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Well I have an extra desktop computer laying around that was custom built a couple years ago. I recently upgraded to a laptop and have no further use out of it. So my question is, instead of looking around and going through all the hassle of finding a buyer for it, I was wondering if I could integrate it into my car (carputer)? I know I'll need a monitor and to remove the insides of the computer and such but I need more information! Im confident that I can do it myself I just need some more info!! So if anyone out there has done anything similar or knows any links or anything at all hit me up! Schools almost out and I'll have alot of time on my hands to tinker around with stuff.

By the way Im sure theres a thread on here somewhere with similar info, but Im not sure what exactly I would be searching for

Any help or advise would be great!

 
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Ha, I'm in the same boat right now. Desk laying around, all I use it my laptop, and I get off school in 1 week.

What do you want to do with it? I mean, be more specific. I understand you want to have a carputer but what exact questions do you have?




Wagner

 
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I'm guessing you're going to want it to be Windows-based. If that's the case, you're going to need to get a 5x7 touchscreen and a wireless keyboard. There's going to be a lot of fabrication.

And if you're planning on using an "old" fullsized desktop, there's probably going to have to be a lot of wires run from one place to another. There are a lot of hardware issues you're going to run into. You have to keep in mind that computer was designed to be used in a motion-free climate-controlled environment, and a computer in your car is going to see temperatures from 0-115 degrees Fahrenheit and untold amounts of vibration. It's going to need a laptop harddrive, as those have much more vibration and shock protection. The power supply is going to have to be replaced, as well.

So really, all you'd be using from the old computer would be the motherboard, graphics card, maybe a sound card? Everything else would have to be replaced with something more conducive to the environment. You'll have to make a custom enclosure, and if it were me I'd make sure you've got additional reinforcement for any PCI cards you're using.

I suppose you could use the existing hard drive, I'd just get creative with the mounting.

And if you're smart enough, I'd come up with a separate system to monitor the temperature in the case and turn on some external fans if it gets too hot in there, including when the car's off. Keep in mind, though, if a heat sink falls off the processor, some processors can fry in less than a minute if they're under load.


So, in conclusion, it's going to be very, very labor intensive, and probably cost on the order of $1K or more. Honestly, it will for sure be easier, and may even be cheaper, to buy purpose-built hardware. And you're going to have to be real good with computers, I can guarantee you there's going to be issues once all the parts are crammed in there and all the wires are run. Murphy's Law will most certainly come into play.

 
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I have done this exact thing. actually built a computer in to replace the exciting ECU in the car. If you want to go this route, you have to use a Bios or "always on" form of memory to store the OS (windows, Mac OS, Linux or what ever you choose) or else you have to turn the key on and wait for the PC to boot up before you can start your car. For cooling what i did was ran a peice of piping off an A/C duct. Remember to make it come from A/c only, you dont want to be pumping heat in to there!

 
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OK, now you've got my attention.

Windows, Mac or Linux? Did you design the GUI yourself, or is there one out there? How did you interface with the OBDII system?

Man, I've been thinking about this a lot lately, I'm very interested.

 
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www.mp3car.com

 
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Yeah, I've found that site before. But they really have no information on ECU integration, which is what I'm really interested in.

 
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Well if by ECU integration you mean OBD2 integration:
http://www.scantool.net/products/pro...products_id=21

If you literally mean removing the vehicle ECU, good luck. I don't know of any real "info" out there as each application has to be one-off. IMO that's a crazy idea w/o a ton of benefit anyway.

Note: mp3car.com link was meant more for the OP.

 
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Alotta good info hear. I figured I was gonna have to do some fabrication for the motherboard and "insides" of the computer to be. And I thought to keep it cool i would use the existing fans... theres like six of them. I already have the wireless keyboard ready. All i need is the monitor.

 
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sl33pyriceboi is selling his, look for that thread in the FS section and that'll be exactly what you need.

 
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^^ thanks, looking into it.

 
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i used Windows CE because its already on a bios chip and is an "instant on" OS. you can do it as OB2 piggy back system or you can run as a ECU. Doing it as a ECU replacement I warn you now that you will need alot of down time and really not be affraid of wiring it all your self. There is software out there for this, but when I did it about 4 years about ago there was no wiring info. Just a shop book, wiring diagrams and many failed attemps. The car I did it in was my buddy's 2003 Ponitiac Grand Prix GTP and that thing has more wires then metal in it!! In the end it was worth it the see it working. It was awesome the amount of info he could get back from it and it also stored all his music and vids. With a few click of a button he could almost triple the power and then a few more clicks, have a machine that barely burnt fuel. If you have the time and the patience, its well worth it.

 
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Well, I'm very interested in that. Do you know anywhere I could get some more information on that OBDII piggyback setup you were talking about?

 
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Ill see if I can find the company that i ordered all the stuff from, they are in cali and can you guide through it. they were awesome when i did it. Im sure I wasted hours of their time on the phone as they walked me through differant things too try. But I'll look through all my papers tonite and see if I can find their number and addy for ya. They'll have a OBII piggyback system that will probably cut your work in half.

 
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Oh wow, thanks a million, man. I appreciate it. +1 for you.