Is there any problem with using an ATX power supply in an AT case?
My current system is a P1-233 in a very nice AT tower, that I'd like to continue using. I have a bunch of P2 parts (motherboard, ATX power supply, PC133 RAM, AGP video card) that I'd like to use in the AT tower.
In article <1hos8.17142$rU2.1556...@carnaval.risq.qc.ca>, j_tam1 @yahoo.com.nospam says...
> Hi,
> Is there any problem with using an ATX power supply in an AT case?
> My current system is a P1-233 in a very nice AT tower, that I'd like to > continue using. I have a bunch of P2 parts (motherboard, ATX power supply, > PC133 RAM, AGP video card) that I'd like to use in the AT tower.
> Is there any warning I should be aware of here?
The On switch. On an AT case it latches, on an ATX its a momentary contact. Also if you are using an ATX motherboard with the ports on the back you'll need to get the cutters out to make holes for PS/2, keyboard, serial, parallel, USB etc ports.
Thanks for the reply. So I take it that it is possible to run an ATX power supply/motherboard in an AT case.
How can I go about circumventing the latch problem with the On switch? Do I need to make some modification? If I don't, is my system in some "electrical" risk?
TIA,
JT
"Conor" <conor_tur...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > Is there any problem with using an ATX power supply in an AT case?
> > My current system is a P1-233 in a very nice AT tower, that I'd like to > > continue using. I have a bunch of P2 parts (motherboard, ATX power supply, > > PC133 RAM, AGP video card) that I'd like to use in the AT tower.
> > Is there any warning I should be aware of here?
> The On switch. On an AT case it latches, on an ATX its a momentary > contact. Also if you are using an ATX motherboard with the ports on the > back you'll need to get the cutters out to make holes for PS/2, > keyboard, serial, parallel, USB etc ports.
I don't think you can run an at board with an atx power supply. At least you would need to use the reset switch as the power switch. But I don't know if the ATX is compatible electrically.
> Thanks for the reply. So I take it that it is possible to run an ATX power > supply/motherboard in an AT case.
> How can I go about circumventing the latch problem with the On switch? Do I > need to make some modification? If I don't, is my system in some > "electrical" risk?
> > > Is there any problem with using an ATX power supply in an AT case?
> > > My current system is a P1-233 in a very nice AT tower, that I'd like to > > > continue using. I have a bunch of P2 parts (motherboard, ATX power > supply, > > > PC133 RAM, AGP video card) that I'd like to use in the AT tower.
> > > Is there any warning I should be aware of here?
> > The On switch. On an AT case it latches, on an ATX its a momentary > > contact. Also if you are using an ATX motherboard with the ports on the > > back you'll need to get the cutters out to make holes for PS/2, > > keyboard, serial, parallel, USB etc ports.
Two three years ago I had seen some ATX power supplies with a converter that plugged into the ATX connector and made it into the AT connector. It was about a 6 inch cable with the connectors. I actually kept a couple from power supplies that came with them (and not used as the ATX cable was used in the system build) and used them when needed. The only constraint is that the ATX power supply have an on/off switch on the supply itself which some do.
Note they have leads for a switch, I would assume this uses a ATX low voltage momentary switch, not the usual AT 110v on off switch.
Note there is an link in the above article to a how-to article on connecting two ATX power supplies together which I found interesting. Not that I would want to do it but ...
And I didn't find an AT to ATX connector, which would make sense since ATX PSU have 3.3v and AT don't. Such a converter would cost too much to make, no market.
"Lane Lewis" <n...@mlane.j.lewis@verizon.net> wrote in message
> I don't think you can run an at board with an atx power supply. At least you > would need to use the reset switch as the power switch. But I don't know if > the ATX is compatible electrically.
> Maybe someone else will step in here.
> My vote is to go with a new Celeron system :O)
> Lane
> "JT" <j_t...@yahoo.com.nospam> wrote in message > news:d0qs8.17177$rU2.1620077@carnaval.risq.qc.ca... > > Thanks for the reply. So I take it that it is possible to run an ATX > power > > supply/motherboard in an AT case.
