Originally Posted by project_skyline

Sounds like overkill to me, unless your gaming, editing video, and downloading movies at the same time.

Originally Posted by Jedi_Gill

Don't get my started on my Gaming Monster of a computer. I'll give you a quick summary Intel 980X Six Core Processor overclocked to 4.1Ghz, 12GB of Ram, Dual 240GB SSD Drives in Raid 0 for performance. 2TB Backup Drive. Crossfire 2X Radeon HD5970 4GB combined video memory. 1,200 Powersupply, Liquid Cooling. Creative XFI 5.1 Sound card. 27inch 3D monitor that runs at 120hz. Logitech G15 Keyboard and MX700 Gaming mouse. Oh and Logitech 5.1 Surround System. Yea I know. I have a technology Disease

Originally Posted by Jedi_Gill

I actually posted specs in my interior mods section, in case you missed it here it is.

Car Computer Installed (2Ghz, 1GB Ram, 30GB SSD Drive) integrated under my car seat.

I'm using a Intel Atom motherboard, It's taken a bit of trial an error to finally get the car computer where it is today.

Initially I had the car pc nicely tucked in my glove box, It looked clean and cool, but it was a pain in the *** trying to pull it out everytime my hard drive failed or a connector came loose. (because of the vibrations in the car, it was mostly hard drive failures). Not to mention it was overheating and even worse causing condensation on the unit when I ran my Air Conditioning to the vents.

Of course this wasn't going to fly so I made a few changes. 1. Installed a SSD Drive to prevent any future hard drive failures, 2. Moved the Car pc under the driver seat.. This gave it far better cooling and also made it easier to work on. I simply attached Velcro all along the bottom of the mini Case to let it stick to the carpet. This works a bit too good.. I need a spatula just to pull the thing off .

In response to the power supply. It's all integrated in my small pc case, (About the size of a Biology Book) the Car computer automatically turns on 5 seconds after ignition of the car, this will ensure that the crank voltage won't damage my computer. There is a relay built into this customized power supply to perform this action. The same process happens when I shut down the pc. When I turn the key off, the ignition wire sends a signal to the powersupply of my carpc to start the shutdown process. It's nothing fancy just using windows built in shutdown command when the powerbutton is pressed. The powersupply has a wire that connects directly into the power button of the motherboard to communicate the startup and shutdown process.

In reference to the Screen, it would be a pain in the *** to keep dragging your finger to move the mouse cursor.. Gladly this isn't the way the system works. You literally touch where you want it to be and the mouse cursor will disappear and re-appear wherever you touch. I even enabled single touch Icons so I don't have to double tap to open programs. Double Tapping is much harder than you think on a moving car. Try tapping in the exact same point with your computer mouse while someone is moving your wrist. It's the same effect, gladly single tap solves this.

I'm running Windows XP to maximize performance, Windows 7 would have just dragged down the speed of the unit. And I actually use a different interface program called Centrafuse. It's literally an overlay-ed application that does everything you need on a car computer as it was specifically built for this purpose.
Windows XP/7 are not built for car environments. You need big buttons and easier navigation menus. Centrafuse is perfect, I even configured to automatically launch when the computer starts.

In terms of wireless, I simply connect to my Evo 4G via Bluetooth or usb connection and I used it's Wimax 4G tethered connection. I always have a life connection the moment I get into the car. I've also used this connection to make phone calls while in my car through the Bluetooth adapter. Same as most luxury cars.. I just had to install a hidden microphone in the car to talk back to it. I hear people talking to me through the speakers.

The power drain to my Car PC is minimal, There is a little vampire drain but I've installed a master cutoff switch to resolve this issue if needed.

I could go on but I feel this post is long enough..

Originally Posted by Jedi_Gill

Don't get my started on my Gaming Monster of a computer. I'll give you a quick summary Intel 980X Six Core Processor overclocked to 4.1Ghz, 12GB of Ram, Dual 240GB SSD Drives in Raid 0 for performance. 2TB Backup Drive. Crossfire 2X Radeon HD5970 4GB combined video memory. 1,200 Powersupply, Liquid Cooling. Creative XFI 5.1 Sound card. 27inch 3D monitor that runs at 120hz. Logitech G15 Keyboard and MX700 Gaming mouse. Oh and Logitech 5.1 Surround System. Yea I know. I have a technology Disease

Originally Posted by tscompusa

so......... to kick on the power to the pc you have it setup via direct spliced into the jumper cables from the case to mobo? or you have it wired up so it completely bypasses the case? ive done something similar before.

i imagine a regular disc platter style hard drive would not last ya.. SSD ftw. Personally if i was building one id definitely run windows 7 on it, windows 7 runs faster then XP when its setup properly.. it has a more stable Kernel, and uses less resources when setup properly. remove as many services from it and startup registry entrys as possible. XP still does a good job though. any newer NT kernel is pretty stable. either that or unix based os and compile the kernel for minimum amount of processes to run and launch progs auto via crontab / startup script.

