POLO GTI carPC (My car PC)

[gjuu]

A write up of my CarPC instal

Progress to date......

Prologue:
CarPc builds are really for computer type geeks as there are numerous other options out there that would work out cheaper and easier in the end I guess. This is for people who like to play with computer hardware and software and are interested in finding out what can be done instead of accepting an off the shelf product.

I did one in my E30 BMW and loved it so much that when I got the polo I starting planning one straight away knowing that other modifications (suspension, brakes, chip, etc) would not be happening in the first year as I just wanted to enjoy the whole new car thing with out having to work on it.

Another great thing about CarPC builds is that you don't have to lay out a lot of cash in one go - you can just buy parts as you go along.

I don't go over the top with these things but if you want to see some real fanatics visit mp3Car. These guys are crazy and everything I needed to learn I found there.

My opinions and thoughts here may not be the same as the fanatics but here goes.....


Episode 1: The Screen
Whilst I was planning this I had been taking note of how the sun affected the screen on the std radio. As the centre dash is on an angle there is the opportunity to have the bottom of the screen angled and the whole screen set back a bit - this will help with the sun problem

The screen is a Lilliput EBY701 - with an auto reversing switch - this means that you can just plug your reversing camera into it, apply power to the wire (from reversing lights etc) and the screen will change from PC input to camera input

To mount the screen I chose the easy route and used a removable insert. I bought a spare dash piece so I could have a play in the workshop and I have been thinking about doing a conversion to a black centre dash anyway.


I got a stereo fitting kit from liquid ice - comes with double din insert, harness adaptor and aerial adaptor - means no cutting of standard wiring to instal.


I got one of these from bybyte.com - it is a mounting kit for the lilliput screen.

This makes life easy as I attached this to the double din insert at the correct angle etc and then filled in the gaps and painted it without having to worry about damaging the screen while working - then I just removed the screen guts from the original case and mounted it.

Whilst the other stuff is important - the positioning and mounting of the screen is what causes the most angst - it is what everyone sees, it is your way of comunicating with the pc, and it shows you whats going on. So if you cant see whats on the screen because of glare or its angled wrong, or doesn't look integrated then everytime you hop in the car it p's you off.


Episode 2: Front End
Whilst it is jumping the gun a bit - whats on the screen is just as important as the screen itself.

I use RoadRunner (or riderunner) as it is free and well supported with heaps of ppl with great knowledge and are willing to share. I designed my own skin - there are hundreds of freely available skins but part of the whole carpc thing is the diy and I only have a few features that I use. (Note: on the screen shots the reason some buttons are red is they change colour when you press them)

I wanted to have both gps and music control on the main screen so i went for a ipod/gps look. The ipod allows usual control of music, fwd, rwd, pause, repeat, shuffle, volume, etc




I use a menu/play list combined to control basic functions - music selection, database update, mixer, video, radio etc


For music selection i use RRMedia plugin which is a database program using the mp3 tags to store by genre, artist, album etc


This is a bare basics skin as other have all sorts of features - phone, tv, web, weather, etc - check out mp3car for the fully featured ones.
I add things as I go along instead of trying to do it all at once. This way i can get it up and running and have music, videos, gps straight away and can progressively add features.

...more to come
next episode - the pc itself and integration into the car.....

[Shaheenem]

Great work man. Cant wait for your next update...

[gjuu]

Episode 2: Front End cont..
I have changed the skin on the front end - yet again. This is the good thing about the Road Runner front end - the skins are really easy to change - just a bit of photshop. note that the blue and the red are quite good matches of the nighttime colours of the dash









Episode 3: The Box

• Intel D945GCLF2 Dual-Core Atom
• M2-ATX-PSU
• 120gb hard drive
• 500mb ram - as the computer goes into hibernation the less ram you can get away with the faster the restore is
• OS: Tiny XP - Beast Edition. windows xp without all the crap
• Globalsat BU-353 USB GPS Receiver SIRF III

Here is the "box" - it really is quite small 185mm x 230mm x 70mm - about as small as you can build for a 170x170mm motherboard, power supply and hard drive.
This sits under the dash on the passenger side between the heater unit and the glovebox - it is a snug fit.
It is quite tidy inside and will have no problems with cooling as it is quite open



Episode 4: It Lives
I have had this installed in the car for a few months now with now without any problems.
I am running a cheap 2 channel amp to power the front speakers until i can figure out where to put a decent one.
I will be just having front stage with maybe mid/sub in stock rear locations - i wont know until i have a look at the space available back there.
If i can figure out how to work the video on the camera I may even post a quick vid of it in action....

