CarPC/TruckPC Guide

[thekl0wn]

Keep in mind, this is in progress... The thread was actually created on/for another thread... One with a bit less computer knowledge. Many of the links go to the original thread over on FullSizeChevy. I will try to keep this one just as up to date as the other.

Recently, I've had a few questions come my way about putting PC's in vehicles. Funny, because I've been working at doing this on my own vehicle for going on 10 years now... And by working on, I mean being lazy and never working on. :whatever: BUT, I have helped some people local to me put theirs in, and have a decent knowledge on the topics of computers, audio, and automotive, and even some electrical. The hobby has been steadily growing for quite a few years now, and some of the items are getting close to becoming mainstream items. IMO, it's not too far off where consumer vehicles will have TS LCD's and either a Microsoft or Apple mobile OS, and have all the bells-and-whistles for internet, GPS, music, etc...
For a TON of reading on the topic, MP3car.com has some great threads and great information, but you have dig... A MUCH different atmosphere than this site though! I will probably include links to some of the better articles/wiki's on different topics, later.
Anyway, there are MANY options for nearly every aspect of this project, and I'm not even going to attempt to go into detail on every topic, or explore every route! But here's a simple guide for the basics...
Index:

-Buying a Package Unit
-Building a CarPC (TruckPC)
-Connecting to Vehicle's Sound System
-Links

Links:

-MP3car: "Car Computing 101" - Why we do it
-MP3car: "CarPC intro" - Basically, the pretty wiki version of this thread on another site
-MP3car: "High-End Solutions" - SQ-Based forum on the topic of CarPC's
-MP3car: "Audio Tuning via Software" - Using your PC to EQ, TA, crossover, etc.
-Wikipedia: "Audio File Formats" - Very basic definitions of different file formats

FSC Builds:

MattMan24's: Coming Soon... Hopefully, or else!
TonkaDawg's: FSC; MP3car
thekl0wn's: FSC

Vendors:

-MP3car Store
-NewEgg
-Tiger Direct

If there is any information you would like to see added, or have questions about, or would like a further definition, please just let me know! :cheer:

[thekl0wn]

Route #1 -- Buying a Package unit

This is a great option if you're lacking computer hardware knowledge, needing something fast or relatively inexpensive, or quite simply don't want to mess with all the hassles of piecing your own PC together. There are more and more companies offering pre-made PC's designed specifically for the car (truck) environment. They range in size from looking like a small 2-channel amp to double-DIN units with flip out screens. Often, they come with the OS and front end installed already.

A few Options:

MP3car G4
This unit comes pre-packaged with Windows, StreetDeck, MapPoint, etc... Touch screen, hard drive, processor, etc, all in a double-DIN opening. Fairly expensive.

C138
Base model. Cheap. Options available.

VoomPC-2
Cheap. Fairly well-known. Options available

Hookup of these units is a bit more straight-forward. On units without a monitor, simply pick out your monitor (typically a touch screen), and for the most part installation (software-wise) is plug-and-play. You'll have to run power wires, and speaker wires to the unit, as well as VGA cable, and USB, and possible power switching if you prefer.

[thekl0wn]

Route #2 -- Building your very own PC!
This is where the true hobby is! Full-on custom PC, made for your vehicle!

I'll give the order, I feel most important on picking out components... BUT I would first think about what options are important to myself...

-Music -- What format? Raw WAV(*.wav). Lossless(*.flac,*.wma,etc). Compressed(*.mp3,*.wma,etc).
-Video -- What format? DVD. MPEG/AVI/etc.
-Monitors -- Just one. Multiple.
-Inputs -- Just the TS. Keyboard. Keypad. Mouse. Remote.
-Sound Quality -- Just tying into the OEM stereo. Going for SQ competions. Looking for better sound than OEM, on a budget.
-Diagnostics -- Are you wanting to monitor/(control) your motor.
-GPS -- Do you need to know where you are or where you're going.
-Processing -- Are you going to attempt to correct the "acoustical incorrectness" of the interior of your vehicle.
-Phone -- Do you have a cool phone and want it to talk to your PC.
-Any other options... There's sooo many other options you could add, which are simply limited to your imagination!

