An Idea for a "Carputer"

**PacoL250** · October 31st, 2004, 11:37 PM

I was thinking about popping in a computer into my car and I had an idea in mind. The main issue about the computer fitting/heat dissipation of the case and about which computer seems to be the best setup. I thought I'd pop the question here since I have no idea where else I'd put it.
(Mods, feel free to move this thread elsewhere if you feel you think you have to

).

By the way, my car is a 2004 Mazda 3.

Anyway, here's what I'm thinking about for my setup:

A Mazda3 dash kit (at this point I only know of the Metra Kit, although links to other kits would be appreciated).
Alpine Receiver/Mobile Multimedia Station, Model #: CVA-1004
A Cappuccino PC SlimPro PC; either the SlimPro SP615 Fanless, SlimPro SP620, SlimPro SP620H, or SlimPro SP625

(I've linked each product to its respective page on its respective site).

For the computer, I'd most likely buy the "barebones system" and build it from scratch. As I said, the questions I have are about heat removal, possible fitting, and which computer seems to be the best for this application. I know that the computer will generate some heat, whether or the not the computer is fanless so I'm wondering if there would be enough airflow if I popped in the computer into the dash, which leads me to my other question. Depending upon which dash kit I get and the respective measurements of the computer(s) and kit, would the computer fit/mount properly? The company that makes the computers does have some mounting brackets (Cappuccino PC Mounting Devices; take a look at the SlimPro mounting brackets), but I'm not sure if they could somehow work. I also just wanted everybody else's take on which computer seemed to be the best one for this application (I'd figure there has to be a VGA to RCA cable somewhere).

Of course, if this could all work, it's going to take a while to do; money is an issue at this point and it will take a little while

Any help/suggestions would be appreciated!