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Christian McArdle
Guest
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 Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 10:04 pm Post subject: ATX power supply |
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I have a machine that has gradually been upgraded, one bit at a time. It
started off in 1989 as a 386DX20, and is now an Athlon XP 2600+, having
passed through many incarnations along the way.
Recently, it has started hanging dead upon disk access, but only during
heavy access. Can I assume it is because the old ATX power supply is
woefully inadequete?
I've already replaced the hard disk, as it was only on the 60Gb that caused
crashes. The old 20Gb was solid. However, the crashes still happen on the
new 120Gb SATA one.
I presume this is because the larger disks take more power? Given the
failure under heavy load, I suspected it as a possibility before even
replacing the disk, but needed more space anyway, so thought it worth a
punt.
Am I right in thinking that the old power supply is likely to be the cause?
It is a high quality one that came with a nice full tower case, but several
years ago and is only 235W, given that I think the motherboard was a 300MHz
K6 or something at the time.
Christian. |
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Mr. Slow
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:04 pm Post subject: Re: ATX power supply |
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"Christian McArdle" <cmcardle75@yahooxxxx.co.uk> wrote in message
news:O_akd.488$ny2.315@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
| Quote: | I have a machine that has gradually been upgraded, one bit at a time. It
started off in 1989 as a 386DX20, and is now an Athlon XP 2600+, having
passed through many incarnations along the way.
Recently, it has started hanging dead upon disk access, but only during
heavy access. Can I assume it is because the old ATX power supply is
woefully inadequete?
I've already replaced the hard disk, as it was only on the 60Gb that
caused
crashes. The old 20Gb was solid. However, the crashes still happen on the
new 120Gb SATA one.
I presume this is because the larger disks take more power? Given the
failure under heavy load, I suspected it as a possibility before even
replacing the disk, but needed more space anyway, so thought it worth a
punt.
Am I right in thinking that the old power supply is likely to be the
cause?
It is a high quality one that came with a nice full tower case, but
several
years ago and is only 235W, given that I think the motherboard was a
300MHz
K6 or something at the time.
Christian.
Your faithful 235w PSU is unlikely to be capable of providing sufficient
current to power a modern PC. Upgrade it to a quality unit of at least 400 |
watts.
Remove ".invalid" and replace with ".co.uk" to reply by e mail
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Michael Hawes
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:05 pm Post subject: Re: ATX power supply |
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"Christian McArdle" <cmcardle75@yahooxxxx.co.uk> wrote in message
news:O_akd.488$ny2.315@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
| Quote: | I have a machine that has gradually been upgraded, one bit at a time. It
started off in 1989 as a 386DX20, and is now an Athlon XP 2600+, having
passed through many incarnations along the way.
Recently, it has started hanging dead upon disk access, but only during
heavy access. Can I assume it is because the old ATX power supply is
woefully inadequete?
I've already replaced the hard disk, as it was only on the 60Gb that
caused
crashes. The old 20Gb was solid. However, the crashes still happen on the
new 120Gb SATA one.
I presume this is because the larger disks take more power? Given the
failure under heavy load, I suspected it as a possibility before even
replacing the disk, but needed more space anyway, so thought it worth a
punt.
Am I right in thinking that the old power supply is likely to be the
cause?
It is a high quality one that came with a nice full tower case, but
several
years ago and is only 235W, given that I think the motherboard was a
300MHz
K6 or something at the time.
Christian.
Not only is that PSU a bit on the low side, but if it is years old or |
more it will be performing worse than when new due to ageing components.
treat yourself to a 450W good quality replacement.
Mike. |
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Bob Knowlden
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 3:06 am Post subject: Re: ATX power supply |
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This site may oversimplify things quite a bit, but it may be suggestive:
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/
PC power supplies are not created equal: ones with the same power ratings
can vary quite a bit in terms of useful current. One of the critical
parameters seems to be the current rating on the +12V line. My Thermaltake
power supply is rated at 420W, but it claims to be able to deliver 18A on
+12.
235W sounds a bit low, even if the supply is a good one.