> > How can I go about circumventing the latch problem with the On switch? Do > I > > need to make some modification? If I don't, is my system in some > > "electrical" risk?
> > TIA,
> > JT
> > "Conor" <conor_tur...@hotmail.com> wrote in message > > news:MPG.171c330fc3aea2ba9897cd@news.claranews.com... > > > In article <1hos8.17142$rU2.1556...@carnaval.risq.qc.ca>, j_tam1 > > > @yahoo.com.nospam says... > > > > Hi,
> > > > Is there any problem with using an ATX power supply in an AT case?
> > > > My current system is a P1-233 in a very nice AT tower, that I'd like > to > > > > continue using. I have a bunch of P2 parts (motherboard, ATX power > > supply, > > > > PC133 RAM, AGP video card) that I'd like to use in the AT tower.
> > > > Is there any warning I should be aware of here?
> > > The On switch. On an AT case it latches, on an ATX its a momentary > > > contact. Also if you are using an ATX motherboard with the ports on the > > > back you'll need to get the cutters out to make holes for PS/2, > > > keyboard, serial, parallel, USB etc ports.
> Is there any problem with using an ATX power supply in an AT case?
> My current system is a P1-233 in a very nice AT tower, that I'd like to > continue using. I have a bunch of P2 parts (motherboard, ATX power supply, > PC133 RAM, AGP video card) that I'd like to use in the AT tower.
> Is there any warning I should be aware of here?
At mobos are 8.65" wide (the edge with keyboard connector), ATX are 12". Unless you have one of the rare AT cases that take server class AT boards (they had another 4 expansion slots the other side of keyboard socket) then its unlikely that your case will have the room for ATX board. If it does (and you are handy with tin snips and files), then modifying the ON/OFF switch is a piece of cake. Just remove the U shaped latching clip which is usually located under the return spring. And yes, most ATX power supplies will fit straight in.
> the power supply is not a problem > but i'm not sure how you can get an atx formfactor > motherboard in an AT style case.
> sounds like too much work to me :)
If you re-read my reply you'll notice that I said: Unless you have one of the rare AT cases that take server class AT boards (they had another 4 expansion slots the other side of keyboard socket) then its unlikely that your case will have the room for ATX board.
I'm not sure how rare my AT case is, but I would really like to keep it since IMO it has 3 exposed 3.5 bays for floppy, Zip, Jaz. The only other ATX cases I've seen with 3 exposed 3.5 bays are from the "Lian-Li" company for about $220 CDN + tax.
My AT case is very large too, I know it will accomodate my Gigabyte BX2000 ATX board, so that should be ok.
-- Some info I got last night confuses me: the AT case might actually be ATX? The case belongs to a friend of mine, and I just checked the box that the computer dealer gave her. It says "AT", "ATX mid" and "ATX full", and has "ATX mid" checked off in marker. From this I infer that the dealer sold her the P1-200 system in an ATX case?? (she got the case/system around 1998)
I was always puzzled by 2 things for what I thought was an AT case. First, the back of the case has a huge open space, which would accomodate all the standard PS2/USB/serial/parallel stuff on the ATX motherboards. However, the space is not nicely fitted like the current ATX cases. Second, the dealer instructed her that to power up the P1-200 system, she has to press the power button twice. (I always thought it was a faulty power supply.)
Maybe it's an ATX case. Is there someway I can tell for sure?
TIA,
JT
"Alien Zord" <rem.alienz...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> "Philo" <ph...@plazaearth.com> wrote in message > news:3cb2c5a8$0$3691$39cecf19@nnrp1.twtelecom.net... > > the power supply is not a problem > > but i'm not sure how you can get an atx formfactor > > motherboard in an AT style case.
> > sounds like too much work to me :)
> If you re-read my reply you'll notice that I said: > Unless you have one of the rare AT cases that take server class AT boards > (they had another 4 expansion slots the other side of keyboard socket) then > its unlikely that your case will have the room for ATX board.
