Just ordered all the components for my 1st ever CarPC install....
The thought is to housemy entire collectionof MP3s, Divx movies, as well as use a USB EVDO card for wireless broadband internet connectivity. I would then be able to stream Napster music, or even Netflix movies for that matter on the go.

After I get it all installed and operational, the next phase will be to integrate a USB GPS receiver to replace my TomTom...

As far as a software frontend, I am torn between G-Net's Digital Dash ($50) and one of the free open source solutions like Media Manger or Road Runner

Here isthe hardwareI decided to go with...

Touchscreen/DVD Player/DVD-Rom for PC
http://www.digitalww.com/store/prodd...p?prod=DWW6500

Case
http://store.mp3car.com/Ampie_Car_Co..._p/enc-005.htm

Power Supply
http://store.mp3car.com/M2_ATX_160W_..._p/pwr-015.htm

Motherboard/CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813181036

Cigarette Lighter USB Replacement port (For IPOD, ThumbDrive, anything else USB)
http://store.mp3car.com/Automotive_M..._p/com-040.htm

Add to that :
120GB 2.5" Harddrive
1GB DIMM of DDR PC3200 RAM

Does anyone on here have any experience with building and/or installing CarPCs in a Hummer?
If so, I'd love to hear any words of advice...

Everything has shipped and should be here by July 2nd..I plan on spending time next week working on the install...
I will update this thread with comments and pics as I make progress...

 

NO EXPERIENCE, but I CAN'T WAIT to see how it works out for ya!!!

Good Luck!!!

 

You beat me to it!!! That was going to be my solution to avoid the prices on the crazy expensive Pioneer avic Z-1.
I've had lots of experience building computers...not very much in cars..done lots of wiring in cars...I'll keep my eye on this thread though. Hope to help out and see how it all turns out for you!!!

 

Hey Hummbob, you have the Vizualogic headrest replacements right???

I am seriouslythinking of ordering these
http://cgi.ebay.com/VIZUALOGIC-HEADR...QQcmdZViewItem

Do you have black or wheat interior?
I have wheat and am just nervous about it not matching up perfect...

Also, do the screens have multiple inputs?

Meaning, could I cable one to the other so they could both display the same DVD, as well as output from my PC's video card, split the signal to both headrests so they can also watch what is on the front monitor?

Sorry for the 100 questions....

 

No Worries!!

The VIZUALOGIC Wheat matches PERFECTLY. If you check my cardomain site, I USED to have the wheat interior and at the time had the Wheat 7" Vizualgics. As far as inputs. I know they have AT LEAST 2 inputs, minimum, as I can play my DVD from my Eclipse on all 4 screens(HU, Visor, 2 Headrests), or I can mix and match as I have RCA inputs in the back of my rear console so my Nephew can hook up his Xbox 360. I can have DVD on one to four screens or the 360 on one to four screens or mix and match.

Says on their website, FOUR independant sources:





7" A-1250 All-In-One Monitor/DVD System with On-Screen DVD Controls






[ul][*]FULL FUNCTIONAL REMOTE CONTROL[*]BUILT-IN DUAL CHANNEL INFRARED TRANSMITTER FOR WIRELESS HEADPHONES[*]ON-SCREEN DISPLAY (OSD)[*]WIRING IS CONCEALED IN THE HEADREST POSTS[*]2 WIRELESS DUAL CHANNEL INFRARED HEADPHONES[*]UP TO 4 INDEPENDENT SOURCE SELECTIONS ON EACH MONITOR[*]BUILT IN TOP-LOAD DVD PLAYER [/ul]

[ul][*]BACKLIT FRONT PANEL CONTROLS WITH AUTO DIMMING[*]USER SELECTABLE BUILT-IN WIRELESS FM MODULATOR TO SEND AUDIO TO THE VEHICLE RADIO.[*]INTEGRATED GAME/VIDEO PORTS ON THE FRONT OF EACH MONITOR[*]INTEGRATED STANDARD HEADPHONE JACK ON THE FRONT OF EACH MONITOR[*]ON-SCREEN CONTROLS FOR THE DVD PLAYER[*]MADE FOR IPOD [/ul]

http://www.vizualogicperfectapp.com/index.cfm

 

should be perfect....and $899 doesnt seem like too bad of a price for the set including dvd players and headphones...

 

Yeah....Good Price!!!

 

Wow..has it really been this long since I originally posted this?

Well here is the short version of my "journey"

I bought all that stuff from mp3car.com....
I have to say first of all that the mp3car.com staff is unbelieveable...
What I came to realize after a lot of research and effort on my end is that custom built CarPCs have come a long way, but still have a ways to go as far as quality...in a lot of areas you are forced to use cheaper brand components that do not always play well together which can cause some problems...

SO, I scratched the idea and went the "easy" route...
I bought an all in one double din in dash CarPC unit...

the Infill G4 running the frontend software StreetDeck.
You can read more about it here:
http://store.mp3car.com/MP3Car_G4_po..._p/sdk-014.htm

There are also some videos on Youtube if you search for "streetdeck"

I am EXTREMELY happy with this decision...
All in my dash I now have a full Windows XP PC, with 250GB harddrive, 1GB of RAM, touchscreen monitor, DVD navigation, DVD-ROM/CD Burner, Sirius Satellite radio, USB ports for thumb drives, wireless mouse, keyboard, whatever....
I can USB tether my Blackberry to the radio so I can get on the internet on the PC while on the road, I have over 40GB of MP3s, I have 10-15 divx movies, all that and more running in my car...There are some cool plugins to the frontend software including an app that goes out and finds current gas prices for all the gas stations around you, then u touch one and the GPS starts navigating to that one...

I also bought the Vizualogic headrest monitors with built in DVD players and HummBob you you were right, they look incredible! They are kinda pricey, but you get what you pay for and the color match is dead on...the picture quality is also outstanding...
(Thanks for the recommendation!!!!)

So there you have it...my plans drastically changed from beginning to end, if anyone has any questions let me know, I'd be glad to offer my advice or opinion for what it's worth...

 

That's AWESOME!!!!

But.....Ya Know.....[sm=ttiwwp.gif][sm=nono.gif] [sm=lol.gif]

 

lol....i hear ya...

I'll see what I can do about that tomorrow...