If your mainboard has monitoring hardware, you could try watching the
voltages. One freeware item that was good for this was Motherboard Monitor
(http://mbm.livewiredev.com/). It can be slightly painful to configure, and
its author has stopped further development of it, but it worked well. (I own
an Asus mainboard, so I use their utility.) If the voltages change out of
the ATX spec range (+/- 5%), that would be a sign of trouble.
HTH.
Bob Knowlden
Address may be scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.
"Christian McArdle" <cmcardle75@yahooxxxx.co.uk> wrote in message
news:O_akd.488$ny2.315@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
| Quote: | I have a machine that has gradually been upgraded, one bit at a time. It
started off in 1989 as a 386DX20, and is now an Athlon XP 2600+, having
passed through many incarnations along the way.
Recently, it has started hanging dead upon disk access, but only during
heavy access. Can I assume it is because the old ATX power supply is
woefully inadequete?
I've already replaced the hard disk, as it was only on the 60Gb that
caused
crashes. The old 20Gb was solid. However, the crashes still happen on the
new 120Gb SATA one.
I presume this is because the larger disks take more power? Given the
failure under heavy load, I suspected it as a possibility before even
replacing the disk, but needed more space anyway, so thought it worth a
punt.
Am I right in thinking that the old power supply is likely to be the
cause?
It is a high quality one that came with a nice full tower case, but
several
years ago and is only 235W, given that I think the motherboard was a
300MHz
K6 or something at the time.
Christian.
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Papa
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 3:04 pm Post subject: Re: ATX power supply |
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I assume you are still using the original AT (not ATX) case, but you said
you have an ATX power supply. If so, how did you get the ATX power supply to
work? The AT case on/off and reset switches are not compatible with an ATX
power supply.
Anyway, I think it is time for you to go to an ATX case and a 400 watt ATX
power supply.
"Christian McArdle" <cmcardle75@yahooxxxx.co.uk> wrote in message
news:O_akd.488$ny2.315@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
| Quote: | I have a machine that has gradually been upgraded, one bit at a time. It
started off in 1989 as a 386DX20, and is now an Athlon XP 2600+, having
passed through many incarnations along the way.
Recently, it has started hanging dead upon disk access, but only during
heavy access. Can I assume it is because the old ATX power supply is
woefully inadequete?
I've already replaced the hard disk, as it was only on the 60Gb that
caused
crashes. The old 20Gb was solid. However, the crashes still happen on the
new 120Gb SATA one.
I presume this is because the larger disks take more power? Given the
failure under heavy load, I suspected it as a possibility before even
replacing the disk, but needed more space anyway, so thought it worth a
punt.
Am I right in thinking that the old power supply is likely to be the
cause?
It is a high quality one that came with a nice full tower case, but
several
years ago and is only 235W, given that I think the motherboard was a
300MHz
K6 or something at the time.
Christian.
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Matt
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:06 pm Post subject: Re: ATX power supply |
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Papa wrote:
| Quote: | I assume you are still using the original AT (not ATX) case, but you said
you have an ATX power supply. If so, how did you get the ATX power supply to
work? The AT case on/off and reset switches are not compatible with an ATX
power supply.
|
Suppose you have a knife. You replace the handle after four years.
After another five years you replace the blade. Is it still the same
knife? :-) |
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Papa
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:07 pm Post subject: Re: ATX power supply |
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Hmmnnn. I suppose it would be a restored knife. I've got several like that.
"Matt" <matt@themattfella.zzzz.com> wrote in message
news:9Vtkd.3903$ER4.2676@news01.roc.ny...
| Quote: | Papa wrote:
I assume you are still using the original AT (not ATX) case, but you said
you have an ATX power supply. If so, how did you get the ATX power supply
to work? The AT case on/off and reset switches are not compatible with an
ATX power supply.
Suppose you have a knife. You replace the handle after four years. After
another five years you replace the blade. Is it still the same knife? :-) |
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David Maynard
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 2:06 am Post subject: Re: ATX power supply |
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Papa wrote:
| Quote: | I assume you are still using the original AT (not ATX) case, but you said
you have an ATX power supply. If so, how did you get the ATX power supply to
work? The AT case on/off and reset switches are not compatible with an ATX
power supply.
|
It's not that hard. An ATX will mount in the AT hole, but it'll be 'upside
down'. Then you just replace the power switch with a momentary.
