Carputer 101

[Megalomaniac 5,000+ posts]

In addition to prochobo's question above regarding pre-outs. I'm looking for at least a front/rear/subwoofer output with independent level control. Is there a sound card that offers this capability? How about front hi & low, rear and subwoofer outputs?
I would be more interested in low impedance outputs vs. high voltage outputs. Is there a sound card out there that offers this?

How would I do time alignment, crossovers and EQ? Is there software or hardware to handle these functions?

I would be very interested in high quality D/A convertors, such as the multi-bit Wolfson's or Burr-Browns. Do soundcards exist that come with this level of D/A conversion?

If you were to use a soundcard,the soundcard software has its own equilizer option,or even the frontend you use(like mine is Centrafuse) it has its own eqiuilizer you can play with. i am currently running through my aux of my HU and it sounds fine,i control and equilize with my HU fine plus the copu equilize,so thats twice the equilizing(also equils twice the work).

 

[RSVCHAD 10+ year member]

Hmmm. Sounds like a carputer is a great option for someone who wants to use a computer in the car, but a poor replacement for a good headunit, as indicated by the fact you still run a headunit downstream from your PC.

 

[Megalomaniac 5,000+ posts]

there is a way to wire just carputer without a HU, but if your PC crashes you have a backup source just in case

 

[VictorHimself 10+ year member]

hey I have been looking into carputers for a litte while now but still need some help. I was planning on throwing a laptop under my passenger seat and hooking it up to the touchscreen in dash. I was just wondering what you would recomend as the best way to power my laptop? I have subs and an amp in the car right now so I could easily run a distro block off the ground and power wires but still don't know how to actually hook the laptop power up. I heard that cig adapters (like to easily plug my laptop ac adapter in) are not the best way to do it so...

 

[SATX210]

bump for the wealth of information and advice. i am awaiting an email and will soon, hopefully installing my carPC

 

[jrpro130 10+ year member]

I would say to 100% always run a HU in addition to a carputer. I have messed with 3 carputer installs lately and all of them did not sound right unless hooked up with a HU. At least I couldn't get them right.

IMO, it will take too much money to make a carputer sound like a HU can, as far as processing and all. Not saying it can't be done, as it easily can, but it is hard. I'd rather have the ease of use of a HU and the nice features, also...if your computer crashes, you have a backup. And the tuning on HU's is also very nice.

An addition, I use a remote for my HU, so I can't stand using the touch screens, I know there is an IR remote, but I don't like em that much, too much work!!!

 

[Patrick Simmons 10+ year member]

Lots of good info. Nice work, I didn't think of using the Playstation keyboard before, thanks.

 

[Megalomaniac 5,000+ posts]

sorry for not posting sooner, i had subscribed to this thread(being that i started it) i never got the email notifiacation that ppl are posting.

Victor, i wouldnt use a laptop if you plan on doing this dedicated for your car, reasons why, you will have to hook it up to an inverter. you couldnt hard wire it because laptops require 19v your is most likeley not a 19v electrical system. but if you do hook it up to inverter look for an inverter that uses a pure sine inverter a lot will claim they are pure sine but they are not they only emuluate a pure sine. reason to get a pure sine is so you wont get any interfierance in your spkers.

jrpro, thats the 2 main reasons why i use my HU AUX

1. Back up source if cpu crashes

2. Doesnt always sound as great and too much cost involved to hardwire the sound system.

more questiosn anyone keep them coming. since for somereason my email does notify me send a pm to tell me to look at thread,try to post questins here so people can learn thank you

 

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

I actually used a PC dedicated SPL system at one point, I even did burps off of my car pc....it just wasnt as die hard reliable as having a head unit so I in the end went back to a AUX input for a feed from the PC. And out of sheer laziness ive even gone back to mainly using burnt cdr's too for a source of audio instead of the car PC.....My carputer has now become a mobile termlab instead....just some things dont work out for some people.

 

[Randy Savage 5,000+ posts]

megalomaniac are you running any GPS software?

I'm running RoadRunner and have embedded Delorme Street Atlas 2006 into RR as an external GPS...but Delorme ***** for TS and doesn't embed well at all. Thinking about either getting iGuidance or purchasing Centrafuse with the GPS software when that's released.

 

[Megalomaniac 5,000+ posts]

i am using iGUidance 2.9 wish i had a bit cash and id get the new version3 meant for cars. i have it embedded in Centrafuse 1.5(the only stable embedable centrafuse free version had to a bit of hacks so it wont expire on me)

 

[vipervin 10+ year member]

that is clean, i spent 700 for a new in dash and am about to spend another 700 for the navigation addon. but now i am thinking of selling back the unit and doing this carputer build ...hhrmmm...

 

[Megalomaniac 5,000+ posts]

From a PM...

i stumbled on your carputer thread and i am very interested in doing this now. a ton of questions are running through my head and i was hoping you can answer them
1) what software are you using for your interface (would i be able to change the honda picture to my own picture)?

2) what do you know about fm/am tuner?

3) how did you hook up your speakers to the computer?

4) i have an existing 4 channel amplifier with 6.5" components in the front and 6x9 speakers in the back, how would i be able to hook them up to the carputer like a normal HU?

5) the 7" touchscreen, does it factory fit in double din spot? (currently i have a 6.5" touchscreen that factory fits)

6) have you had any problems, crashing, heat issues, etc?

thanks bro, i will probably have more questions, but your thread really got me interested. i have wanted to do something like this, but i thought it would be really expensive. but for something around ~1000 is very reasonable.

1. Centrafuse 1.5(most stable,new purchaseable version with its own navigation software and maps are coming out,should be fun),yes it is skinable

2. There is a module you can get from a variety of websites,via usb or pci interface and there is an adaptor you can get where it uses your car antenae as an antenae

3. standard "headphone" jack just get a cable that is headphone to rca's hook up to AUX(i went over aux in a prievious post)

4. Hook it up to the HU,read earlier post explains in depth

5. Well most 7in will fit almost perfect in a double din slot ,the actual 7in display will but you need a frame of some sort for the border to makeit fit snugly,i actually took the existing lcd frame and molded into the dash piece

6. heat issues? yeah if you use a standard 3.5 harddrive it doesnt like the heat much it wont turn on properly in heat(use a laptop 2.5 hdd it can also withstand the shock and heat better(lets say from you bumpin SX or MT),cpu wont boot into windows. Pentium processors have heat issue also they tend to generate more heat due to voltage, stick with amd or VIA.

 

[Megalomaniac 5,000+ posts]

I actually used a PC dedicated SPL system at one point, I even did burps off of my car pc....it just wasnt as die hard reliable as having a head unit so I in the end went back to a AUX input for a feed from the PC. And out of sheer laziness ive even gone back to mainly using burnt cdr's too for a source of audio instead of the car PC.....My carputer has now become a mobile termlab instead....just some things dont work out for some people.

i wish i had the cash for a TermL.

If i were to buy an Acura TL then i for sure must buy an TL(term lab) but i have an accord:up2somet:

 

[Randy Savage 5,000+ posts]

You have any idea how much CF is gonna be with the GPS software?

Are they going to be using the Destinator SDK as well, or something else?

I love RR but if the price isn't bad I'll jump over to CF so I can have better GPS integration.