Computer inside a moving car

[dolphay]

So I travel around a lot in a van and want to put a desktop inside, but I am worried that all the shaking from driving could cause damage to the graphics card or an early death for any hard drive or ssd I would buy, any suggestions?

[Holmes108]

I'm thinking if you put the tower in some sort of baby jolly jumper type thing, that'd be pretty cool. 

 

But in all seriousness, decent question. There are vehicles that have computers in them. Not sure what precautions should be taken though.

[dalekphalm]

53 minutes ago, dolphay said:

So I travel around a lot in a van and want to put a desktop inside, but I am worried that all the shaking from driving could cause damage to the graphics card or an early death for any hard drive or ssd I would buy, any suggestions?

For a setup like this, I would probably avoid installing a HDD inside the PC (or if you do, ensure that it's heavily cushioned and dampened via anti-vibration mounts, and you never have the system running while the vehicle is moving).

 

Graphics Card? What are you using the system for? Gaming? If so, you'll want to anchor that GPU as best you can with support structures attaching and bracing the GPU to the case in various spots.

 

If no gaming, I'd just avoid putting a GPU in there.

 

SSD? No problem. No moving parts. Just make sure it's properly secured.

 

The computer itself - the tower - should be secured and fixed into place mechanically. It should not be able to move at all, it should be secured as rigidly as, say, the car seats. Especially if you intend on having the PC be powered on while the vehicle is moving.

[tkitch]

To reitterate wht @dalekphalmsaid:

Use a SSD or two if you need storage.  NVME will be on the mobo, and never in the way.
 

Don't use a GPU unless you absolutely *have* to.  If you need more GPU Power than an intel iGPU?  Get a Ryzen 3000G or 5000G.  

 

Realistically:  A Ryzen 5600G with a lower profile 120mm downdraft cooler, in an ITX Board with a 1TB NVME will run ANYTHING you want to run in a car for /years/ to come.

 

Or, if you can get by with an intel iGPU and wanna go cheap cheap cheap?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234761871876

 

One of those tiny HPs with a SATA SSD will be great for very very very tiny money. 

[dalekphalm]

1 hour ago, tkitch said:

To reitterate wht @dalekphalmsaid:

Use a SSD or two if you need storage.  NVME will be on the mobo, and never in the way.
 

Don't use a GPU unless you absolutely *have* to.  If you need more GPU Power than an intel iGPU?  Get a Ryzen 3000G or 5000G.  

 

Realistically:  A Ryzen 5600G with a lower profile 120mm downdraft cooler, in an ITX Board with a 1TB NVME will run ANYTHING you want to run in a car for /years/ to come.

 

Or, if you can get by with an intel iGPU and wanna go cheap cheap cheap?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234761871876

 

One of those tiny HPs with a SATA SSD will be great for very very very tiny money. 

Agreed - I kind of wonder if OP is living out of the Van at least part of the time though - hence why a GPU might be more useful (gaming, etc, during downtime).

 

In that case, if this were essentially a living situation, I'd advise use of a gaming grade laptop, or agree with you and use a G-series Ryzen CPU w/ integrated graphics, instead of a Desktop PC w/ a discrete GPU.

[Ravendarat]

If you are gonna use a graphics card run a threaded rod clean through the case and make some type of clamp that goes on the non supported end of the GPU, if you do it correctly that GPU would be beyond solid. Realistically it would just need a couple 3d printed parts to make the clamps and then the rod and 6 nuts.

[Heliian]

Use ssd's and if you have a GPU installed then locate and secure the case on its side.

 

Vibration isolators for the entire thing wouldn't hurt.    https://www.surplussales.com/Cab-RacksHardware/shockmount.html

 

 

[thrasher_565]

ya gpu with a pcie extension and mounted horizontal with some support or have the mb flat  horizontal you can still use a gpu pci brace. and aio. there are car pcs but there probably slow and no gpu. you could then make or get a really small pc if that's the case. there are usb pcs.

[Guest]

Laptop.