This is awesome! A question regarding the cooling, though. Where is the air intake? And how do you make sure it's not blocked in any way?
Am I correct when I assume that since this unit will extend far less deep than a regular stereo unit, there will be a lot of cooler air behind it, which will be used for cooling?

Q:Where is the air intake?
A: Back panel, middle-left side. Is not an intake, its an opening. The fan act as exhaust.

Q: how do you make sure it's not blocked in any way?
A: I don't. You get to do this! Although not exactly sure what you mean by that

Q: a lot of cooler air behind it, which will be used for cooling?
A; Doesn't need to be "cooling" specifically. I do advise on air circulation however. Refer to previous thermal model to know the air volume you'll need to equalize the temp in the unit.

Lastly, on the subject of 'cooling';

Auto makers already design their vehicles for console cooling, that is how they get away with dash electronics cooling in most of today’s vehicles – also to prevent ears from popping violently when opening the windows (neutral pressure eq). Mostly passive and relying on buoyancy (although not exactly sure how they manage the latest in a 'n' shaped dash, secret I guess). Your cabin/dash is not sealed water tight but you guys knew that already.

Because our kit is The-Best-in-the-World, ours absolutely NEEDS active cooling! Really depends what you do with it tough, if for listening music or for deco only (1~2watts CPU usage max) then passive cooling is sufficient. I’ve plugged in the active cooling for “Ultimate Performance” reason as I (personally) plan on beating the CPU in many ways (real-time OBD fast query and data logging, listening to police radios + FM radio simultaneously (with my newly acquired UV HF RTL-SDR tuner!!!), and/or while encoding H.264 media, etc etc… All At The Same Time if I need! You get the idea ;)

But again; Intel chip… it comes with factory built-in protection e.g. start throttling at 80dC and auto shutdown at 90dC. Gives you an idea of what this little devil can withstand :D

WOW Fred. I'm trying to follow some of the tech talk and this is fascinating. BTW, the headunit was the first thing I replace a month after buying. Its only been about 10 months and already went through 3 headunits. BTW, Im not sure I saw this earlier but will there be tuning options like Xover points, subwoofer phase, gains front and rear...etc? I am running a Kenwood KMM 515 Mechless unit at the moment. I had an Alpine ute-52, but the Kenwoods speaker/sound tuning won me over.

Yea it got pretty high tech at some stage but I think we are done with this tough. The rest is mfg & play really. Already started the CAM work on the small parts and plan on manufacturing the IPS display frame and back enclosure as soon as I receive my pre-order on material.

RE Sound

At some stage in the built I’ve realized that none of us here have the same goal or/and taste for sound so I’ve simply enabled an AUDIO OUTPUT + MIC INPUT. You can obviously shoot this audio output straight in the Porsche OEM amplifier using a 3.5mm jack to RCA slitters (example) or (copy me) and go for a USB 6 Channel 5.1 HD external sound card. I kind of like the Creative Sound Blaster because of the software that comes with it but you can buy anything else that is plausible to you and within your budget e.g. 7.1 Surround Sound, subwoofer support and all! All very inexpensive stuff… search Amazon keyword “USB HD External Sound”.

That's right! Full Surround Sound in-a-car lolllll

I’ll provide the computer (same as a laptop really but 3x smaller). What you want to do with it is your choice! If you want to hook up a 1000W-RMS Alpine amp and 16 subwoofers to it, be my guess man ;)

Lots and lots of Boom Boom options for you guys to choose. Obviously.

Be creative fellas :cool:

At some stage someone/somewhere will do a small harness that connects to the unit's audio and terminate it in the ISO connector that Porsche uses (takes half a day to put together, and 5$) so we can have this Plug & Play, but atm this is sooo not on my TO DO list. So many other things to finish before starting on other projects. Eventually though, maybe lolllll

One-thing-at-a-time ;)

Fred, you blew my mind when you mentioned using a Soundblaster card in my Porsche. I keep forgetting you are using a Windows Core CPU. You are right, there are so many cool Creative Labs apps for the SB cards. I love it!

