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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: AmigaPixel on December 23, 2013, 10:29:12 PM

Title: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: AmigaPixel on December 23, 2013, 10:29:12 PM
OK I know I have been posting a lot about the A2000 but it is the big project I have been looking forward to for some time.
Anyway I will be replacing my failing A2000 PSU with an ATX and the adpater cable from Amgakit soon. Has anyone recently done this? I remember an Amiga user in Norway about two years ago if I recall, stating he had to use a backplate of of an ATX PSU to line up and mark where he needed to drill new mounting holes.
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on December 23, 2013, 11:00:16 PM
I would think actually since the A2000 PSU is structural - helps hold the case together - you'd need to use the backplate of an A2000 PSU to line up where to put mounting holes in the ATX PSU.
 
Wonder if the ATX and A2000 PSU's are even the same width?  My A2000 is actually closed up for once, but next time I open it I'll check.  Was thinking if I ever went down this route I'd try to find some kind of small MATX or Pico PSU, so I'd know there wouldn't be space issues, and then fab up some kind of scrap metal plate to hold the back of the case together.

If you do this, please take lots of photos & document your process!  :idea:
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: AmigaPixel on December 24, 2013, 01:21:23 AM
Yes very good points, come to think of it I have an old ATX sitting in the closet. I will compare it's width with the the Amiga 2000 PSU.
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: AmigaPixel on December 24, 2013, 01:36:11 AM
"If you do this, please take lots of photos & document your process!"

You bet!
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on December 24, 2013, 05:05:49 AM
Excellent!  I would love to see you go through with this project.  However if you change your mind and take the easy route there's several A2000 PSU's on ebay right now in the $15-$35 range.  Might be cheaper, and an easy confirmation that any problems you're having are definitely related to the PSU.  :D
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: Jope on December 24, 2013, 01:48:47 PM
When I did this back in the day, I just used the A2000 PSU shell and mounted the new PSU's internals in there.

Don't forget to move the tick jumper on the motherboard! :-)
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: orange on December 24, 2013, 01:55:35 PM
since ATX PSU is smaller, I made 'feets' to fasten it. I also used tick generator (from aminet) instead of jumper and moved power switch.
iirc, some things don't work with jumper, like genlock.
have a look at my photo gallery.
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: Amiwest on December 24, 2013, 09:28:50 PM
You might want to look at:
http://www.ianstedman.co.uk/Amiga/amiga_hacks/Amiga_Power_supplies/amiga_power_supplies.html
The ATX power supply shown has a on/off switch so I think it is an AT supply.

Amiwest
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: AmigaPixel on December 27, 2013, 08:33:10 AM
Quote from: orange;755204
since ATX PSU is smaller, I made 'feets' to fasten it. I also used tick generator (from aminet) instead of jumper and moved power switch.
iirc, some things don't work with jumper, like genlock.
have a look at my photo gallery.

Yes I see I will have to do the same thing, I also noticed that the screw holes on the ATX are slightly smaller than the ones on the Amiga PSU. The Amiga PSU is 6 7/8" wide and 4 1/4" High. Where as the ATX is 5 7/8" wide and 3 3/8" high.
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: AmigaPixel on December 27, 2013, 09:32:30 AM
Quote from: Jope;755202
When I did this back in the day, I just used the A2000 PSU shell and mounted the new PSU's internals in there.

Don't forget to move the tick jumper on the motherboard! :-)

Thanks I might try that.
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: AmigaPixel on December 27, 2013, 08:35:52 PM
Quote from: Amiwest;755260
You might want to look at:
http://www.ianstedman.co.uk/Amiga/amiga_hacks/Amiga_Power_supplies/amiga_power_supplies.html
The ATX power supply shown has a on/off switch so I think it is an AT supply.

Amiwest


No it is an ATX but an older one from around 2000 that is failing. It came out of HP Pavillion with a 1st gen Pentium 4 socket 423. Some of the older ATX supplies had an on of switch even though you still use Windows to shut it down.

Do all of the new ATX power supplies come with out an external switch? I have not bought one in a long time. I plan on buying a Seasonic from Newegg for $39. If they don't how do you turn the Amiga on/off? Does the adapter cable from AmigaKit have wire for switch?
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: orange on December 27, 2013, 09:02:14 PM
iirc, mostly people turn it on/off by connecting green (i think!) wire to black (GND). While its connected there is power. you could, in theory, keep it always shorted to GND, and simply use main switch. dunno if that's safe, but at least you'll save some electricity :)
 in some rare cases you might need to use gray wire instead of black.
anyway, check that Ians page first, its excellent, very informative.

I've also used this in A1200: http://aminet.net/package/docs/hard/AMI_ATX
its more complicated (pic programming), but has nice extra features.  

(don't forget that all switching PSUs need some load to work properly and all the usual stuff about electric shock hazard.)
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on December 27, 2013, 09:02:49 PM
The description states that the adapter comes with a switch:
 
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=39&products_id=998
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: AmigaPixel on December 27, 2013, 09:30:44 PM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;755565
The description states that the adapter comes with a switch:
 
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=39&products_id=998


Yes I just checked the Seasonic 300w at Newegg, I should have done that first. I am not sure about lining the switch up to the hole in the back.
Jope"s idea of moving the ATX components to the Amiga PSU shell sounds interesting but I am not sure I want to risk a chance of damaging the ATX parts.
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on December 27, 2013, 09:33:59 PM
Based on all the advice in this thread, moving the components is probably what I'd do. Alternatively if you're able to hack a smaller PSU into that same space I'm sure the case would appreciate the additional airflow around it. ;)
Title: Re: Adapting ATX PSU to A2000
Post by: AmigaPixel on December 27, 2013, 10:47:59 PM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;755567
Based on all the advice in this thread, moving the components is probably what I'd do. Alternatively if you're able to hack a smaller PSU into that same space I'm sure the case would appreciate the additional airflow around it. ;)


 Good point, I think I will give that a try. I had been thinking of buying a modular psu to remove uneeded cables for better air flow. However if I move it to the Amiga psu shell maybe that isn't an issue. Or it could still be helpful. I might try your idea of a micro ATX PSU. Oh so many choices!