Could it be possible for me to build a cheapo computer just to run dsmlink on it ?

[Phippsp]

I like to build computers and I find it much easier to get what I want if I build them so. Could it be possible for me to build a cheapo computer just to run dsmlink on it and then add some type of touch screen monitor to the front of the car? I would proble mount the PC itself in the trunk secured there. I danno tell me if this would be a suggested idea or not I just dislike the thought of mounting a laptop in the cockpit of the car.

Or mabye even just get a cheapo 200-300 dollar laptop then just hide it somewhere and put a touch screen monitor in the front?

 

[TurboDad91]

Yup, been done a bunch. There are even some companies that make prebuilt systems, such as Carputer.

 

[Phippsp]

Alright thanks gives me hope. Once I get the supporting mods on for my car it will be time for the tuner and Ill proble get DSMlink and see what kind of custom pc I can build up.

 

[Ottoman]

just use a micro ATX board with built in everything and a DC-AC power inverter

and use a low heat celeron/duron cpu with a passive heatsink.. and an laptop hardisk... or perhaps use one of those bootable flash memories with a basic version of winblows on it...

your good to go...

 

[theycallmedalgo]

could i use dsm link on my dell that i allready have? theoretically.....

 

[dave99gst]

does your dell have a serial port ?
(it helps)
FYI - i did this a long time ago with a old laptop.

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[flashburn02]

just use a micro ATX board with built in everything and a DC-AC power inverter

and use a low heat celeron/duron cpu with a passive heatsink.. and an laptop hardisk... or perhaps use one of those bootable flash memories with a basic version of winblows on it...

your good to go...

This is a good idea in theory, but flash drives fail after a couple thousand data transfers. I know that sounds like alot, but think about how many times your car shuts on an off in just one year?

Go with a laptop hdd for sure! PS: Post carputer pics anyone?

 

[Strm Trpr]

I just dislike the thought of mounting a laptop in the cockpit of the car.

I'm sure everyone knows this, but I'll say it anyway, for the ones who don't.
This is taken straight from DSMLinks FAQ's.
Here's that link. http://www.dsmlink.com/faq.html

- Do I always have to have the laptop in the car?

No, the laptop is only used to make changes to your ECU's configuration or to datalog. The ECU will automatically remember the changes you've made. With the current 2G offering these changes will, however, be lost if battery power to the ECU is lost. If you remove the battery or the battery dies, the ECU will revert to its set of predefined chip defaults you selected at the time of ordering. The memory module provides for persistent retention of data, but this is currently only available in the 1G offering.

You do not need to mount a laptop in the cockpit of the car to run DSMLink.
You do not need to have a laptop connected to the OBDII port at all times just to drive the car normally.
Just when you are logging a run, and tuning the ecu do you need to have the laptop connected.

There are options if your laptop doesn't have a Serial Port.

 

[theycallmedalgo]

i think it has a serial port, ive got the latest model bltches!!1

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Just to add to what Strm Trpr mentioned.....you can also use a PALM to log and adjust settings, it's just easier to read/see with a laptop.

 

[DankDSM]

Also it is the new computers that usually dont have a serial port. And you can get a computer that will run windows 98 off of ebay for about 100 dollars.

 

[Strm Trpr]

i think it has a serial port, ive got the latest model bltches!!1

Chances are you don't have a Serial Port on your latest model laptop.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Also it is the new computers that usually dont have a serial port. And you can get a computer that will run windows 98 off of ebay for about 100 dollars.

I "won" my laptop off EBay....a Toshiba Satellite, similar to this one (mine has a 4GB HD):

http://cgi.ebay.com/TOSHIBA-SATELLI...yZ140085QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I maxed out the RAM at 160MB (IIRC), purchased a car adapter, and formatted the hard drive and set it up as a 98SE unit. All it does for me is tune the Eclipse and run the maintenance CD. Works great!
I paid $65 shipped 1-1/2 to 2 years ago.

It's a little big and bulky by todays standard, but it's a rugged piece of electronics that works nicely in the garage.

Just don't drop it on your foot...instant trip to the emergency room.

 

[brute]

If you do not have a serial port (which I don't), you can buy an adapter that will make life easier. It's a USB-DB9 adapter:

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If you're going to build your own computer, you don't need to spend much money at all. DSM Link has such small requirements... Just go to their website and look at the requirements and build one from there. Here, I'll do it for you...

Our suggested minimum platform would be a P233 with at least 32meg of RAM running Win98

Here's One This computer blows the minimum requirements out of the water, even comes with XP, and it's super cheap.

 

[VanIsleDSM]

will dsm link run on xp?

 

[blackbyrd]

Yeah, it will.
I've built a micro computer about half the size of a cereal box, using BSD Unix as my OS. It'll run my dsmlink to a touchscreen.. With a lot more options. Once it's done I might market it to the dsm community, glad to here other people like the idea.

 

[VanIsleDSM]

I've thought about this for a long time, it would be great to have a computer in the car, not only for dsmlink I could do away with the headunit, use a seperate amp.. I'd want a nice sized hard drive to put all my music and some movies on it...

 

[theycallmedalgo]

Chances are you don't have a Serial Port on your latest model laptop.

haha yea i just looked on the back of my computer i dont have one

im too poor to buy dsm link anyway..besides not even owning a dsm

 

[Phippsp]

Wow this thread exploded didn't think it would but ill comment some more. There are numerious possiblities in building computers and numerious possiblities in modding cars looks and performance. So I believe there could be some wicked combos to come with this. When the time comes after a few more supporting mods and im ready to do the tuning ill proble invest in dsmlink but first ill take a look at my options for a computer built into the car. Not just for Dsmlink but for other things aswell music, movies, mabye even wireless interenet if it can stay connected. With todays market in computers you do not need much money to build a decent machine to do all this. I've built my fair share of normal and wicked computers with water cooling etc. and its rather simple just like bolt on mods to a car well. If this would work out Id do away with the headunit for good and just put sometype of monitor in there to work the music, dvs, dsmlink im sure there is something out there to do this I haven't research much yet this is all a idea and plans for the future.

Thanks for the post btw love the laptop setup you have up there you buy it somewhere or get it custom made?