I want to try the car pc thing.. might have to give it a go when i get bored some time.. it would definitely be so much more convenient then hauling a laptop around all the time.. plus you can make it so the flasher cables are hooked into the pc 24/7 and evoscan is there ready to log etc..

I'll contact you when i need to get some things to get started. i was reading up on this stuff before earlier last year and theres quite a lot of information online about how to do it.. i really like your mold tho.. it looks very professional.

how do you right click? do you use one of those buttons you have on your display for that?

Originally Posted by binky

Windows 7 does definitely NOT use LESS resources than Windows XP SP3, no matter how you set it up. Might be more 'stable' but definitely uses more resources.

However, with that said, I do really like Windows 7, it's M$'s best OS yet.


-Bink

Originally Posted by tscompusa

very nice.. i just use my 360 for gaming.. but haven't really used it for quite some time now. and ps3 just collects dust as well.. i used to game on computer but i like consoles better.

I didn't even know they had 3d pc monitors. i used to do the overclocking thing.. i got heavily into it with vapor phase change units etc.. i had a VAPOLI V2000 custom made for me.. used to idle processor in the negative c's and overclock them insanely.

do you try to stay up to date with technology? that cost almost as much as a car to do if you try to follow the new releases every month.

my setup is mega outdated..

Q9550 45nm, 8gb g.skill pc2-6400, x48 chipset etc

i did have this thing at 4ghz almost with a custom ultra 120 extreme with upgraded fans.

Originally Posted by tscompusa

so......... to kick on the power to the pc you have it setup via direct spliced into the jumper cables from the case to mobo? or you have it wired up so it completely bypasses the case? ive done something similar before.

i imagine a regular disc platter style hard drive would not last ya.. SSD ftw. Personally if i was building one id definitely run windows 7 on it, windows 7 runs faster then XP when its setup properly.. it has a more stable Kernel, and uses less resources when setup properly. remove as many services from it and startup registry entrys as possible. XP still does a good job though. any newer NT kernel is pretty stable. either that or unix based os and compile the kernel for minimum amount of processes to run and launch progs auto via crontab / startup script.

I want to try the car pc thing.. might have to give it a go when i get bored some time.. it would definitely be so much more convenient then hauling a laptop around all the time.. plus you can make it so the flasher cables are hooked into the pc 24/7 and evoscan is there ready to log etc..

I'll contact you when i need to get some things to get started. i was reading up on this stuff before earlier last year and theres quite a lot of information online about how to do it.. i really like your mold tho.. it looks very professional.

how do you right click? do you use one of those buttons you have on your display for that?

Originally Posted by binky

Windows 7 does definitely NOT use LESS resources than Windows XP SP3, no matter how you set it up. Might be more 'stable' but definitely uses more resources.

However, with that said, I do really like Windows 7, it's M$'s best OS yet.


-Bink

Originally Posted by tscompusa

Ya i shouldn't of said it uses less resources because it doesn't.. it uses more memory and requires a bit of different hardware requirements to take advantage of its full features.

the huge difference from xp and 7 is 7 actually utilizes a lot of your hardware so its using more resources.. but to its advantage.. it will use a lot of memory etc so it can be more responsive and be quicker in general. its a overall smarter OS. it can use a good video cards resources so well that it will lower your cpu usage quite a bit. the new aero gui is very well made.

Ya its definitely more stable. I had it up for 7months and it didnt feel laggy or use excessive memory etc.

It uses more resources then XP but its not to far off.. you would be surprised.. coming from vista its a huge difference.. and the 7 kernel is built off vistas.

Originally Posted by Jblade

congrats gill, shes definitely a sexy beast, im jealous!

Originally Posted by wizzo 8

Damn Gill that is some insane power! My goal after my build is what you are putting down but on a dynojet. Gives me more hope though. Btw whats up with those 4g63 engine image shirts we talked about at the Rush car show last year??

Originally Posted by wrecklezz1

nicely done brotha