# using a laptop instead of gauges **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [April 22, 2010, 8:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790 "2010-04-22T08:34:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![somedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@somedude](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/somedude)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 8:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/1 "2010-04-22T08:34:25Z")
I was looking at getting gauges for the camaro project and the more I look the more I think my laptop can display all of the things I need to know about the engine for a hell of a lot less then purchasing separate gauges. this is what the tweecer program that I currently use looks like, and all of the data is received from a single usb cable from the ECU ![http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/drewboi20/Tuning/Under1DC.jpg](http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/drewboi20/Tuning/Under1DC.jpg) different view of the same data ![http://www.shonutperformance.com/VSS_mult.gif](http://www.shonutperformance.com/VSS_mult.gif) this is the software I will be switching to soon. It is more customizable ![http://www.eecanalyzer.net/images/screenshots/BE/Dashboard_thumb.gif](http://www.eecanalyzer.net/images/screenshots/BE/Dashboard_thumb.gif) **I guess my question is this. How well is a laptop going to handle the vibration from being mounted in a car all the time.** In theory this display would be able to provide more usable data at a lower cost then conventional gauges. Obviously it will not eliminate the need for certain gauges but it is a solid start. ---
**Author:** ![Spam16v](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/spam16v/32/5287_2.png) [@Spam16v](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Spam16v)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 8:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/2 "2010-04-22T08:46:16Z")
well, when it says danger to your manifold, don’t ignore it. i don’t know how well an LCD will perform for a display attached to a laptop flopping around on your dash while driving. maybe a car-puter with a small display wired for on board tuning w/display, and wifi @ timmy hoes but not just a laptop bouncing around in the pass seat. ---
**Author:** ![ieatpaint](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ieatpaint/32/7311_2.png) [@ieatpaint](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ieatpaint)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 8:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/3 "2010-04-22T08:52:09Z")
I’d look into a seperate screen you can hard mount somewhere on the dash. ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 8:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/4 "2010-04-22T08:54:52Z")
Separate LCD screen and a PC based off a SSHD should work ok. Only issue will be boot-up time of the computer. ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 9:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/5 "2010-04-22T09:09:23Z")
yea, just get a cheap fold out indash monitor from ebay… and hook it up to a PC… you can get power supplies designed for car enviroments ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 9:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/6 "2010-04-22T09:12:40Z")
+1 what everyone else said ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 10:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/7 "2010-04-22T10:09:17Z")
BTW, this is a much better, cheaper solution: [http://www.plxdevices.com/imfd.html](http://www.plxdevices.com/imfd.html) [http://www.plxdevices.com/datalogger.html](http://www.plxdevices.com/datalogger.html) ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 10:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/8 "2010-04-22T10:19:49Z")
Seems like a lot of dicking around. You can get a netbook with a flash drive for $350. Not sure if anything’s out yet, but this seems like the deal application for one of those silly little tablets that have been popping up like weeds since the ipad came out. ---
**Author:** ![somedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@somedude](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/somedude)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 10:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/9 "2010-04-22T10:30:33Z")
> [@Viper966](#): > > BTW, this is a much better, cheaper solution: > > [SHOP - Deals](http://www.plxdevices.com/imfd.html) > > [SHOP - Deals](http://www.plxdevices.com/datalogger.html) to be honest That is a extremely expensive option. I will may use some of their stuff for logging AFR and EGT but that stuff can be displayed via the laptop using BE right along side much of my other data. I am fairly confident I can customize the dashboard to include whatever I want. I am not sure if I can run in onto dual monitors and if I could I am not sure it is necessary to see every engine parameter all the time. Once it is tuned I will probably limit the gauges to rpm, oil pressure, oil temp, ECT and EGT I am considering running EGT probes on every cylinder too and BE will allow me to display and log all 6 at the same time. I was actually looking at some instruments used in the aircraft industry but holly hell some of that stuff is expensive. I am sure it also has reliability far exceeding my needs too though. ---
**Author:** ![Saxon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 10:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/10 "2010-04-22T10:44:30Z")
you could do it, but then you have to worry about start up of the computer and how often it will be turned on/off etc etc ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/11 "2010-04-22T13:22:52Z")
> [@somedude](#): > > to be honest That is a extremely expensive option. I will may use some of their stuff for logging AFR and EGT but that stuff can be displayed via the laptop using BE right along side much of my other data. I am fairly confident I can customize the dashboard to include whatever I want. I am not sure if I can run in onto dual monitors and if I could I am not sure it is necessary to see every engine parameter all the time. Once it is tuned I will probably limit the gauges to rpm, oil pressure, oil temp, ECT and EGT I am considering running EGT probes on every cylinder too and BE will allow me to display and log all 6 at the same time. > > I was actually looking at some instruments used in the aircraft industry but holly hell some of that stuff is expensive. I am sure it also has reliability far exceeding my needs too though. extremly expensive? its 259 dollars? WTF Your thinking of running individual EGT guages? those are ~ 150-200 dollars a pop… if you run dual monitors in this car i am going to laugh my ass off… ---
**Author:** ![Hass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/51bf81/32.png) [@Hass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hass)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/12 "2010-04-22T13:33:13Z")
> [@97FormulaWS-6](#): > > Separate LCD screen and a PC based off a SSHD should work ok. Only issue will be boot-up time of the computer. SSHDs decrease boot time by a fuckton… so it wouldn’t really be that big of an issue imo. ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/13 "2010-04-22T13:42:29Z")
Who cares about boot time? :roflpicard: You get in and hit the laptop power button and if you need to see your gauges for startup you wait 30 seconds before starting the car. If he’s willing to use a computer to save money on gauges I’m sure he’s willing to do that. ---
**Author:** ![somedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@somedude](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/somedude)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/14 "2010-04-22T13:47:18Z")
> [@Viper966](#): > > extremly expensive? its 259 dollars? WTF > > Your thinking of running individual EGT guages? those are ~ 150-200 dollars a pop… > > if you run dual monitors in this car i am going to laugh my ass off… you do know my car is not OBD 2 right? ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/15 "2010-04-22T13:53:25Z")
In dash display/touchscreen mounted where the radio goes, use a cheapo laptop with an SSD to drive the display. And if you want threshold alarms or some crap for it I’ll write an app for it. ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/16 "2010-04-22T15:43:19Z")
> [@somedude](#): > > you do know my car is not OBD 2 right? i have no idea what you are “building” ---
**Author:** ![somedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@somedude](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/somedude)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/17 "2010-04-22T16:38:08Z")
95 camaro OBD I. Interior includes a seat, steering wheel, and a cage. ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/18 "2010-04-22T16:45:41Z")
> [@somedude](#): > > 95 camaro > > OBD I. Interior includes a seat, steering wheel, and a cage. and a laptop, and 2 screens… and various wires all over the place ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/19 "2010-04-22T16:52:32Z")
Is this the camaro you’re putting an SHO motor into? ---
**Author:** ![rdandy5875](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rdandy5875/32/7511_2.png) [@rdandy5875](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rdandy5875)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790/20 "2010-04-22T16:54:00Z")
Shut down too, you don’t want to be constantly just cutting the power. I wonder if they still have keyboards with power and shut down buttons? A laptop seems like too much of an inconvenience to me. I bet if you could find a keyboard which will turn on and shut off the laptop via separate buttons, hack it up and use some relays connected from the ignition power to those keyboard buttons, you could probably get the laptop turning on and shutting down properly with the ignition power…Since the laptop has a battery you can just turn the car off and walk away while it’s shutting down. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/using-a-laptop-instead-of-gauges/153790.md?page=2)