobile seatcupra.net!!!!

yea i was looking further into all this and asus are soon selling a touchscreen monitior with a built in pc with sep slim keyboard and mouse with 5.1 out for around £300. I think il go with the amp idea. and yea i was thinking of adding a reversing camera too as mentioned. I found a nice mini itx case from novatech fot £180 but doesnt have ram or a hdd.