The rest switch doesn't need any change.
The bigger problem is the motherboard as the ATX extends further toward the
power supply than an AT so if it's a mini-tower, for example, it won't go
in, using the same mobo mounting holes, as it would intrude into the PSU. A
full tower usually has enough extra space to allow it though, if you use a
dremel to cut out the I/O plate area in the case rear.
That's what one of my home theater systems is in: a modified old AT full
tower that was originally a 486DX2/66.
| Quote: | Anyway, I think it is time for you to go to an ATX case and a 400 watt ATX
power supply.
"Christian McArdle" <cmcardle75@yahooxxxx.co.uk> wrote in message
news:O_akd.488$ny2.315@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
I have a machine that has gradually been upgraded, one bit at a time. It
started off in 1989 as a 386DX20, and is now an Athlon XP 2600+, having
passed through many incarnations along the way.
Recently, it has started hanging dead upon disk access, but only during
heavy access. Can I assume it is because the old ATX power supply is
woefully inadequete?
I've already replaced the hard disk, as it was only on the 60Gb that
caused
crashes. The old 20Gb was solid. However, the crashes still happen on the
new 120Gb SATA one.
I presume this is because the larger disks take more power? Given the
failure under heavy load, I suspected it as a possibility before even
replacing the disk, but needed more space anyway, so thought it worth a
punt.
Am I right in thinking that the old power supply is likely to be the
cause?
It is a high quality one that came with a nice full tower case, but
several
years ago and is only 235W, given that I think the motherboard was a
300MHz
K6 or something at the time.
Christian.
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Zotin Khuma
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:02 am Post subject: Re: ATX power supply |
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Matt <matt@themattfella.zzzz.com> wrote in message news:<9Vtkd.3903$ER4.2676@news01.roc.ny>...
| Quote: | Papa wrote:
I assume you are still using the original AT (not ATX) case, but you said
you have an ATX power supply. If so, how did you get the ATX power supply to
work? The AT case on/off and reset switches are not compatible with an ATX
power supply.
Suppose you have a knife. You replace the handle after four years.
After another five years you replace the blade. Is it still the same
knife? :-)
|
My wife's office machine was originally a Pentium 166 Classic, 1GB
HDD, 4MB EDO, SiS 6215 display, Win95, 14" monitor. Her boss, a family
friend, asked me to upgrade it from time to time. It gradually evolved
through a Celeron 600, 810e mobo, etc. and now it's an Athlon XP 2400+
on an Asus A7N266-VM, 256MB, 40GB, CD-writer, TV tuner, WinXP, 17"
flat-screen.... !! Never was it replaced entirely at any one time.
Maybe it'll next become an AMD64 :-) |
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Christian McArdle
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: ATX power supply |
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| Quote: | I assume you are still using the original AT (not ATX) case, but you said
you have an ATX power supply. If so, how did you get the ATX power supply
to work?
|
Nah. I got the ATX power supply with the case, at the same time as the
motherboard and processor. However, the hard disk, keyboard, mouse, monitor,
graphics card and memory (I think) didn't change at this time. Previous to
this particular upgrade, it was an AMD 486DX4/100. I think it went:
386DX/20
486SX/25
486DX4/100
K6/300
K6/500
Athlon/1200
Athlon XP/2600
| Quote: | Anyway, I think it is time for you to go to an ATX case and a 400 watt ATX
power supply.
|
Well, I got a new case, with a 350W AMD approved PSU and it now seems to
work, so power supply it was! It is hardly loaded with peripherals, so I
doubt the extra for a 400W PSU would have been worth it. The case I bought
was 40 quid (70 of your US dollars) and looks pretty, too!
Christian. |
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Papa
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: ATX power supply |
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If you originally had an ATX case and an ATX power supply, then how did you
have a 386 or 486 CPU? They came later.
