AT style case and ATX power supply... how?

[lostatlantis]

hi guys,

I'd like to upgrade my parents' machine by adding a Radeon 32MB DDR video card and a 120GB 7200RPM Maxtor HD. Right now the radeon card is in the system, with the following spec:

[*]K6-2 500 @ 550, stock voltage
[*]224MB PC-100 RAM @ CL2
[*]Tyan Trinity 100 (Super 7 AT style mobo, VIA MVP3 chipset, has both AT and ATX power plugs and is compatible with both)
[*]Aureal SQ2500 Vortex2 PCI soundcard
[*]Netgear phoneline 10x HPNA nic
[*]Adaptec 2940UW PCI controller card with Plextor 12/20 CD-ROM drive --> probably will add a Plextor 12x SCSI CD burner to it soon
[*]WD 8.4GB 5400RPM Caviar hard drive

When I first installed the Radeon card, the system refused to boot. The power supply fan will start turning for a second and that's it. I suspect the power supply was too weak, but after a couple of tries it managed to start. I have the card in there for only one day so far, and it's been working alright but I don't want to leave any stability issue with my parents using it.

The power supply is supposedly 200W, but I can't confirm that because it was left-over part got from a friend's old machine. I am surprised it's still working hehe

I will put in the Maxtor HD and report back, but I think that might kill the PS so I am a little hesistant. I've searched online for quality AT power supplies but can't find any. Here's my problem --> I want to switch over to ATX power supply, since the mobo can take it, but then the case itself is the same AT case from the PCI 486 (yes they existed) before the K6 upgrade. The AT case's power switch is four separate wires going straight to the power supply, and I don't know how to get that to work with ATX power supplies.

In summary, I want to rig the AT case up with ATX power supply. If that's possible, can any one recommend a good power supply that's quiet? As you can see, the system isn't power hungry at all, and since it won't likely be upgraded much in the near future, QUIETNESS will be the priority.

thanks in advance!

 

[mechBgon]

You could pick up a momentary-contact pushbutton switch at Radio Shack and wire that to the motherboard's ATX Power Button pins, if you can locate them. When the button is pressed, it'll signal the motherboard to signal the power supply to start. You could just drill a hole in the front of the case and put the switch there.

The Fortron power supplies with the 120mm fan and the fan-adjuster knob are supposed to be pretty quiet and decent quality, you might check those out at Newegg.

 

[redbeard1]

There are ATX switches that are a direct replacement for AT cases. This looks like what you need.

Switch

It highly doubtful that a system of that era will see a 120 gig drive. Most of them have trouble seeing a 40 gig. An add-in ide controller would fix that.

 

[nitromullet]

I had a similar issue with an Inwin case years ago. I bought a used AT version of a case they made, which they had upgraded to an ATX case in their lineup. I contacted them about buying an ATX switch and backplane from them, they asked me for my address, and sent me the parts for FREE. You may want to see if your case manufacturer is still around, and contact them to see if they have the parts that you need. That way you know they will fit without modification. Failing that, get the switch that redbeard1 indicated in his post.