AUSTRALIAN X-TRAIL FORUM :: Audio, Visual and Electrical :: xtrail pc install

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xtrail pc install

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tja Profile
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Date Registered: 04-2005
Location: melbourne
TOTAL POSTS: 154

xtrail pc install

just thought i'd post some pics on the progress of my xtrails PC installation...

7" VGA touchscreen LCD in the dash
Pentium M 1.4 Ghz
200Gb HDD
WiFi
Bluetooth

Plays MP3's, DVD's, DIVx's.
Does satNav using Destinator
Auto-select reversing Camera
Mobile Phone Control
Voice recognition/Control

28/11/2005

Have started making a clear perspex case. Materials are 3mm perspex (not much room under the passenger seat so the thinner the perspex the bettter), and Acrifix 192 glue.

It has been quite a challenge making the case, as I live in a 1br apartment without a garage, and my work bench is my coffee table, much to the dismay of my girlfriend. Tools are limited... the perspex was cut by scoring with a stanley knife, then snapping along the score line. this produced a straight enough "cut" to assemble a box out of. The glue is activated by fluorescent light, which I only found out after researching the product on the internet.. i couldnt work out why the glue wouldnt cure!

I am still to install two fans (one on either side of the case for cross-case air flow), and the lid is cut and just need to glue hinges to it. If i ever need to use the PCI slots i will dremel some holes into the case in the apropriate place.

The hdd is mounted horizontally, because there wasnt enough room to mount vertically... will see how it goes.. if it fails i will look into mounting it vertically. It is suspended on anti-vibration pnumatic pump feet which i found lying around at work. it seems to work ok so far!

Here are some photos:

3/4 view of case

HDD mounting method

close up of HDD mounts

close up of OPUS case ventilation

any questions feel free to ask!

Last edited by tja, 28/Nov/2005, 9:28 pm

22/Nov/2005, 5:29 pm

jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100

Re: xtrail pc install

Looks cool.

I can see the screen, but where did you locate the PC itself and how have you done or going to do it?

In any case and since you have chosen to start working on this project and it is great, I thought you would be interested to see what has already been done as part of previous "car-puter" projects emoticon

Here is One and here is Two

Please keep us updated.

---

22/Nov/2005, 6:15 pm

tja Profile
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Date Registered: 04-2005
Location: melbourne
TOTAL POSTS: 154

Re: xtrail pc install

yep have seen those other installs but didn't like the screen installs... i wanted mine more integrated, hence cutting the dashboard up and moulding the lcd into the dash... a much cleaner finish... looks like it came that way from the factory.

at the moment the car pc is setup on my desk at home awaiting install which will hopefully happen this weekend.

It is planned to go under the front passenger seat as it fits in quite nicely. an amp will go under the drivers seat.

22/Nov/2005, 7:14 pm

gordont Profile
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Date Registered: 07-2005
TOTAL POSTS: 66

Re: xtrail pc install

Won't a P4 get too hot under a seat and near the rear heat vents?

---
Owner of a Titanium ST X-Trail
and a 4.2L TDI ST Patrol (I like my Patrol better)

22/Nov/2005, 9:13 pm

tja Profile
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X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST

Date Registered: 04-2005
Location: melbourne
TOTAL POSTS: 154

Re: xtrail pc install

quote:
gordont wrote:

Won't a P4 get too hot under a seat and near the rear heat vents?

a P4 would... thats why i'm using a low power, low heat Pentium M... as found in laptops... the whole PC can be run easily off a 150Watt power supply.

the heater vent under the seat will be closed off. the case will have adequate fan/venting to keep it cool enough.

Last edited by tja, 22/Nov/2005, 9:21 pm

22/Nov/2005, 9:20 pm

gordont Profile
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X-TRAIL NEWBIE

Date Registered: 07-2005
TOTAL POSTS: 66

Re: xtrail pc install

How are you going to close off the vents?
Personally I'm going to be using a mini itx mb when I eventually get the screens.

Also what camera are you using and what software?

---
Owner of a Titanium ST X-Trail
and a 4.2L TDI ST Patrol (I like my Patrol better)

22/Nov/2005, 9:28 pm

tja Profile
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X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST

Date Registered: 04-2005
Location: melbourne
TOTAL POSTS: 154

Re: xtrail pc install

i'm not sure h ow to close off the vents yet, but im hoping there will be somewhere where it joins and can be detached and blocked.

the camera i will be using is THIS

the screen i'm using has an auto selecting AV input. the camera will be powered from the reversing lights, so when the car is in reverse, the camera is turned on. the screen then detects the signal on the AV input and automatically switches to AV from VGA, thus displaying images from the cam.

i chose the Pentium M option as I heard reports of the VIA EPIA series being a little slow for watching dvd's. I can upgrade this to any Pentium Mobile chip so it's pretty much future proof. and it was cheaper than a top end EPIA board. Pentium M's are also VERY stable.. i've had the PC running for 2 months on my bench with no problems and no need to reboot whatsoever.

what sort of screens are you getting?

(EDIT) URL tidy up only.

Last edited by jalalski, 22/Nov/2005, 10:03 pm

22/Nov/2005, 9:57 pm

gordont Profile
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X-TRAIL NEWBIE

Date Registered: 07-2005
TOTAL POSTS: 66

Re: xtrail pc install

not sure what screen yet, still trying to find some that are a reasonable price and 800x480 res, going to be a 8" touchscreen most likely on a swivel, so both driver and passenger can angle it towards them. Need the resolution so that the GPS maps will have sufficient data on them.

Also going to get 2x 7" screens for the seat backs, which will be driven off either the RCA or s-video out of the motherboard

---
Owner of a Titanium ST X-Trail
and a 4.2L TDI ST Patrol (I like my Patrol better)

22/Nov/2005, 10:03 pm

Rybky Profile
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X-TRAIL LEGEND

Date Registered: 08-2005
Location: Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 542

Re: xtrail pc install

That is a really nice screen install, great work!

I have a question about the useability of a 7" touch screen and Windows - how easy is it to a) see things?, and b) select things?

Or do you plan to run a custom application to drive the activities?

- Adam

---
- Adam (MY04 Titanium Ti-L)
Full Hi-Tech exhaust,Koni shocks,Whiteline rear s/bar,front strut bar,K&N filter,eyelids,Pioneer DVD+iPod+Veh Dynamics+rear view camera

23/Nov/2005, 2:22 pm

tja Profile
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X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST

Date Registered: 04-2005
Location: melbourne
TOTAL POSTS: 154

Re: xtrail pc install

i'll be using a custom "front end" which controls winamp, dvd, satNav, phone etc. the one im using is called roadrunner which can be found here (with screenshots).

the front ends have large buttons which make using the touch screen fairly easy. for more detailed usage a mouse and keyboard will be kept in the glovebox at all times

23/Nov/2005, 5:54 pm

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