How to Build An In-Car PC

In this Recipe, you'll learn how to build an in-car PC using mini-ITX technology. This automobile computer system features a compact footprint, roadworthy components and some serious media capabilities.

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Why Mini-ITX?

Mini-ITX is an ultra-compact motherboard developed by Taiwanese company VIA Technologies. The highly integrated features of mini-ITX mainboards are ideal for building systems that are powerful, quiet and small.

We'll add to this compact, solid mainboard a roadworthy case, a rugged hard disk and a power supply built to handle special automotive needs, such as battery drain. Put it all together and you've got one solid car PC that's ready to hit the highway in ways no desktop or notebook could.

While there are certainly some drawbacks to a mini-ITX, such as a higher cost than a comparable ATX motherboard/ CPU bundle, this technology is sound.

Car-PC Benefits

Car dealers and makers of satellite radio, GPS and media players are targeting a growing consumer market with individual infotainment products. But a well-built car PC can run all of these and more. It also offers route planning, Web browsing, personal scheduling, gaming and general computing.

The Special Components

A reliable in-car PC must work consistently and meet the challenges of in-vehicle operability. It must be able to take a beating, have short boot times, offer power-saving features, run its applications easily and be safely accessible. Above all, the system must be mountable where it's easily visible but won't block the driver's vision or the deployment of airbags. It must also be fastened securely. To meet all these challenging requirements, choosing the right components is key.

The Right Stuff

When looking for the right parts for your car PC, heat, power, vibration/shock and operability are the key considerations.

Heat: Large power requirements and heat dissipation don't mix well in a confined space. Mini-ITX boxes are easy to tuck into tight spaces. At just 17 cm-x-17 cm, a mini-ITX can fit into or below a dashboard, or even in a glove compartment. Special enclosures, like the VoomPC case, enable optimal cooling and shock resistance while keeping a small footprint.

Power: This is the most challenging obstacle. One solution is a new breed of power supply--a DC-to-DC converter--that can make decisions about how to supply power and even signal a PC to hibernate or shut down when warranted. The M2-ATX is an especially good choice (see "Recipe Ingredients," center).

Vibration and shock: Potholes, debris, curbs, and sudden stops and starts can cause serious trouble for an in-car PC. But the hard disk is the only constantly moving part, making it the one most sensitive to shock and vibration. The Seagate Momentus 7200.1 is good, but when you know your car PC will be heavily stressed, Seagate's EE-25 series drives hold up better.

Operability: Keyboards and mice are of limited use in a car. Instead, car PCs should rely on touch screens and software interfaces with "skins" that let users access their apps quickly and safely. Applications such as RoadRunner and SKINbedder work with NaviVoice voice recognition to provide quick, mostly hands-free access to applications.

Now you're ready to hit the road.