just test fitted my screen for my carputer set up..
This is a 7" touch screen hooked up to a desktop computer in the trunk. will be used for data logging, DVD, GPS, MP3 etc.

I think it turned out pretty good :banana:
<a href="http://img371.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc05007pq5.jpg"> </a>

<a href="http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc05008wc6.jpg"> </a>

<a href="http://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc05009ff9.jpg"> </a>

Its almost complete!
Just got to figure out some electrical issues.. like which way im going to go for sound..

edit: dont know whats up with my thumbnails.. so just copy paste the links for a bigger view

what did the screen cost you?

i think it was around 250 its a 7" touch screen, VGA not composite, so its like a mini PC screen.

Looks great, like it was meant to be there!

(BTW, I fixed your pics )

Thanks for fixing the links
and thats what i was hoping for, an OEM type look.. less thieves, and just looks cleaner

the look is great, i really like it. Definately looks like it belongs there!

looks awsome where did u get the screen from and who did the install

Got the screen from ebay.. its a 7" vga touch screen.. so basically a tiny computer monitor.
I am doing every thing my self. The screen had to be
"custom" fitted in place.. and had to modify the center console a little (cut the tabs that hold it in place)

Can I ask about the power supply and computer specs?

Looks very nice!

power supply is a M2-ATX 160 watt DC-DC power supply. it has a built in startup/shut down controller, allows the computer to operate while cranking engine, and has "safety" features so the battery doesn't drain.

The computer specs are nothing fancy.. mainly because this is my "test" system. I will eventually upgrade the computer(when I need to.. probably ina couple years)
But its a P3(slot, not socket) cpu, 600mhz. 512MB sd ram, and a 13gig hard drive (i have a 20gig, but its to loud.. dont know if i will use it)
DVD rom is an OLD regular one that is from 1998, it is temporary(and will be rarely used) until I can buy a laptop/slim drive.
Video card is a Ati Rage Fury 128.
For GPS I am using a BU-353 USB receiver.

What OS you using?

Win XP? 2000? And what do you use to control media and GPS for the comp?

I am using XP.. and when im in the final stages of this build (so in a few weeks) I will be installing a "lite" version of XP (using Nlite) to take out what i will not need.

As for controlling GPS, and media, its all done through th screen... its a touch screen

I meant was, what software do you use to control GPS and media?

ah, The GPS software I am using is Iguidance 3.0
And the "Front end" software to control every thing is called Road Runner (its free, and open source). But I am designing my own skin for it.
For music Road runner uses winAmp in the background, for video, and dvd it uses media player classic. Ofcourse you can change all of this.
http://guino.home.insightbb.com/roadrunner.html thats the site for it.

Any ways I got it all running last night, it was so much better then I was expecting.. I will try to have a video, or some pictures of it running soon.

Also check out www.mp3car.com for more info, road runner (as well as other front ends, and gps software.. or any other info you will ever need) The forums are full of info.

I was reading the forums for the OS your using. If budget allows, ill prob fit a 'puter in the 1G this summer.

Its totally worth it.. If your ever in London you can see this in person

What are you using for a case for the computer. Are you using a mini atx case of some kind?

For now, its just a regular tower in the trunk.. its not pretty but it works

I hope to be switching the computer for some thing a little more powerful soon.. then later build a small case for it... but right now I dont mind how it looks, I just want it to run properly. Making it look nice is phase 2, when i get more money to spend

How well does a 3.5" h/d work in a carputer. I can't imagine it lasting too long. Might be a better idea to go with 2.5" h/d as those are made for more ruggid conditions.

Well, I havent really tested mine in outdoor/real world conditions.. just in my garage.
But you are correct, they usually are the first things to die on these. the laptop drives are a little better, but you will still have issues eventually.
There are also some other Alternatives people have come up with.
Some of the newer motherboards let you boot up from a USB drive, and people just install every thing on a USB thumb drive.
There are also these SD card adapters which let you connect a few of those camera storage cards and it plugs into a regular IDE port like a regular hard drive.. but this one has no moving parts.

Just make a little homemade rubber shock absorber system for it

You could use Windows XP embedded. It is meant for uses like this.

And flash, or otherwise solidstate ,drive is much better for booting.

If you go linux there are gizllion disributions that run of USB or if you go with Win XPe, it has provision for booting from USB and Flash.


I think a harddrive in a car is not a an ideal setup. Flash!

Very true, but Hard drive is easier/cheaper for a "budget" start
I will eventually switch to a more practical set up for the hard drive.

As for linux, the downside to that is the available GPS options.. There are not many "good" GPS programs available, and none for Canada.

how is Flash any more expensive that a harddrive?

A 2Gig USB key is less than a harddrive and that is the most you need really.

Of course that is not for reading massive amounts of MP3 but for GPS alone, that should be enough.

I am not even sure how big these USB keys are these days?

I meant the solid state drives being not cheap.

What I want to eventually do is have a flash drive for the OS alone, and then another just for music/videos that i can plug into a usb port at the front near the screen.

I am just waiting for the larger("new"8gb ones) flash drives to become more "reliable".

my current hard drive is 8gb,and its pretty much fully used(full windows install, GPS maps, Mp3s, some video)
but honestly im not to worried about the hard drive. on the mp3car.com forums people have been running them for long long time with little issues. they are not perfect but they work.... for a while

Murtaza, What are you using to design your skin for RR? I would love a custom skin for it, but didn't have much luck finding a skin creator

I find all this awesome. I had an old P200mmx in my car back in 98-99, when Todd Day mentioned something about it being a cool idea on the Talon Digest. I now have a touchscreen and a 1Ghz mini ATX with DVD-rom in the car. I love it. Hell even Andy thought it was cool enough to do it too

Now there are forums for it! WOW

RR has a skin editor now, if you look on the mp3car.com forums road runner section its a sticky.
Verrrry easy to use. Basically make your design in photoshop or what ever(needs atleast 3 states, mouse on, off, and down) then you load up the menu, make boxes for buttons or what ever.

heres my skin, if your interested i can send it to you.




I went for some thing reallly basic, and just ads things I will use.
I am basically all done, I am also using some default skins from road runner (like the on screen keyboard, application viewer, and sound mixer)

Cool if you don't mind could you send your skin to me please. I may make my own at some point as well, but I mostly suck at anything graphical.

adagre at yahoo.com

Sure thing, the most up to date version is on my laptop, so i will send it to you some time tomorrow.

What kind of signal processor are you using?

I've been toying with the idea of building a carputer for a while now, but the biggest thing holding me back is taking the music from the computer, and broadcasting it through to the amp... and off to the speakers. I've found a signal processor may not be the easiest, but is probally the best possible solution. Any feedback?

I am just running a mini audo jack from onboard soundcard to RCA cable running to the AUX in on my deck (hidden in the glove box)
sound quality is good. no buzzing etc.. Though i donw much about the "audio" portion.. hen it comes to audio i have no clue what im doing
I dont know if this answers your question or not.

Oh and adam, sorry I didnt geet a chance to send you the skin, I Will try and do it this week end.