986 Carputer? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

cmarks20 · 07-25-2007, 07:14 AM

After looking through my options for an upgraded audio system in my 986, I'm thinking maybe a carputer would get the job done. I want the ability to play MP3's, navigation, mobile phone integration, and maybe some other guizmos that I most likely don't need.

There are literally dozens of questions as to how I'm going to get this done, but first things first: Has anyone already attempted this?

FrayAdjacent · 07-25-2007, 10:00 AM

I believe someone integrated a Mac Mini into a Boxster, once.

A carputer could be pretty neat... but would cost a lot for what you get out of it.

Personally, I'd find a MicroATX system, install it into an ammo can, wire it up in the front trunk and use a 7" touchscreen. Rig it up with a WiFi and Bluetooth controller, connect it to an amp to drive your speakers, wire up a mic for the wireless headset profile...

There's a ton you could do with it, but it won't be cheap, and it won't be easy...

cmarks20 · 07-25-2007, 11:45 AM

That's where it pays off to be a computer engineer =). I think I'm going to go with an ITX board. I've seen examples in other cars that fit right into the dash. With a custom enclosure, I'm sure I could throw a touch screen on the outside and flush mount it.

As far as cost is concerned, it's either this or an in-dash DVD player for show. Suprisingly enough, their about the same price.

For anyone who's interested in the concepts behind it all, http://www.mp3car.com has a nice faq on how it all works.

Kirk · 07-25-2007, 03:20 PM

I just read "Geek My Ride", which my local library happened to have. I have a 7" screen and HKS CAMP system that I'm going to put into my Boxster. The book had lots of info on carputers, but may be a little too basic for you. But I thought I'd throw it out there as a resource for ideas.

Personally, I think the Boxster would lend itself really well to a carputer. Think about it - the front trunk has a lot of space, it has the battery right there, the alternator has good output (120 A), and you only need to run cables through the firewall to the passenger compartment. It seems like the install of something would be easier in the Boxster as opposed to doing it in the rear trunk of a standard front engine car.

Kirk

Dohertycm · 07-25-2007, 08:16 PM

Seems to me you could disassemble a laptop and get the same thing accomplished with less space...

FrayAdjacent · 07-25-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dohertycm

Seems to me you could disassemble a laptop and get the same thing accomplished with less space...

Definitely... Find a decent used Pentium III laptop, free it of it's LCD screen, remove the keyboard and mount it in a box... use a touchscreen LCD in the dash and USB devices for what the unit doesn't have internally.

cmarks20 · 07-26-2007, 05:03 AM

Kirk, do you have a flip-out screen, or are you going to do a flush mount where the AC controls are usually? MP3car.com is missing some links on it's main page for some reason..... I was going to link a Boxster install they had there. They used a completely in-dash configuration, accented in Guards Red. It doesn't look bad at all, but he lost the cubby holes. The lower center dash (right behind the shifter) seems like it would have plenty of room. After all, besides the two pockets there, it's just open space in the back.

I've thought of using the laptop, but can't seem to find a ribbon cable to convert to a new LCD. The ribbon is pinned a bit different from a standard in-dash touch screen. I'll have to look more into it. I've seen some really hacked up carputers, and really don't want that. I love a clean install. An micro-ITX or even a nano-ITX solution seems like it would be efficient, just more expensive. The nano ITX boards are only 4.7" squares....I may be able to make a single DIN box and just live with one less pocket. I'll take some pics when I get a chance.

Rather than using a P3, I think I may go with a Dual Core, assuming I can find a decent ITX board that supports it. Cooling is another issue, but being that close to the battery, I'm sure I can manage to rig some kind of fan or even a water-cooled solution. Those water cooling setups for desktops are really efficient, and use barely any power at all.

fishage · 07-26-2007, 05:45 AM

Don't bother playing around with a laptop. If you're interested in that route... go with a UMPC instead. I have a Samsung Q1 which I love and would make a much better base than the laptop since it has the touch screen already.

cmarks20 · 07-26-2007, 06:11 AM

I thought about that, but I just don't think the processors on those are powerful enough. Another issue is how you would expand one of those in the future. I'm sure most of the circuitry is proprietary; so fixing or expanding anything would be very limited

.

I'm kind of leaning towards a VoomPC2 enclosure with an Aopen i945GMT. Those boards use socket M, so a Core2Duo processor will go nicely; not to mention functionality for 8 USB ports, 4GB of memory, and PCIe for enhanced video. Not bad for a 170mm square board. I just hope there is a riser so that I can stick a PCMCIA slot on there for wifi