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Mini-pc in Prius - possible?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Stormz, Aug 25, 2011.

  1. Stormz

    Stormz Member

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    Just throwing this out there.

    To enable being able to play MAME games etc, and any video/audio file you could throw at it.... what would be needed to install a mini-pc into a Prius?

    I`m assuming it would be very similar to a Mac Mini, but with a pc.... but am no techie so not totally sure.
     
    #1 Stormz, Aug 25, 2011
  2. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    #2 TheForce, Aug 25, 2011
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  3. Stormz

    Stormz Member

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    That looks amazing. Just reading through your thread now.

    A couple of questions:
    - are all Pruis monitors NTSC? Mine is in Australia, so I`m hoping it might be PAL. If I could have a pc in the car, then it would be good if I could use the Prius monitor, rather than buy a whole new unit. From what I read of the mac-mini in the UK Prius, that lady had to buy extra gear to convert the PAL to NTSC (iirc), and even then it wasn't brilliant.

    - How did you power the unit.... connected to the car battery, or aux power?

    I'm thinking that hard-drives aren't needed anymore, now there are SSD's. That negates the need for that very expensive auto pc case you bought.

    atm I`m thinking something similar to:
    - Sandy Bridge H67 mb ($139),
    Gigabyte GA-H67N-USB3-B3 Mini-ITX Motherboard [GA-H67N-USB3-B3] - $139.00 : PC Case Gear
    - Intel i5 2500 ($209), as it has the HD3000 on-die GPU, which is the best atm, and will easily handle all the video, audio you can throw at it, as well as play some decent 3d games.
    - 2 x 2GB Gskill Ripjaws DDR3 ram for $39
    - 60GB SSD from $109. This would have the OS and apps needed.

    Then I would need a small case:
    Mini-ITX Cases

    I wouldn't bother with a dvd drive. I would just use SD or usb thumb-drives for anything we wanted to play.... or even just get a bigger SSD for video/audio.

    I don't know whether it's better to use a pc PSU, then an inverter in the car to power it, or whether you can somehow power the pc direct from the car.

    Thoughts?
     
    #3 Stormz, Aug 25, 2011
  4. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    Yes the Prius MFD is NTSC everywhere.

    I use a DC to DC converter hooked into the battery to power the PC.

    I have been using SSD's for a few years now and they work great in the heat, cold and going over bumps.

    Yeah dont get a DVD drive as they are almost useless now. I cant remember the last time I used the one in my car and I cant remember the last time I ever burned a DVD anywhere.

    Best place to get info on car PC's is Mp3car.com: Your #1 source for Car computing, mobile vehicle technology & software development
     
    #4 TheForce, Aug 25, 2011
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  5. vertex

    vertex Active Member

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    #5 vertex, Aug 26, 2011
  6. Stormz

    Stormz Member

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    #6 Stormz, Aug 27, 2011
  7. AnailizeR

    AnailizeR Junior Member

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    I got a win7 2gs ram, 500gb SSD on mine. Patched straight into the "LAN", only thing I am missing is the "annoying" beeps I used to get from stock system when buttons were pressed. :)


     
    #7 AnailizeR, Oct 27, 2011
  8. straus

    straus Junior Member

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    Hello, TheForce, in one of your posts you said
    it`s not a true. There is device that can let to do this it is AVC-Lan to USB adapter (youtube.com/watch?v=dPLF0BI2kQY&feature=player_embedded). I dont know can you buy it because it is made and sold (about $200) in Russia (carmonitor.ru/ru/avclantoyotalexus-p-99.html?osCsid=debaa151da7d8dfc53fe537c47ec3b33).

    P.S. Sorry for my English.
     
    #8 straus, Dec 19, 2011
  9. straus

    straus Junior Member

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    Hello, TheForce, in one of your posts you said
    it`s not a true. There is device that can let to do this it is AVC-Lan to USB adapter (youtube.com/watch?v=dPLF0BI2kQY&feature=player_embedded). I dont know can you buy it because it is made and sold (about $200) in Russia (carmonitor.ru/ru/avclantoyotalexus-p-99.html?osCsid=debaa151da7d8dfc53fe537c47ec3b33).

    P.S. Sorry for my English.
     
    #9 straus, Dec 19, 2011
  10. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    That device looks like it just supports RGB for a monitor input. That would work on a 2004-2005 Prius but 2006+ requires a GVIF interface. Also using this device means that you have to give up the navigation if you have it.
     
    #10 TheForce, Dec 20, 2011
  11. straus

    straus Junior Member

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    Yes it is true. But on Prius 2006+ can be used such device:
    (compcar.ru/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10060&d=1287330955)
    In addition if you have a Lock pick device it is not a problem.
    The main function of this device is connect car controls including display`s touchscreen to CarPC
    This device can pretend any type of devices connected to AVC LAN bus.
    I think if someone have installed CarPC on his car, he would prefer using nav programs like Navitel, iGO etc. Toyota stock navigation have a very bad map cover for Russia particularly in Siberia, so it is useless for me.
    I want to create the same adapter by myself but it would be based on arduino controller.

    Sorry for my English.
     
    #11 straus, Dec 21, 2011
  12. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    Has the device been tested on a 2006+ Prius? The reason I ask is if Toyota changed to GVIF they could have changed the touch interface as well.
     
    #12 TheForce, Dec 21, 2011
  13. straus

    straus Junior Member

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    I dont have this device, here (compcar.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=3818) people say that it work. Its main function is to intercept messages over avc_lan bus addressed to nav, so these messages from touchscreen or steering wheel buttons or MFD buttons are redirected to CarPC. Additionally it has ability activate RGB input on MFD There are two ways for priuses 2006+ the first is to use VGA/DVI/RGB-to-GVIF converter and second is to use LockPick or something else to connect to NTSC input on MFD (perens.com/works/hobbies/ham/prius/video/). The first way realized but it is relatively expensive.

    In my first post I only want to say that if you already have CarPC`s video signal on MFD you can obtain its touchscreen functionality too.
    No, they didn't do that, GVIF is video only and AVC LAN bus present in Prius gen.3.
     
    #13 straus, Dec 21, 2011
  14. Beelzel

    Beelzel Junior Member

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    #14 Beelzel, Jan 12, 2012
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