[Whubbsie]

anymore updates?? any pics of it installed??

[MCiN7]

Hi all,

I have finally installed my CarPC.

I chose a CarPC over a normal double din head unit because;
a) I already had the amplifiers for speakers
b) I got the computer for free, only needing software and soundcard
c) The money it costs buy a decent double din with as many features costs would be about the same, but a CarPC offers more

Powered by:
0AWG power wire running to distribution block with 4x 4AWG

Computer;
Pentium E6300 or E5500, don't have the exact model, never took notice and as it's doing everything fine
2x 512MB DDR2 667 RAM
160GB 7200RPM Sata Hard Disk Drive (should be using a small SSD but until this one fails, I'll stick with it)
M4-ATX Power Supply $88 (ex postage from mp3car.com)
Asus Xonar D1 Soundcard $93

Software;
Centrafuse 3.6 with Australian maps $149.99
Audiomulch for audio processing $189, using Virtual Audio Cable $30
Windows 7 - Tweaked

Screen;
Response "QM3744" 7" Touch Screen LCD Monitor $250

Amp(s);
1x Response "AA0426" it's their old 100WRMS x 4 channel amp series. $300
I also have 1x Response "AA0453" but was getting feedback due to the digital power supply, so it's been sent away under warranty to try and get fixed, if not I get to score another "AA0426". $300

Splits;
Front, I believe they're Boston Acoustics 6.5" SC60, if not, they are some kind of Boston Acoustics.
Rear is stock.

Subwoofers;
2x Response Paper Cone Woofer 225W RMS $74.95 each

Due to only having one amp at the moment, I have my front speakers and both subwoofers connected, no rear speakers.


So far, I have Music, Movies, GPS working perfectly.
I have ordered a VAG-COM cable in which I hope to be able to display live data with a plugin for VAG-COM cables.
I have also ordered a USB Bluetooth dongle that will allow me to use hands free, and Bluetooth audio.
I will eventually order another USB dongle that will allow me to play DAB+ (Digital) radio.
Also have no CD drive, will buy a USB one eventually, so music is currently limited to hard drive / usb.

With my audio processing done on board, my CPU climbs to around 20%, so no struggle here.
Centrafuse is amazing, well worth the $$ ($149.99) everything just works and there's more plugins.
I will tether my phone to my PC soon, giving me access to the weather and email plugins. There is an email plugin that will read your emails out to you which is handy.

Centrafuse Marketplace for plugins:
Centrafuse™ | Connected Car Applications
VAG-COM plugin (costs 9.99EUR):
Centrafuse™ | Connected Car Applications

Other things that would not cost much to get going, relay control from the Centrafuse UI, meaning you could control most electrics (eg: power windows) if you really wanted to.
You only need the hardware;
KMtronic: USB Eight Channel Relay Controller - RS232 Serial controlled - 12V
And the plugin is free:
Centrafuse™ | Connected Car Applications

Pics coming soon.

Hope this will be informative to some people who have the slightest interest in CarPC's

Thanks - Matt

[Transporter]

Finally something different, the pictures and step by step how to would be nice.
And, it’s a sticky.

Good work.

[kinezo]

Already got one running in my golf v gti. had it for 3years now I love it! The only issue I have is power. Not enough Power to pc when u attach ****loads of usbs.

[technopato]

Finally something different, the pictures and step by step how to would be nice.
And, it’s a sticky.

Good work.

+1....

This is an awesome thread!!

Pics please...

[Transporter]

Just imagine, instead of RNS510 one could have a car PC with the super bright screen like on today’s smart phones, reversing camera, a second monitor for the rear passengers, keyboard, mouse, and more. Anyone starting business installing these for the right price and top notch quality? It could be your second job over the weekends. I could be your first customer, since my T5 has plenty of space in the dash and I need system like this.

[kinezo]

Already is contact Lucas at Eurospeed, he installed mine. He use to work forma company who set up taxis and emergency vehicles with them.