Count me in on the order list!

Windows 10... Sigh. (And this is from a die-hard Windows person). My wife just purchased a new laptop w/ win10, and boy does it (insert your own expletive here). My plan this week is to install a copy of 7 (or hell, XP) so she can actually use it.

PLEASE tell us that the first thing your unit WONT do is prompt to update or direct us to Microsoft to purchase (what I feel should be included) software. I'm glad you went with the largest possible screen to accommodate all of the unwanted advertising and suggestions for items we don't want.

Above rant was meant in jest... I am sure you will just be running a shell and that Windows is just the OS. If this is indeed the case, coding the shell must be a PITA, and again (and always) thanks. :)

Well spotted and good move. Nice toy for car, you'll love it :)

C.Labs, love it too!. Not exactly a young company tough, their product line is now pretty refined and purposeful. Glad to hear you like their work as well. I've actually been one of their loyal customer ever since SB nearly became a 'standard' in the early 90's

.............

Community Help Required: It needs a name
 

Right folks, this is what came out in the standard 2DIN size. We are looking at a unit of only 180x100x45mm in size and if my software here is reporting the truth about the material properties I've set to my solids and components, we are talking about a half pound light unit (264grams).

Huge (huge) success in my opinion. Although I would have preferred to have it 35mm thick max but then, if I would be 'half' good at designing Micro-PC, I'd be an hidden asset and working out of the Samsung or Apple penthouse offices instead. Which is obviously not the case (not for this life anyway).

So... if everybody is happy with this, I'll just crack on and go materialize this little cool product for us (shop time!). Any objections (other than the Win10 OS lolll), do let me know and we'll start all of that over again together :cheers:

PENDING:

We need a name for it. All I can think of are silly pretentious names such as "CARDREAM" or "DASHBUDDY" so I could do with your kind help on this subject. That is the only remaining bit left to do so I'd be eternally grateful to you folks if you could give me a hand with this. All it needs is a life!

Feel free to post if you have any creative ideas!

Lastly, here goes a few visuals of the kit. The final product will look exactly like this when it comes out of the machines. Once we've done that, all it will need is a Porsche 986 specific bezel (which clamps on top of the kit's faceplate). The Fun & Easy part!!!

Enjoy some of the last ever 2 colors visuals lolll


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02/011503069996.jpg


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02/021503070002.jpg


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02/031503070010.jpg

PSIC = Porsche Sport Infotainment Center

or

PSIS = Porsche Sport Infotainment System

or

PIM = Porsche Infotainment Module

Name... How about: THE FRUNK-MEISTER as in Fred's Radio Uber Neu Klingen - MEISTER. (Greatest apologies for my butchery of German.) Translated by Google as "Radio over new sound master".

I can envision an entire advertising campaign centered around "GET YOUR FRUNK ON..."

:)

On second thought, Coaster's ideas are more fitting to VWAG's dull acronyms. +1 to PSIS, if your vast legal team will allow you to use "Porsche"...

You guys are too cool, thanks for helping. Please keep your brilliant ideas coming as I go off to bed to recover/suffer my Accute-Creativity-Failure. Normally recovers but can take a few days :/

We'll run those naming ideas in a poll (general section) and ask for vote. The winner gets a FREE kit (Value of US$9,986)! Oh, as for the 'member price', well that we'll all find out at the same time folks... once this is all machined and assembled :D

Thanks guys, too kind

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1503086027.jpg

I'll suggest ICE Box, a mashup of In Car Entertainment and Boxster. I'll try to come up with more, though Coaster's naming convention is definitely more Porsche or VAG style. They love those acronyms.

