Own Build - Hard Drive Media Player

[NikpV]

Considering the possiblity of building a pc as a media player to fit in the car. Was thinking of basing it on a shuttle type case as small as possible. to include:

 

dvd drive

amd processor

512Mb memory

firewire connection

large hard drive 250Gb umm - some sort of anti shock mounting

mouse wireless or wired

fanless graphics card - svideo output + splitter

os system - windows media/ linux ??

couple of wide screen lcd displays (already got these)

 

 

How would I sort out a power supply (happy to build my own but it would be transformer/regulator based - not switched mode), would need to supply power to screen as well

 

Basically just want to be able to copy current dvds onto hard drive, transfer videos froom laptop, and play them.

 

Am I wasting my time - don't want to spend mega bucks and I can't find purpose built systems basic enough.

 

Comments/thoughts/feasibility anyone

[mumble_bee]

I dont understand your question about the psu,

but you get readymade shells for WIN MCE, you can build as you wish into them

[NikpV]

I dont understand your question about the psu,

but you get readymade shells for WIN MCE, you can build as you wish into them

 

 

WIN MCE ?? windows media centre??

 

running on 12V?

[mumble_bee]

hrm, lemme see ..

I've seen something like it in a mates mpv.

I should ask him.

[NikpV]

hrm, lemme see ..

I've seen something like it in a mates mpv.

I should ask him.

 

 

cheers - would appreciate any info you can find

[mumble_bee]

hah he's on skype

 

he says he used a dell D600 laptop rehoused it in a slim pc desktop

(I assume he took off the lcd and just mounted the board)

 

he's using 2 seperate 7" lcds

he didnt say how he's getting power/signal to them

 

using standard power plug thingy for the car charger.

 

I hope thats some good

/shrug

[NikpV]

hah he's on skype

 

he says he used a dell D600 laptop rehoused it in a slim pc desktop

(I assume he took off the lcd and just mounted the board)

 

he's using 2 seperate 7" lcds

he didnt say how he's getting power/signal to them

 

using standard power plug thingy for the car charger.

 

I hope thats some good

/shrug

 

 

ah hadn't thought about canibalising a laptop - must think on it

 

cheers for the info

[bigdaddy]

Can you not use a standard pc power supply and an inverter

[Masked Marauder]

Car/PC power supplies are commercially available, as is software to set everything up. Lots of people have done this, Google "Car PC" or similar.

[Guest neil_wiles]

Nik

 

Have a looksie here (sorry thats a mumo4 ism.)

 

http://www.gnetcanada.com/

[Guest Projectzip]

Hi Nik

Go speak to these guys at www.mini-itx.com and have a look at there nano boards.

Currently 12 x 12cms http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=26

 

Then youll need some memory 1gb will be cool http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=26#ddr400sodimm

 

Dont forget a nice slimline slotload drive you could add a dvd one for maximum usage.

http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=5#p2115

 

Dont forget youll also need a convertor to plug the drive onto the board http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=5#p2112

 

If your going small how about a 2.5" Hard drive http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=12#p2023

 

And youll need a 12v power supply to run it all http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=10#pw200m

 

Plus you will need some cables etc etc small

 

How about an 8" touchscreen to go with that! http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=25#p505

 

There you go everything you need to do the job.

 

Joe

[NikpV]

Thanks for the info guys

 

 

www.mini-itx.com

 

wow - looks for wallet .... now where has she hidden it :D

 

might have to start saving up

[Guest Cepheus]

Another option might be to beef up a PDA - couple it to an external hard drive and re-box it all utilising the touchscreen display for navigation. Sure it must be posible and probably cheaper than trying to downsize a laptop. Already have 12v power supplies readily available too. Just another angle maybe?

[NikpV]

Another option might be to beef up a PDA - couple it to an external hard drive and re-box it all utilising the touchscreen display for navigation. Sure it must be posible and probably cheaper than trying to downsize a laptop. Already have 12v power supplies readily available too. Just another angle maybe?

 

Thanx

after the laptop idea I thought about this unfortunately I can find a way of connecting a hard drive (wrong sort of usb) or how to connect larger lcd screens

[Guest Projectzip]

Thanks for the info guys

 

 

www.mini-itx.com

 

wow - looks for wallet .... now where has she hidden it :23:

 

might have to start saving up

 

Sell a liver you can live with one cant you :23:

[sepulchrave]

You only have one liver zip, I'd keep it if I were you!

 

Seriously guys, the laptop idea is great, I think I'm just gonna buy one with a smashed screen off ebay...something with a celeron in it since raw processor power is far less important than having one that runs really cool.

 

Rehouse it in an old desktop case so I can junk the silly tiny 2.5" hard disk and fit a big fat 3.5" one together with a cheapo DVD-ROM drive. Memory is irrelevant since it's only a buffer for streaming from the hard disk. Graphics don't matter since the resolution won't be high, and the onboard sound should be fine once poked through a pre-amp to the car stereo. Use the VGA plug together with a VGA splitter box to feed a couple of cheap LCD screens.

 

Job done...

 

Now how to start without the missus finding out... :16:

[NikpV]

Now how to start without the missus finding out... :16:

 

thats my problem ..... thats what we need to solve first :48:

[mumble_bee]

lemme know what kinda specs you're thinking of, I know a few dodgy laptop dealers :16:

[Guest Projectzip]

You only have one liver zip, I'd keep it if I were you!

 

My mother keeps telling me that

:16:

My liver is evil it must be punished LOL

[Guest 3.5bullet]

take a look here they seem to have most things you would need or their ready made systems will give you an idea of what you need?

[sepulchrave]

One thing that really bugs me is: Why use an inverter?

 

Your car has 12v DC in abundance, a typical PC needs 12v, 5v and 3.3v DC surely a more elegant and efficient solution must exist?

 

Oh, and 3.5bullet, please what the hell is your sig. on about?

[Guest 3.5bullet]

 

Oh, and 3.5bullet, please what the hell is your sig. on about?

 

 

my avitar is the 3.5m bullet, the 1.2m sting is a smaller version and the stacker 10 is a small twin line kite, but it will still tear your arms out of your sockets on a good day, short answer power kites

[Guest Projectzip]

One thing that really bugs me is: Why use an inverter?

 

Your car has 12v DC in abundance, a typical PC needs 12v, 5v and 3.3v DC surely a more elegant and efficient solution must exist?

 

Oh, and 3.5bullet, please what the hell is your sig. on about?

Mini Itx sell 12 power supplys off the shelf!

[NikpV]

One thing that really bugs me is: Why use an inverter?

 

Your car has 12v DC in abundance, a typical PC needs 12v, 5v and 3.3v DC surely a more elegant and efficient solution must exist?

 

Oh, and 3.5bullet, please what the hell is your sig. on about?

Mini Itx sell 12 power supplys off the shelf!

If I could save a few pennies I would definitely look at mini-itx - very interesting if a touch expensive

 

:16:

 

"you will tell me where you've hidden my wallet ... you will

 

:5:

[Danny Barratt]

Try these might help

http://shop.thegadgetswarehouse.com/index....CT&productid=94