FINALLY installing 10.4" TS and carputer

[thekl0wn]

Maybe it's the dyslexia...

Originally Posted by tonkadawg

...carmp3...

There's a good chance you found in your searches there, a thread started by me not too long ago trying to figure out WTF I was gonna do to adapt the drive to fit an IDE... Luckily, it wasn't just me having the problem... It was EVERYONE running laptop drives! That's how I knew what to look for!

[tonkadawg]

Originally Posted by thekl0wn

Maybe it's the dyslexia...

It's Friday - give me a break! And no I haven't started drinking yet

Say a prayer for me - gonna try and get the screen dialed in right now...

[m3gumby]

its 5:00 somewhere.

[Mattman24]

ok not mean to thread jack do yall know of a sound card that will provide like badass quality and maybe amplifly the sound a bit?

[///M5]

You need an amp, soundcards typically have a max output of around 5v. The Chaintech AV710 is the cheapest real 2chn card you can buy. Other than that the ante steps up in the money domain. Only 2 chn of the 710 are sweet, but that is all you need. ;)

[tonkadawg]

Originally Posted by Mattman24

ok not mean to thread jack do yall know of a sound card that will provide like badass quality and maybe amplifly the sound a bit?

no worries on a thread jack - I don't mind discussing car pc's in general in this thread.

As far as a good sound card, I'm sorry I don't have any recommendations. I'm going to be using the onboard card that came with the mobo.

If you do find one, please be sure to post up (in this thread if possible) cause I know once I get everything up and running, I'll be looking for one.

[Mattman24]

yeah ive been running on board too

[///M5]

On board cards are really, really crappy.

If you want something higher end than the Chaintech I rec'd, look at the M-audio stuff. Outstanding for the price. Going better than that doesn't make sense at all to me.

[Mattman24]

ight sounds like a plan to me

[shakey]

Originally Posted by ///M5

On board cards are really, really crappy.

If you want something higher end than the Chaintech I rec'd, look at the M-audio stuff. Outstanding for the price. Going better than that doesn't make sense at all to me.

which one of theirs do you recommend to interface with my Eclipse CD5444 HU for the best sound quality?

Edit: also, would it be realistic to run a tv/fm tuner in the computer itself and loose the Head unit all together? assuming all the speakers are amped and such.

[tonkadawg]

yeah for now I just want to get the d@mn thing installed and running Once I know it will work, I'll worry about upgrading sound and graphics cards.

With that said, got a lot done today, but not much to show for it. We were able to get everything wired up, tied in with ignition and switched and got the pc to boot using the Opus supply (for the first time!)

Tomorrow the install will continue and should be more picture worthy. I do have a feeling that my screen crapped out and I'll be ordering a new one before I can finish everything. Also decided to go with Centrafuse for a front end - will be purchasing a license for that and getting the gps set up and running.

[///M5]

The Chaintech is fine, in particular for mobile applications.

[tonkadawg]

///M5 - thanks for the advice on the Chaintech - will have to check those out - any specific one I should be looking for?

got more done and have pictures to prove it! We got the wiring to the PS done, complete with a boot switch, got the PS, mobo, and HD installed. Still need to get the GPS and DVD along with the screen. Unfortunately, I'll be working some long hours this week, so not sure how much will get done. But anyways on with the pics:

checking for 12V source


booting for the first time:


father picking my nephew's nose:


hardware:


switch mounted:


Scotty learning how to solder:





thumbs up from Dad - a good clean solder:


PS installed:


case:


installing mobo:


installed mobo and HD:


boot up try 1:


doh! Got the wires hooked up in the wrong order, boot try 2:


2nd time is a charm!

[Mattman24]

great success

[tonkadawg]

here's the missing pics from the beginning of the build:

edit - fixed the links - all should be good now!

[thekl0wn]

How much have you got to play around with it?

[tonkadawg]

Originally Posted by thekl0wn

How much have you got to play around with it?

absolutely none at all! In laws were in town and we had to go order nursery furniture right after we got the pc to boot. Didn't get all that done till late last night and now I have to work extra this week due to a deadline, so it will be this weekend before I have time to look at it again.

[thekl0wn]

Get a divorce, so your projects won't suffer!

[///M5]

AV710 is the only model they make with the good output d/a's and only 2 of them are nice, but conveniently you only need 2. Should be less than $15 and will sound as good as most $100 boards.

[tonkadawg]

Originally Posted by thekl0wn

Get a divorce, so your projects won't suffer!

and you're one to talk