How about:
FACT - Fred's Amazing Computer Thing (or substitute "Frickin'" instead if you are modest)
or
FACTOIDS - Fred's Amazing Computer Thing & On-board Information Display System
or
GT Infotainment System (goes along with the GT Collection headlights)

I'm sure I'll come up with some others... I'll pass them along if they are worthwhile (not that I let that threshold stop me from posting these!).

I can hardly wait for this thing!

-Troy

I like Troy's ideas, a variation, GTIC ( GT Infotainment Center), or GTEC (entertainment center), also, your Honda has VTEC? Well my boxster has GTEC.

I like ICE Box, maybe some other *** Box variations... Hmmm. I'll keep thinking...

Proschecomp.

Amazing work, by the way, Fred!

Brilliant Fred!!!
PCA-
Porsche Car Audio

Thanks all for the great ideas and kind words fellas, again, too kind

Haha yea, the (TM) Porsche is ruled out, won’t be used. Loving some of the ideas that includes the GT tough (won’t lie).

(edit/content censured... my god was I talking about my 2 dogs... how relevant???!!!)

Back to Infotainment Systems, for now we’ll leave this to rest, or at least until I’ve received all of the material and have something that is materialized.

I’ll update as soon as I progress

Thanks again!

Troy, I can't wait for it myself. Thanks brother :cheers:

Nice compliment, coming from you!

Hey Fred whar about
GT Boxster Box
You realy have somme great idea for project man, I love all your project.
We are luky to have you as a member here.

Salut André, wow, un ami de Québec/QC!!!

Cool naming, I'll keep it in the list. Thanks for the kind words also! Lucky YOU if you can bear with me a few more months, I'll plunge you guys deep in the world of Mechatronic and LMS (Mathlab equivalent?). Some of the models are currently undergoing feasibility tests atm, but 'most likely' will be published in the next DIY;

A fully retractable/foldable Porsche Spoiler system (there, some TOP SECRET happening straight out of Nice8Six Factory for you guys).

That's right! Same as the Panamera/911 style automatic spoiler system, but better and somehow costing less than the genuine $11,600 oem P system of course. All made out of Mechatronic as most of it is designed as moving joints and parts. Me think we'll have a lot of fun with this when all of what we have here passed the preliminary tests.

I haven't decided whether the 986forum board would be a suitable place for this one Can hear you guys screaming NO TECH CRAP again lolllll

We'll see. If not published on this board, I won't be too far away anyway ;)

I'll update when we have the Infotainment being manufactured. Will need a few days/weeks!

Coming Soon! Talk to you guys then :cheers:

Here's an acronym for you:
BASS - Boxster Advanced Sound System
[emoji16]

There's something fishy about that name.

I'd be B.ASS then ;)

My favorite concept is the word play of using "box" as form factor and Boxster. Some other alternatives to ICEBox (which I like a lot):

QueBox or QBox - reference to your home
UltraBox
GTBox
BoomBox - drop the mic... retro vibe...
MagicBox
AVBox
HDBox

I really like my SkyBreaker BTW! I know everything you do is top-notch & looking forward to completion of this incredible project.

OK, I'll join in...
 

How much is it going to be when released?

SkyBreaker is-the-best man, period! Really love mine too. Thanks for the naming options bud, very kind :cheers:

Kevin, ouch! Those are going to be hard to beat. One of the name you came up with gets 'my vote', not telling you which one tho, yet lolll Going to sound good even installed in my VW and in John's Cayenne :cool:

Cheap cheap my friend; US$9,986!

The core parts goes like below (the expansive bits). Those that I know of their costing already. We ‘might’ get a slightly better price but not much man. Something like 10% off… and that is only if we mfg something like 50~100kits so the more we are, the cheaper it gets ;)

As for the Porsche 2DIN kit cost; we’ll only find out once the material is sourced and machined. My target for the remaining bit is $175 (includes the material/assembly/time). If more, well, then we have a serious problem somewhere and something needs serious revision loll Fingers crossed guys

Will come in a 3 Series. The only differences between them are the RAM, HDD capacity and whether it is licensed or not. I’m throwing in the unlicensed in the lot because I know most of you guys will just run that famous but less-than-legal “win10 keygen” on those. If however you plan on doing corporate stuff out of your car, then you might as well buy a license. For the price diff, I just got mine (and a two others) licensed a few weeks ago. But of course you don’t have too, Win10 work perfectly while being unlicensed (Home edition or something?).

