ive been watching the guys here with their car pcs etc so it motivated me to do one also just interested to know the best way to connect the pc to an amp/sub combo the only thing i have in my TF is the factory speakers as someone yanked the head unit befor i got the car as a project.

im half way throught fabricating :) the lilliput into the dash at the moment so its getting close to coming all to gether so question is how did exesting people connect to their sub more than anything as the speakers are kind of a no brainer, ill probly change the speakers in the doors to splits.

anyway for those who wants to know the hardware im using for the pc:

asus barebone all in one pc: http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=1&l2=2&l3=407&l4=0&model=2245&modelmenu=1
intel e2200 cpu
1gb ddr2 800mhz (2gb coming cheap as so why not)
lilliput 7" touch screen
power: m2-atx 140w
lg sata dvdrw
320gb sata 2 hdd
OS: windows media centre / centrafuse

to get:
logitech diNovo Mini bluetooth keyboard
WinFast PalmTop DTV200 H (hdtv/fm tuner usb)
usb gps
pci wireless n network card

Carpc looks good man,

Only thing im questioning is the HDTV/FM tuner, as im pretty sure the general consensus is they don't work while in motion very well at all.

With regards to your amps, you could probably get by just buying a cheapie 4channel amp for your speakers and running the stock speakers. I did this for a while and they seemed to hold up fairly well, even with 85w rms going into them. They didn't sound bad either. To connect a soundcard up to a amp you just need 3.5mm to rca adaptors.

I use a creative soundcard (audigy 2 zs) with KX project drivers, which actually allows you to run a dedicated subwoofer output on 4.1 (4 speakers + a subwoofer). Most soundcards in 4.1 mode only output to the speakers (4 channels) as they expect computer speakers to auto low pass to the sub.

So you can either get a soundcard which outputs 4.1 properly, or you could a standard soundcard doubling your front speaker output from the soundcard to your 4 channel amp and also running them to your monoblock, and just low passing the input.

My Wiring is like this:
Soundcard:
Front -> Alpine 4channel amp
Rear -> Alpine 4channel amp
Center/Sub -> Audiobahn monoblock

With a standard soundcard:
Front -> 4ch amp
Front -> monoblock (low passed)
Rear -> 4ch amp

You could possibly also run 5.1 mode and just leave the center speaker disconnected (allowing you to have a dedicated subwoofer output) but if you watched movies u would probably miss the voice dialog as this is output from the center speaker.

Hope this helps :D .

Yeah forget about the HD tuner, I bought one a few months ago and it just doesn't work. Won't get a signal. You *might* get an analog signal, but it won't be good.

well the tuner idea is not for the HDTV as such but more so FM, one thing i do have alot of on the main board is usb ports ill see how the onboard sound gos if not maybe a usb audigy, i have one pci slot i was going to use that for wifi or pci sound but wireless will be the main link to the home network for content update.

my ashtray is going under the knife, as we are a non smoking house/car i have decided to have my ash tray as a slide out kinda interface hosting usb ports, reset button and a master switch.

One other thing i have to work out is how to connect my power antenna into it, would remote power for the amp function like the power antenna wire from a head unit?

ok guys im ready to paint, went to the local panel shop and they said the couldnt match the dash color and suggested do it natrualist blue (TH code) like the outside of the car see photo what do you guys think, vents, surround of the car pc ashtray and console got quoted $150, see pic of car (yes it needs to be lowered and was taken the day i got the wheels centre caps are off due to having to get flat wheel nuts)

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/3956/18102008055gl7.th.jpg (http://img300.imageshack.us/my.php?image=18102008055gl7.jpg)http://img300.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

anyone care to photoshop a dash with my color, inside it has a momo wheel and reverse glow guages to give you an idea

small progress update:

time for the manual:
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/4543/img1352am1.th.jpg (http://img114.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1352am1.jpg)http://img114.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

joys of perl paint (same paint differnt light):
http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/9285/img1348ig9.th.jpg (http://img354.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1348ig9.jpg)

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/9245/img1349fw0.th.jpg (http://img114.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1349fw0.jpg)http://img114.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

more prep work:
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1620/img1347ih9.th.jpg (http://img120.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1347ih9.jpg)

update goodies added:

5 channel amp for the project
usb fm tuner from the UK centerfuse compatable, now moded to take car antenna
screen is in the dash (see polish dash rings group buy thread for pics)
extra 1gb ddr 2 800mhz ram
svga male to male adapter
centrefuse 2.5
amp wiring kit

discovered the wire i was going to use wouldnt last 3min with the amp so... sourced an amp wiring kit and 70amp fuse, spent today running the power wire from the battey etc, the kit came with speaker wire so i decided to upgade that as well, the new speaker cables now run down the factory channels on the passenger side

screen is now powered and cabled, with luck tomorrow will see the pc and amp follow suit :) i managed to retain the 240v psu in the pc so i can run it on mains as required with some quick cable changes

well today seen the pc installed and it runs flawless on the m2-atx, im awating sub box n sub before i tidy the boot side of things up, i need to give the dash a good clean you really have to wrestle these things in :) excuse the fingerprints in the pic below the perl and clear coat on the dash is a fingerprint magnet. to my surprise from stand by to music playing once i turn the key is about 20 seconds with my car pc.

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/8323/img1421na0.th.jpg (http://img380.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1421na0.jpg) http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/6239/img1418yj2.th.jpg (http://img360.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1418yj2.jpg)

i decided to run all new speaker wire also as the amp wiring kit came with speaker wire also the power runs down the centre of the car the new front speaker wire run in the oem plastic channels along the passenger side sill. the stock speakers will have to do for now im thinking spits in the doors 4 sure tho.

on the to do list is sub in amp mounted and then some cables shortened / hidden in the boot

Not bad at all.

Personally, keep the amp well away from the puter, and seperate the cables (amp and computer) to reduce interference. Just my 2cents.

i have one of big's sub boxes on order to go in that corner, the amp is going to be interesting to mount as its so long ill try to keep them seperated i did toy with the idea of mounting the amp sunk down into the spare tyre well but ive never done any real serious audio installs before talk about jump into the deep end huh :badgrin: i was hoping to put the pc in such a place the kids can reach through the "trap door" as they call it and pop in a differnt dvd if they want

xmass time wooohooo

anyone considering doing a car pc one word, reset button up front, might start the fab work into my astray now i have time, along with securing the pc down. the only adjustment ive had to make to mine so far is i fitted an 8cm fan to where the 240v power supply was to get the air moving into the case, the lilliput seems to get warm also anyone else have this? i have a 12cm 12v fan im thinking of mounting behind it blowing air onto the back of the lilliput.

the stock speakers are really annoying me so many tones they dont produce so i put the order in to santa for some 330w 6" alpine R splits for the doors, ill probly go alpine 6x9 rears, sub so far looks like a boston acoustics once i forget xmass and the the window tint just done to hide it all

Reset button is a must :P

small update alpine R 330w splits in the doors Type R 6x9 in the shelf now and OMG money well spent once the sub is in and i clean up the boot wires expect pics