Question on fitting an ATX Soyo mobo in an AT case...adapter????

[Terp]

Greetings,

I sort of asked this in another link I had, but will ask again....Do they sell an adapter, or like a mounting plate that fits in an AT case and let's you line the holes up for an ATX motherboard? Sure, I could "rig" something up, but seems practical to sell something that just fits in like a motherboard, but is a sheet of aluminum or something with holes that would line any motherboard up...any ideas how to go about this?

...link to question I posted earlier about the case I am working on rebuilding....

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=27&threadid=195106

 

[Workin']

There's an adapter you can buy starting at about $28 -- it's called an ATX case! Not trying to be sarcastic, but what you are trying to do, while noble, is fraught with peril. Unless you are doing it just for fun, and I can see the point then. Nevermind...

 

[Terp]

Well, you see, I just built my new system, so now I plan to use the old hardware to put a little something together for dear ol' mom. My old case, some cheap tin box they call a "Time Machine," is an inferior case to my old, old Gateway full-tower case; therefore, I just want to use the case for the old hardware....I have a 300w power supply and everything else for it, just not compatible with the m/b...without some sort of device to line some holes up to secure the m/b....

I think buying an inferior case would be a waste of money, so I just thought I would see if anyone has seen such an adapter to allow an ATX m/x fit in an AT case...

 

[Pennstate]

Well, if you insist on being cheap here:

buy one of these:

ATX back plate.
http://store.yahoo.com/directron/iniobracatxb.html
OEM ATX 230W PS or find something on E*bay:
http://store.yahoo.com/directron/230power.html



To cut a proper size rectangle on the back of your case, use a nibbler or a dremmel (if you are good and careful) :

nibbler (you can probably find it cheaper elsewhere or borrow it from someone. Radioshack has them too)
http://www.truevalue.com/products.cfm?sid=1C1AFB3651A411D491000050DA8A861B&prodref=20841

DO NOT cut the rectangle too big, or else the ATX plate will not snap in.


/edit: oh ya, make sure the rectangle line up.

Also, you need to rig the power switchs too. That should be easy if you know what you're doing and have extra connectors (to the MB) around.

 

[Terp]

Thanks for the link, but the I/O bracket lines up just right...it's the mounting holes for the motherboard that I need changed...

Love,

The Cheap Guy

 

[Pennstate]

Drill correct holes on the MB tray and use those brass spacers.

But if you say the MB lines up perfectly, then it should be a ATX case.

 

[DaddyG]

Hold on just a minute. If you have an AT case you have an AT power supply. An ATX supply provides 3.3 volts, this is not present on the AT. Not sure which SOYO board you plan on using but the Socket 7 5-EHM has both AT and ATX connectors. Also the ATX is a so called smart supply, providing 5 volts to the board when the system is 'off' A ground on the green wire to the mobo wakes up the smart supply and all the voltages are then provided. Note that the SOYO 5-EHM fits AT cases without mods, not a bad board IMHO.

 

[Terp]

Yea, good idea on the drilling idea and using plastic spacers...Many thanks! ...If I don't find a prefabricated adapter in the next couple days, I'll do that...and either cut off the post that are already in place, since they are metal, or leave them in place as support and just cover them up with something non-conductive...electrical table, plastic, etc....


...Although I am a poor college guy, I am just trying to utilize this sweet case =) You go to Penn, btw?

 

[Terp]

Yea, Dad, it's a Soyo-5...but this is a 7-year old Gateway tower and only has 5 posts to securfe the m/b....none of which line up on the Soyo...


The drilling idea is great, thanks...I have a ton of the plastic spacers laying around, so will would out nice. =)

 

[Pennstate]

The metal posts should unscrew right off. Just use a plier