Screen

The screen is the most visible part of the PC, and in most (modern) cases, is the primary interaction with the PC... Therefore, my vote for most important. For the most part when staying in the typical 7-8" range, the resolution isn't going to affect too many of the other choices. Getting into the 10" range, like myself and TonkaDawg's, you're still not hurting too bad. Now, getting into the 15" range like MattMan's, and you could possibly have a bit of an effect on your choice of other parts, namely graphics.

Most modern CarPC's utilize the WONDERFUL technology of the touchscreen (TS). The TS is a blessing, because it means you only have one part to fabricate into the existing interior of your vehicle, rather than your screen, and some form of an input device, which for the most part are bulky and ugly.
Some common brands to look at are:
-Lilliput (cheap but common)
-Xenarc (bit more expensive)
-Shark (cheap housings, but use Samsung panels) what I'm using

Processor

How much power do you really need? For audio playback, you're fine staying well under the Ghz point. I've had DVD playback on a 333Mhz before, and saw no issues on my 10.4", but would want in the 600Mhz range if DVD-playback were something I were actually interested in. If you're getting into the audio-processing via the PC, then you're looking at getting into the dual-core or 2Ghz speeds.

REMEMBER, you ARE limited in speeds in a vehicle... Odds are, it gets hot where you live, and heat = death to a CPU! Also, over-clocking or even working the CPU at high rates will heat it up! Another point to remember is power consumption... Higher speed processors are gonna need more current, and a better power supply.

IMO, you should choose the processing speed after you choose your monitor/display, so that you know what MoBo's to look into, power supplies (PSU), etc. It's a deciding factor on many parts.

MotherBoard

Comes #3 on my list because essentially, it ties everything together. You are faced with options here regarding space, power consumption, audio, video, memory, processor, etc...

If you're just tying into your car's (truck's) OEM head unit, then you should be fine using 1/8" to RCA adaptors straight off the on-board sound, given the on-board chipset isn't total trash... I know a few on here will argue that ALL on-board sound is trash, but for the common consumer, they can get by with it, and upgrade later if they want.

The cabin size of your vehicle will also play a factor in the MoBo selection. In my case, I have an entire custom console to stuff whatever I please into, so I don't have to go with the Micro ATX or Mini ITX form factors... Whereas, if I ever do a PC in my truck it WILL be necessary!

If you're not planning on having a 60" high-def TV in the vehicle with you, then you're probably going to be OK with on-board video... 640X480 and 800X480 are the two most common resolutions which come to my mind that would be ran in this environment... You're not really looking for stunning visual detail, but rather large, bold, easy-to-read.

Sound Card

Here's another area where there's a wealth of options... For the most part, you're going to get what you pay for. In my mind, on-board sound is free. If you were to look at identical MoBo's one with on-board sound and one without, you're not going to see a noticeable difference, and could possibly be more expensive without.

Some will argue this topic, but if your motherboard has S/PDIF out on it, AND you're not doing the processing on the PC, AND you have a processing piece with S/PDIF in, then this is the preferred method... Expensive though...

There's a thread located on FSC dedicated strictly to sound card options: SoundCard Discussion

Power Supply (PSU)

There are quite a few "Smart" PSU's on the market now. By smart, I mean designed for the automobile environment... They're not power inverters like you would run a laptop off of... To me they make no sense. You're converting a 12v DC supply to 120v AC, just so the PC's power supply can convert the 120v AC back to a regulated 12v DC (and 5v DC as well). Why not skip the middle-man and go directly from 12v DC to 12v DC (regulated, plus 5v DC). The "smart" comes in by having startup/shutdown features. Car's cranking the engine is stressful on the electrical system, and would drop the voltage out of the range that the PC requires without the smart-PSU. A smart PSU will also trigger power the PC on or off automatically, for "soft" on/off, versus pulling the power.

