Pondering a CarPC w/ Raspberry Pi; Anyone done it?

Naenyn

Greets!

So one of the things I'm thinking about doing when I get my Nismo in a few months is to build a CarPC with a Raspberry Pi (or something similar). Has anyone here done that or anything similar (yes, I've searched the forums a bit, but wanted to start my own thread on it).

I was thinking it'd be pretty awesome to integrate it with both the Car's onboard computer as well as the car stereo, but have never tried doing anything like that before. I'm not a big DIY-er so.. could definitely use input/advice.

Lemme know what you guys think!

-n

Naenyn

So after a bit of reading, it looks like CentraFuse is pretty awesome.. and it would require running Windows (Gah!) on the Car PC. Sooo that rules out the Raspberry Pi.

Any thoughts on hardware for a Car PC for a 370Z that'd fit (at least the screen) in the compartment above the car stereo? I'd like to keep the head unit in place, although I might replace it somewhere down the line.

Thoughts?

Nillaz

I'm not sure if you're looking for particular brands/models #'s to look for so I'll just give you some generalized food for thought.

Trying to fit all of the PC components and the screen in the cubby might start to get a little dicey as far as space is concerned. A bare nano-ITX board measures 4.7" x 4.7". A mini-ITX measures 6.7" x 6.7" Add in a PSU, wires, etc, and you won't have much room to breath. If you can come up with another location for the PC itself you'll probably save yourself a ton of headache and your options will increase exponentially.

Just about any 7" 16 x 9 screen should fit the space comfortably, though you're going to have to come up with some sort of a bezel/chassis to secure it. 8" might be pushing it but possibly doable depending on your ingenuity. Xenarc and Lilliput are probably the biggest manufacturers for carpc monitors. Considering the high placement of the cubby in the car I'd go with a model that has a transflective overlay or at least a high nit model. I'd avoid a glossy capacitive screen...they look awesome at night but tend to have glare during the day and are a fingerprint nightmare.

Tying everything into your onboard diagnostics should be relatively straightforward. There's a bunch of OBDII adapters out there that can connect to your PC via wired connection or bluetooth.

Hope this at least gives you a bit to think about.

chknhawk

Personally, i wouldnt do a car pc...just because i know how pc's are and they are slow. I dont think you will be satisfied with the performance. I would have to agree that a straight 7 in screen with a bezel would fit the cubby just fine. I had a 7 inch amdroid tablet that would fit nicely in the open cubby so im sure a little cutting and modding would take care of it. I recommend you look up android in dash receiver on you tube to give you some ideas. There are a couple on there that are really nice... o saw a suburban and a porsche that both looked really well done. I bought a chinese in dash with removable tablet for 400 off ebay and i love it. It is not the best unit in the world but they are starting to become better as time passes. Even if you just got a tablet and made a dock for it i think you would be pretty happy with the functionality. Obd2 is also already built as an app so all you would need is a bluetoothe or wifi connector fo the car to make it fully functional. Just some thoughts....but pc......not on my watch.

Sent from XPARENT TAPATALK on my ATRIX 2!
2012 Base/Sport | 5% | Black emblems | touchscreen nav

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Alstann

Lilliput sells bare frame touch screens that are 7 inches diagonal, and they would fit the cubby hole just fine. The only thing you would have to do is find a fabricator to custom fit the bare screen to the cubby hole, and to wire the computer into the car. The trunk seems to be perfect to install a Mini/Pico ITX based computer. It's definitely doable!

I disagree with CarPCs being slow! Although the time to startup is definitely longer than a head unit or waking up a tablet from screen lock, it's not an insane amount of time. Personally, when I start my car's engine, buy the time I get my seat belt on, close the garage, dock my phone, and drive about a 1/10th a mile, the music has started on my CarPC. Nothing unbearable. If you really require rapid startup, you can set the computer to stay in standby, and it will start in seconds. (Of course, draining more battery power than hibernate.)

On the speed of the OS, my PC has 4gb DDR3 memory, dual core Intel processor @ 2.3ghz, and it's a champ once in the OS. You run the touch screens at 800x480 anyway, and at that resolution, I overkill everything that you can throw at me.