Not cheap I understand, but this is some serious stuff we are talking about, packing up pretty significant power also (even more powerful if you are a developer!!!). The possibilities and the fun you’ll have with this kit are endless!

Stylish stuff! Full glass panel (with zero fugly Star-Trek style looking backlit buttons lolll). Clean rules!

PLATINUM 2G/32G SERIES (unlicensed)
Processor: Intel Cherry Trail Z8350 Quad Core 1.8GHz (1.92GHz Burst Frequency)
Operation System: Pre-installed edition of Windows 10
Ram: 2GB DDR3L
Storage Capability: 32GB (can be expanded using a SD Card up to 250G)
GPU: Intel HD Graphics, 12 EUs @200-500 Mhz, single-channel memory
USB: 4x ports
Connectivity: WiFi 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth 4.0
Built-in MCU: ATmega32u4 (Arduino/Leonardo)
GPIO: 6 GPIOs from Cherry Trail processor
20 GPIOs from Arduino Leonardo
6 sensor connectors
DISPLAY: 7" IPS/Retina 1024X600
TOUCH: 7”Capacitive touch overlay
POWER: Car ignition sensing power module (12V/5V) with UPS.
PRICE: $130.00 (enclosure, mounting kit, Porsche bezel + $175)
TOTAL: $300.00

GOLD 4G/64G SERIES (unlicensed)
Processor: Intel Cherry Trail Z8350 Quad Core 1.8GHz (1.92GHz Burst Frequency)
Operation System: Pre-installed edition of Windows 10
Ram: 4GB DDR3L
Storage Capability: 64GB (can be expanded using a SD Card up to 250G)
GPU: Intel HD Graphics, 12 EUs @200-500 Mhz, single-channel memory
USB: 4x ports
Connectivity: WiFi 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth 4.0
Built-in MCU: ATmega32u4 (Arduino/Leonardo)
GPIO: 6 GPIOs from Cherry Trail processor
20 GPIOs from Arduino Leonardo
6 sensor connectors
DISPLAY: 7" IPS/Retina 1024X600
TOUCH: 7”Capacitive touch overlay
POWER: Car ignition sensing power module (12V/5V) with UPS.
PRICE: $200.00 (enclosure, mounting kit, Porsche bezel + $175)
TOTAL: $375.00

PREMIUM 4G/64G SERIES (with ENTERPRISE License)
Processor: Intel Cherry Trail Z8350 Quad Core 1.8GHz (1.92GHz Burst Frequency)
Operation System: Pre-installed edition of Windows 10
Ram: 4GB DDR3L
Storage Capability: 64GB (can be expanded using a SD Card up to 250G)
GPU: Intel HD Graphics, 12 EUs @200-500 Mhz, single-channel memory
USB: 4x ports
Connectivity: WiFi 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth 4.0
Built-in MCU: ATmega32u4 (Arduino/Leonardo)
GPIO: 6 GPIOs from Cherry Trail processor
20 GPIOs from Arduino Leonardo
6 sensor connectors
DISPLAY: 7" IPS/Retina 1024X600
TOUCH: 7”Capacitive touch overlay
POWER: Car ignition sensing power module (12V/5V) with UPS.
PRICE: $270.00 (enclosure, mounting kit, Porsche bezel + $175)
TOTAL: $445.00

NOTE: Price may change, but not that much ;)

Hope this is 'satisfactory' to you folks! Enjoy

That's actually very reasonable. :)
I just thought of another acronym:
BOSS - Boxster Omnipotent Sound System :D

What if you want the cheapest one, but also a licensed version of Windows?
Also: ISO-connections? For power, low level output and so on.