"Christian McArdle" <cmcardle75@yahooxxxx.co.uk> wrote in message
news:jdPkd.64$ZJ5.21@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
| Quote: | I assume you are still using the original AT (not ATX) case, but you said
you have an ATX power supply. If so, how did you get the ATX power supply
to work?
Nah. I got the ATX power supply with the case, at the same time as the
motherboard and processor. However, the hard disk, keyboard, mouse,
monitor, graphics card and memory (I think) didn't change at this time.
Previous to this particular upgrade, it was an AMD 486DX4/100. I think it
went:
386DX/20
486SX/25
486DX4/100
K6/300
K6/500
Athlon/1200
Athlon XP/2600
Anyway, I think it is time for you to go to an ATX case and a 400 watt
ATX power supply.
Well, I got a new case, with a 350W AMD approved PSU and it now seems to
work, so power supply it was! It is hardly loaded with peripherals, so I
doubt the extra for a 400W PSU would have been worth it. The case I bought
was 40 quid (70 of your US dollars) and looks pretty, too!
Christian.
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Christian McArdle
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: ATX power supply |
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| Quote: | If you originally had an ATX case and an ATX power supply, then how did
you have a 386 or 486 CPU? They came later.
|
At that point, the case was AT. It is now on its fifth case...
Full size AT desktop
AT minitower
AT full tower
ATX full tower
ATX midi tower
Christian. |
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Frank McCoy
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:37 am Post subject: Re: atx power supply |
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In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt bumfightsri@aol.com wrote:
| Quote: | how can i fire up an atx PS without using a motherboard? jumping 2 of
the 20 pin contacts perhaps.
|
A motherboard is really about the cheapest way, if you just pick up a
used one. It acts both as connection for the power-pins and dummy load.
Go to any computer show or even computer repair place; and ask them for
an old model they're going to throw away. That gets *you* a free
motherboard to act as dummy-load; while *they* get out of paying recycle
fees. Sometimes you can get an entire computer for nothing, if you
promise never to bring it back.
A dummy test-load to see if the PSU runs at all, costs about $20.
--
_____
/ ' / ™
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(_/ / (_(_/|_/ / <_/ <_ |
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Bill
Guest
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Paul
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:37 am Post subject: Re: atx power supply |
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bumfightsri@aol.com wrote:
| Quote: | how can i fire up an atx PS without using a motherboard? jumping 2 of
the 20 pin contacts perhaps.
|
If you want to provide a dummy load to the PSU, connect a couple
disk drives to the 1x4 Molex connectors. You don't need to connect
anything to the ribbon cable interface on the drive. (Use disposable
drives - I have a 4GB drive I can use for this. Don't use a good
drive!) The drive will still draw some +5V and some +12V. I cannot
say it is absolutely necessary to do it, but it will calm the people
who feel some load is necessary.
To fire up the supply, connect PS_ON# to an adjacent COM pin. PS_ON#
is a logic signal, and normally it floats high. Connecting to COM
pulls it to ground level, and makes the signal active. The power
supply will run, as long as PS_ON# is connect to COM. Without a
multimeter, you can use the fact that the fan spins, as a
sign it is not completely dead.
Note that, when PS_ON# is not connected to COM, the supply is
still working a bit. It is making +5VSB, as long as the switch
on the back is in the ON position, and the cord is plugged in.
So, one of your first tests, in fact, doesn't require firing up
the PSU. Plug it in, then turn on the switch on the back. Using
a multimeter, check to see if +5VSB and GND can deliver 5 volts.
If you don't find 5 volts on there, then there is no point in
wasting time connecting a paper clip to PS_ON# and COM. If
+5VSB has 5 volts on it, then it is at least worth trying
the connection from PS_ON# to COM, and measuring the other
outputs.
In other words, the ATX PSU consists of two parts. One part
makes +5VSB and some voltage to run the other part. Seeing
some +5VSB means there is a better chance the second part
of the supply can try to run.
For a sample ATX supply schematic, try this page. And remember
that there can be dangerous voltages in here (like on C5 and C6),
so use tube radio precautions if playing around.
http://www.pavouk.org/hw/en_atxps.html
HTH,
Paul |
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