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Naenyn

Thanks for all the input, guys!

I'm thinking about the android tablet idea... the Nexus 7 is a pretty slick device. I wonder if I could pop the cover off and fit it in the cubby? Not sure how I'd wire it up to the stereo tho. Maybe replace the head unit with one that'll do A2DP then connect via bluetooth?

Do you guys know if anyone out there sells a generic bezel that'd work with that cubby? I've never had something fab'd before... not sure what is involved with doing that.

-n

bigaudiofanat

Personally if I were to install a car pc I would just but one that is built like a double din head unit, wires and plugs in just like a normal head unit.

But than again I would probably never do a car pc because of the tech in todays head units and tablets.

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Nillaz

I have a Nexus 7 and toyed with the idea of doing this about 2 weeks ago. I highly recommend against doing so. There is plenty of room to fit it in the space but as I mentioned in my previous post the screen is damn near unreadable during the day. It washes out in sunlight and the screen is reflective enough that you can almost use it as a mirror. There may be tablets that work well for this purpose but the Nexus 7 isn't really one of them.

Also, unless you're extremely creative about how you put it in you're going to lose access to the volume and power buttons. The volume buttons aren't a huge deal but the power button is more important.There are some 3rd party rules based software methods to overcome the need to get at this but they are cumbersome.

OTOH If you become determined to do it there's 2 ways you could integrate the audio. One would be A2DP. The other is via the headphone out to aux in on an aftermarket head unit. Normally I would say to use the wired method due to audio fidelity but the Nexus 7 has a pretty atrocious DAC so it's pretty much a wash.

I don't know anyone who produces a generic bezel for this area. There is a forum vendor (I can't remember who off the top of my head. I believe they're based in California) who sells a system that is designed to specifically access Onboard Diagnostics info that uses a 7 inch screen that has been framed into the cubby area. I believe each one of these is custom built so it's not like the bezel is rolling off an assembly line somewhere.

One of our members here on the forum integrated a screen by taking the housing from a stock nav system and using his display in place of the OEM one. Another one created a mount for his tablet (a Galaxy Tab maybe?) from fiberglass and then covered it in suede. They look great! You could probably do something similar to both of these guys and come up with an acceptable result, though working with fiberglass can be a pain in the *** if you've never done it before. A reputable car audio shop that deals with custom installs could probably make something up that you would be proud to have in your car.

Naenyn

Thanks for the advice!

I've been pondering other options as well.. Perhaps something like MFD2 Multi Function Dash 2 :: ARK Design Co Ltd USA or just an ODB-II bluetooth module and using my phone, which I plan to buy a holder for from Device Holders and Dashboard Vehicle Mounts*-*ProClip Car Mounts for Mobile Phones, Tablet, and Handheld Devices

That cubby tho above the stereo.. it just screams for some kind of mod. I just can't decide what to do with it. =|

-n

Nillaz

I agree! Just not the Nexus 7. I love my tablet but there's plenty of other displays that are far better suited to the task in this location.

chknhawk

So if you are bound and determined to do car pc...i agree in dash replacement. Like i said there are some really nice mod done out there. You might even be able to wait for the new ipad whick is supposed to be 7" but not really 16:9 format. It will be a little smaller than the normal ipad. If it is just music your concerned with...i have an aftermarket android stero that i just sit in the car and turn it on and i can control the music over bluetooth through the head unit. I have also been able to access my music though usb and control from head unit on a pioneer...hence the dock solution. Theres more than one way to skin a cat. Most aftermarkt stereos have an ipod cable so ipad would work well.....but you wouldnt have the diag functionality. There is a seperate diag box you can buy that is self contained and lets you read most everything on a simple lcd display. Lots of different ways you could go. Spend some time on youtube and you will have multiple ideas. My radio, btw is the ersin 2 din. It looks a little crazy but works pretty good. Plus you can remove the tablet separate and use independently. Neat toy.

Sent from XPARENT TAPATALK on my ATRIX 2!
2012 Base/Sport | 5% | Black emblems | touchscreen nav

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