I know I said I was going to get a cheap Android unit, but I might actually reconsider.

Fred, there are really not many options to replace the CDR33 Radio in the 981 Boxster, which I just purchased. I wonder if this will fit in my 981. I'd have to take some measurements of the Bezel and see.

I, for one, can not wait! Put me down for the Premium :D Seriously outstanding work Fred! I will be able to retire my iPad mini which was due for an upgrade anyway :cheers:

I don’t think many will choose anything but Premium

Very cool stuff!
And fair pricing :)

Do you think it could be used to display live Data from the OBD port?

Ben I think it can read that sort of data but directly from the car, without having to use an obdii dongle. I think :)

I think I want one, what can I do with it if I don't mount it in my car. Can I run it off of the 12V socket?

Count me in Fred! I would go with the premium model.

Joe

Absolutely, you'd just have to wire up a connector.

Amazing work once again Fred, please put me on the list for the...


PREMIUM 4G/64G SERIES (with ENTERPRISE License)

:cheers:

@fridsten
Q: What if you want the cheapest one, but also a licensed version of Windows?
A: You can activate them yourself over the phone

@algiorda
Q: I wonder if this will fit in my 981
A: Ah. You see, you should have never post about your new car along with that goodbye thing you did a few days ago LOL The kit is exclusive to 986forum’s Member only. Good news for you is I’ll have them on Amazon at some stage in 2018 (maybe) but man, won’t be cheap… more like $600~650 each. In all seriousness; the kit is standard 2DIN size. Fits pretty much any Porsche, Maserati, BMW, and of course the Prius (and soon to be installed in my Super Duper VW Lavida 1.4 TSI Sport Car).

@BruceH
Captain, this project was partly inspired by your iPad installation. Funny how things goes loll Although this one has root certificate store so you’ll be able to log in your airline VPN/Intranet and look at your flight manifest while on your way to work. Who knows, you might also be able to start-up your Jet’s turbo fan engines remotely also ;) Can’t wait myself Bruce, hang on there bud :/

@Ben006
Q: Do you think it could be used to display live Data from the OBD port?
A: Yes – real-time. I got it working on the ELM327 (affordable Bluetooth dongle) and another USB-2-ODB kit that comes with a fast’er KLINE/buffer. Prices range between $10 (ELM327) and roughly $100 for the programmer kit (USB-TO-ODB). The challenge is to find the one that is right in between those two ($40~$50). Pay attention, and as Steve flagged, developers have access to the Intel CPU GPIO. So hopefully the chaps at “Best Porsche Tuning Corporation” will see this and come up with real-time mapping/tuning for our cars (read I’ll buy this stuff!). You obviously can have Durametric permanently connected and loaded also… if you have it.

Good to have you back with us Ben!! Luck with your new car, settling up and your upcoming tools buddy. If you need any sort of help/lathe tooling from this side of the world (or JP) you know where to find me brother :cheers:

@PaulE
Q: Can I run it off of the 12V socket?
A: Friend Chad’s answer is spot-on. Actually runs off a 9V battery also, not for long (15~20min) but it does lollll. Any power source between 9~24VDC will power the unit (whether a battery, wall mounted adapter, whatever). The kit was designed for simplicity… all it needs is a Black(-) & Red(+) wires to work. For the car/automotive, it need to be hooked up to the switched accessory 12V. The built-in power supply will sense the power and boot up after 2 sec (allowing engine crank before). Once you turn off the ignition, the system does an immediate graceful shutdown (all automatic). You can set it to hibernate in the settings also (I’m 100% serious here).

@jrgill
Joe, thanks man, keep one for you. Got your PM also!

@ccjazz
Your ON!!! :cheers: