BMW Computer

smikk02 · 10-11-2010, 02:36 PM

Hey Guys, just joined here; I've got some issues with the pc in my vehicle not turning on all the time... I've got a 150watt power supply which can be seen here: http://www.mo-co-so.com/PicoPSU150-p/mcs-atx-p150.htm
it's got a core2duo proc, 4gb ram, 250gb 2.5inch hdd, bt, wifi, etc. I know my battery has a good charge and yet it does not turn on every time the vehicle is on. I'm kinda stumped so if any of you have any suggestions I would appreciate it. Thanks.

sdblue · 10-11-2010, 06:18 PM

Does it turn on 100% of the time if you don't start the engine? The power supply doesn't appear to have any bypass capacitors to fill in dips in the voltage, which you would certainly see when the engine is started.

smikk02 · 10-11-2010, 06:37 PM

I haven't actually tried that... I'll give it a try a few times on accessory power and then report back

smikk02 · 10-12-2010, 12:04 PM

tried to consistently turn the computer on on accessory power all night last night and no luck... it seems to turn on every 3rd or 4th try. Any new insights?

sdblue · 10-12-2010, 12:40 PM

Is there a power button on the PC get the thing to turn on, and if so, does that work?

The way PCs generally work is that when power is applied, there's a chip called the SuperIO which waits for the power to stabilize, then loads some settings from a chip called the CMOS. These settings can include things like whether to power up the rest of the system immediately or to wait for a keypress or some other event. Generally those settings are configurable in the BIOS. I'm curious as to whether your BIOS is configured for auto boot up. You might try configuring it to stay off, and then using a power button to turn it on.

smikk02 · 10-12-2010, 03:37 PM

No, no power button on the pc

smikk02 · 10-12-2010, 03:40 PM

There is a reset button on the pc though, from what I could tell it is hardware controlled, whether the pc turns on is based on the charge of the battery...I couldn't find any settings in the bios to change the auto boot... I think that hardware control is what is causing the problem, but would like to know if it is part of the power supply or if it can be replaced separately. Thanks for the continued help.

sdblue · 10-12-2010, 03:50 PM

Do you have a manual or URL for the PC?

smikk02 · 10-14-2010, 02:11 PM

unfortunately no, since it is a custom built machine... guess I'll just have to try replacing the power supply and control board and see if that fixes the issue. Thanks for the help.

sdblue · 10-14-2010, 02:28 PM

The motherboard is something off the shelf, should have a model number on the board itself, or it should be identified on the startup screen.

10-11-2010, 02:36 PM	#1
smikk02 New Member 2 Rep 6 Posts Drives: '01 740i Sport Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	BMW Computer Hey Guys, just joined here; I've got some issues with the pc in my vehicle not turning on all the time... I've got a 150watt power supply which can be seen here: http://www.mo-co-so.com/PicoPSU150-p/mcs-atx-p150.htm it's got a core2duo proc, 4gb ram, 250gb 2.5inch hdd, bt, wifi, etc. I know my battery has a good charge and yet it does not turn on every time the vehicle is on. I'm kinda stumped so if any of you have any suggestions I would appreciate it. Thanks.
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10-11-2010, 06:18 PM	#2
sdblue Enlisted Member 0 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Does it turn on 100% of the time if you don't start the engine? The power supply doesn't appear to have any bypass capacitors to fill in dips in the voltage, which you would certainly see when the engine is started.
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10-11-2010, 06:37 PM	#3
smikk02 New Member 2 Rep 6 Posts Drives: '01 740i Sport Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I haven't actually tried that... I'll give it a try a few times on accessory power and then report back
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10-12-2010, 12:04 PM	#4
smikk02 New Member 2 Rep 6 Posts Drives: '01 740i Sport Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	tried to consistently turn the computer on on accessory power all night last night and no luck... it seems to turn on every 3rd or 4th try. Any new insights?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-12-2010, 12:40 PM	#5
sdblue Enlisted Member 0 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Is there a power button on the PC get the thing to turn on, and if so, does that work? The way PCs generally work is that when power is applied, there's a chip called the SuperIO which waits for the power to stabilize, then loads some settings from a chip called the CMOS. These settings can include things like whether to power up the rest of the system immediately or to wait for a keypress or some other event. Generally those settings are configurable in the BIOS. I'm curious as to whether your BIOS is configured for auto boot up. You might try configuring it to stay off, and then using a power button to turn it on.
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10-12-2010, 03:37 PM	#6
smikk02 New Member 2 Rep 6 Posts Drives: '01 740i Sport Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	No, no power button on the pc
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10-12-2010, 03:40 PM	#7
smikk02 New Member 2 Rep 6 Posts Drives: '01 740i Sport Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	There is a reset button on the pc though, from what I could tell it is hardware controlled, whether the pc turns on is based on the charge of the battery...I couldn't find any settings in the bios to change the auto boot... I think that hardware control is what is causing the problem, but would like to know if it is part of the power supply or if it can be replaced separately. Thanks for the continued help.
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10-12-2010, 03:50 PM	#8
sdblue Enlisted Member 0 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Do you have a manual or URL for the PC?
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10-14-2010, 02:11 PM	#9
smikk02 New Member 2 Rep 6 Posts Drives: '01 740i Sport Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	unfortunately no, since it is a custom built machine... guess I'll just have to try replacing the power supply and control board and see if that fixes the issue. Thanks for the help.
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10-14-2010, 02:28 PM	#10
sdblue Enlisted Member 0 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	The motherboard is something off the shelf, should have a model number on the board itself, or it should be identified on the startup screen.
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