Phil online

I was expecting to build my carputer for about $1000. I wanted to be closer to $300, but realistically I understood that the special LCD displays would cost a tad more. Unfortunately, I still underestimated by about 30%.

Here is the parts list to date:

• $170 - Motherboard: EPIA Via Mini-ITX M-10000
• $450 - 10.4 inch flip-down rear LCD display for movies, games, etc.
• $349 - 8 inch touchscreen monitor for GPS-nav and system control
• $200 - Opus 150 watt DC-DC power supply
• $60 - Honda AUX interface for stock head unit
• $30 - 512MB RAM (grand opening sale at Fry’s)
• $30 - 120GB hard disk (grand opening sale at Fry’s)
• $0 - NetGear 802.11g wireless network USB adapter (grand opening sale at Fry’s)
• $0 - NetGear 802.11g wireless access point (grand opening sale at Fry’s)
• $20 - USB cellphone data cable for wireless internet
• $0 - Keyboard (temporary, already owned)
• $0 -Keyboard extension cable (convenience, already owned)
• $35 - PCI riser card for video output
• $68 - ATI Radeon 7200 dual-head video card (local retail store)
• $0 - NetGear 802.11g wireless network USB adapter (grand opening sale at Fry’s)
• $0 - Computer case (I used the box the motherboard came in — no, I’m not kidding)
• $45 - Various cables and parts I wound up not needing
• $35 - Amplifier install kit used to bring 20 Amps to the carputer
• $50 - Delorme Street Atlas 2005 (upgrade to 2000 edition, already owned)
• $116 - iGuidance GPS navigation software (shipped)
• $0 - Earthmate GPS antenna (already owned this)
• $60 - NMEA WAAS-capable USB GPS “Mouse” antenna (shipped)
• $0 - Microphone for voice control someday (already owned this)
• $0 - Zoomplayer software (free for personal use; wound up not using it anyway)
• $0 - Slot-load DVD-ROM drive (spare parts gift from a friend — thanks, Mark!)

Not counting the parts I already owned, the labor involved, the work yet to be done, and the various CD’s and DVD’s I ripped to the hard drive, I’m at a grand total now of approximately $1718.

[edit: 11/11/2004 - Added iGuidance and new GPS antenna; updated total]
[edit: 11/15/2004 - Added cell phone data cable for wireless internet]

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 28th, 2004 at 5:01 pm and is filed under Carputer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.