Your choice will be narrated by the needed power consumption of the MoBo/CPU combination.

Here's a few options:
DSATX - Offers the "BrainStem", which allows settings to be programmed from the PC itself. (what I'll run)
M2-ATX
OPUS DSX3.120
More...

Other Necessities

Hard Drive - Many valid options:

Internal desktop drives - Can go biggest, cheapest.
External drives - Offer a bit more shock protection.
Internal laptop drives - Offer a bit of shock protection & very small size
Solid State drives - Relatively bullet-proof. Expensive!

RAM

It's all MoBo dependent.
512 is the minimum I would recommend for anything running XP, and it only goes up from there!

CD/CDR/DVD/DVDR

Based on your needs, but you're probably gonna need a CD-ROM at minimum.

I/O

Unless there is some feature such as GPS, or a FireWire soundcard, or anything else that is an absolute necessity, then you're I/O options aren't a necessity. Odds are you're going to have multiple USB headers, and most GPS, etc are USB or BlueTooth which can be achieved through a BlueTooth dongle. WiFi is typically achieved from either a PCI or USB connection.

Links:
-Interfacing Hardware Wiki

Operating System & Front End

If you're used to the PC environment, odds are you'll want to run some form of Microsoft Windows... XP being my favorite. BUT, there's also Linux, Unix, etc... And even Mac/Apple!

For front ends, there's a wealth... Some examples would be:
StreetDeck
RoadRunner
CentraFuse
FrodoPlayer
Media Engine
Mobile Impact
More...

Or with decent programming knowledge, you could create your own. I will probably run one of the above first, while developing my own custom player!

[thekl0wn]

Other Links

Articles/Wiki's/Threads

-FLAC - Homepage for FLAC
-FSC: "SoundCard Discussion" - Discussion with links to recommended sound cards/DAC's.
-HydrogenAudio: "Lossless Comparison" - Compares the current most common lossless digital compression formats
-LAME - Homepage for LAME
-MP3car: "Audio Tuning via Software" - Using your PC to EQ, TA, crossover, etc.
-MP3car: "Car Computing 101" - Why we do it
-MP3car: "CarPC intro" - Basically, the pretty wiki version of this thread on another site
-MP3car: "Front Ends" - Forum for information on different front ends designed for the CarPC environment
-MP3car: "High-End Solutions" - SQ-Based forum on the topic of CarPC's
-MP3car: "Interfacing Hardware Wiki" - Basic guide to common input/output devices available
-MP3car: "Options for Tuning Via PC (cheating) - Thread on different options out there, both Pro & Consumer level for audio processing, which can be controlled via the PC
-Stereophile: "Digital is Digital?" - Interesting read on the topic of S/PDIF
-Wikipedia: "Audio File Formats" - Very basic definitions of different file formats

Related Sites

-FullSizeChevy: Audio/Video Electronics
-HydrogenAudio
-MKPitStop: Car Computer Forum
-MP3car
-Stereophile: Computer Audio
-Unforseen Developments

[thekl0wn]

Methods of Playback
There are 3 main methods for utilizing the CarPC (TruckPC)... more info to come...


Computer >> OEM HU

This is only valid on the '95+ Chevy/GMC trucks/SUV's, that I'm aware of. That's not to say that there's not a workaround on the older radios. But what you'll be looking for is a PAC, which will take a stereo signal at line level, and convert it into whatever format your radio uses for input. The same method as your Aux CD player. The PAC's are vehicle/radio dependent.

Computer >> Aftermarket HU

Most aftermarket head units have some form of an auxillary input. I believe Pioneer's is called the "P-BUS", and I'm not sure on any of the other manufacturers. Anyway, this can accept (and in some cases control) input from many different devices (or types). I believe for the Pioneers, you can get RCA, USB, iPod, etc.

Computer as HU!

This option means you will not have any headunit, other than the PC itself! This is the option I'm working towards. CD's\Compressed Audio\AM\FM\XM\DVD\etc. are all handled directly by the PC.