> I'm not sure how rare my AT case is, but I would really like to keep it > since IMO it has 3 exposed 3.5 bays for floppy, Zip, Jaz. The only other > ATX cases I've seen with 3 exposed 3.5 bays are from the "Lian-Li" company > for about $220 CDN + tax.
> My AT case is very large too, I know it will accomodate my Gigabyte BX2000 > ATX board, so that should be ok.
> -- > Some info I got last night confuses me: the AT case might actually be ATX? > The case belongs to a friend of mine, and I just checked the box that the > computer dealer gave her. It says "AT", "ATX mid" and "ATX full", and has > "ATX mid" checked off in marker. From this I infer that the dealer sold her > the P1-200 system in an ATX case?? (she got the case/system around 1998)
> I was always puzzled by 2 things for what I thought was an AT case. First, > the back of the case has a huge open space, which would accomodate all the > standard PS2/USB/serial/parallel stuff on the ATX motherboards. However, the > space is not nicely fitted like the current ATX cases. Second, the dealer > instructed her that to power up the P1-200 system, she has to press the > power button twice. (I always thought it was a faulty power supply.)
> Maybe it's an ATX case. Is there someway I can tell for sure?
There were many cases (ex. Suntek) that were both AT and ATX compatible. One simply changed an infill panel at the back to suit. Also many AT motherboards had both AT and ATX power connectors.
>> Maybe it's an ATX case. Is there someway I can tell for sure?
>There were many cases (ex. Suntek) that were both AT and ATX compatible. One >simply changed an infill panel at the back to suit. Also many AT >motherboards had both AT and ATX power connectors.
On some makes you didn't even have to change the infill. I've got a none descrip case that does 3 types of MoBo. All you do is move the mounting posts to different holes and open other slots/openings in the back end of the case. It becomes obvious what holes etc are to be used because usually the holes are marked for whatever MoBo is to used. Some MoBo also had two lots of power connection, one AT, the other ATX. (my AI5VG+ MoBo being an example) Again you just plug in the correct connector. Like others have indicated the main difference is the power supply switch. AT are mains powered whereas ATX is a momentry short on the MoBo connection.
regards Graham remove 2 from e-mail address to reply
In article <d0qs8.17177$rU2.1620...@carnaval.risq.qc.ca>, j_tam1 @yahoo.com.nospam says...
> Thanks for the reply. So I take it that it is possible to run an ATX power > supply/motherboard in an AT case.
> How can I go about circumventing the latch problem with the On switch? Do I > need to make some modification? If I don't, is my system in some > "electrical" risk?
Yes you can fit an ATX PSU into an AT case. What I've done in the past is connect the wires from the cases' reset switch to the motherboard connector for the on switch as an ATX PSU doesn't have an on/off switch per se but instead the motherboard controls the PSU.
I have an old Gateway 2000 full tower (circa 1993) that has an ATX power supply in it (Antec PP303 300-watt) along with a Tyan S1860 AT mobo.
No problem with using an ATX power supply in this case. As previously posted, you will need to obtain an ATX-style power on/off switch (momentary contacts). You could do like I did and that was to modify the existing AT-power on/off switch. Inside of the AT-power on/off switch is a small wire "bar" about the thickness as a large paper clip; if you remove this metal bar the switch will become a momentary on/off switch (in the AT style setup, this switch actually carried live AC! Not sure if this was posted or not; this is NOT the case with ATX system however so don't worry!). The switch is very easy to disassemble and reassemble. Mine had four small tabs that I needed to bend slightly using needle nose pliers to separate the housing. The metal bar was easily removable using needle nose pliers.
Once you have the momentary switch setup you just need to run two wires from it to your mobo (use a multimeter to figure out which posts to attach the wires to). You might be able to purchase one of these ATX style switches also...
> Is there any problem with using an ATX power supply in an AT case?
> My current system is a P1-233 in a very nice AT tower, that I'd like to > continue using. I have a bunch of P2 parts (motherboard, ATX power supply, > PC133 RAM, AGP video card) that I'd like to use in the AT tower.
