We have an older computer that needs a new processor and we have replaced it and its just sitting around collecting dust right now. I was wondering if there is something that i could do to make it useful in my car. I'm not looking to spend a ton of money but i know it wouldn't be extremely cheap to do it. I'm open to any suggestions as to what i can do with it. BTW, i'm not very computer or technically inclined, so i am not looking for something wild or extremely difficult to do. Thanks.

 

So, should i just throw it away?

 

well first off, youd need a screen for it. thats the major thing. problem is, it probably doesnt have an AV out... meaning youd need a VGA hookup, that puts the price of the screen around 400$.

other than that, you would need an inverter(about 40-50$) possibly some cables to get the monitor to reach, along with some power cable. then you will likely need to build a case, about 50$ in materials are needed, along with a drill, a saw, and some patience. the building of the case is just so you can get it to fit, Im assuming the PC is in a mid sized tower, which you cant really conceal anywhere.

finally you can either redo the glovebox, and retain about half the space, or not and lose it all(but it can be removed and your glove box is back.

thats about it... its not easy to make a standard computer fit into the car, thats the main problem. but sure you can use it.

this is my full sized computer.

 

well before you go buying that screen, how old is old? are were talking pre-pentium 2 here? If it has enough power to play mp3 than i would suggest just using it as a mp3 player. you can get a small LCD 20x3 display (similar to the display on radios) And wire it up to hook in the printer port. Winamp has a plugin to translate the id3 tags to output it to the lcd. it should cost you less than 30 bux to do this (I think the LCD is like $25, just need a printer cable) Also you need an inverter or a dc-dc PSU. Not hard to do, there are tons of info on this. You just need to know how to solder and thats it.

If can handle movies and such then go ahead and get a vga screen.

you can always mount it in the sub area (if theres not sub) or in the trunk.

 

Its a HP Pavilion with a P3. I am willing reformat the hard drive so that the only program i will put on there in something to play downloaded MP3's and movies, but if i get the VGA screen what will appear on it? Will it just be a mini-screen that will show my usual desktop? If so, how can i change it around like many of you have and make it so it just has what i want on there.

alphared, where is the sub-area? (no Bose)

So, i can hookup this computer to the car by getting a screen, some cables, a power inverter and by making the case smaller and custom?

I appreciate the input very much and any further help would be greatly appreciated.

I might have found a summer project

 

yes, it will just show a small screen, the stuff you see around here is actually a program you can buy or maybe even download, it just simplifies the desktop into nice big easy to click buttons.

Im not sure how big the bose area is, or how big your case is, but theres an outside chance itll fit as is. then all you have to do is mount the cd drive somewhere that you can get to it. mailbox slot is popular, a 3foot cable for it will reach for you. about 10$ at most computer stores.

 

I think i am going to buy a custom case to make it smaller and more stealth...not to mention better looking.

Who can i buy the program from and/or where can i download it from? (ie whats the name of the program?)

What do i need to do to make the MP3 player in Windows (Winamp) play the music through the car stereo? An FM modulator? If so, where can i find one?

Finally, what do i need to do for the power source to work?

Sorry, if i am asking questions that i have been asked before, but i am currently in the midst of sorting through several threads and hundreds of posts on the topic.

Thank you very much for your help and keep it comin'

 

since my system is not up and running yet, and Im not sure Ill use one of those programs anyway, I dont know much about them. others do, Ill let them answer.

FM modulator will do the trick. they can be found on the net, sometimes thats good, bestbuy sells them but they are battery powered, you really need one that runs straight off DC. my radioshack did not sell them. hifibuys says they sell them, but they were out of stock when I was there, so I havent seen what they have.

you need an inverter, I reccomend tripplite, you can buy them at hifibuys, or get them much cheaper online, your gonna want their 300watt version, its 300 continuous watts and like 500 peak. it cost me about 53$ online.

 

the sub area is right behind the driver seat. just pop off the panel and see the space. Do a search, Scarfmon put his in there with some custom bulit aluminum brace.
If you looking for a program I have one thats should be done by end of this month that makes running it simple. (do a search, i posted pics of it)
Check out the output of the PC's PSU, you might not need a 300W inverter. Could probly get a lower wattage one to save the car's battery.