Thread: Zotac + ION = Nice MB ;)

if u alredy have any ATX output PSU ex: opus or mini-box M4 then you can hack MB connector by getting -12 and +12V togather they will give you 24V then search mouser for 24V to 19V step down regulator (I think that woudld be around 3-5$)

Originally Posted by frogger

Hello,
is there such a thing as a 19V DC-DC smart adapter? I have a variant of this board (Asrock Ion box) which is very handy because of the instant-on software. But I'm struggling to find an adapter that does 12 to 19V conversion and is smart i.e. shuts down the computer when battery drops. I could use a smart 12V DC-DC converter and connect a 12V to 19V adapter to it but its not very elegant as it would just remove the power from the computer instead of shutting it down.

Any ideas?

Cheers

The instant on will not work, unless you keep the power supply's on at all time, which will drain your battery very quickly. This is how asrock instant on works. It saves a copy of your system's current state, and then it goes to sleep, and if you keep the power alive, it'll resume very quickly, but if you take away the power (as all car psu does) it'll just wake up from hibernation using the saved file. So you might as well use hibernation.

Originally Posted by xyvyx

Hi there Frogger...

well, I was planning on using this CarNetix regulator:
http://carnetix.com/CNXP1900.htm

But it doesn't have the USB interface like the P2140:
http://carnetix.com/P2140/CNXP2140.htm

So I think the 1900 can simply power the system on/off simulating a press to the power button, while the 2140 can send more specific commands (hibernate/shutdown/sleep) via. the USB interface. BUT the 2140 also has a selectable output of 12, 18.5 or 20 volts... so if the zotac or your Asrock board can make due w/ one of these, I might just get the 2140 for the extra flexibility.

It also says "•Compatible with +12V or +19V Pentium-based systems such as Travla, Sumicom, Xenarc SC3 & SC8, Commell, Cappuccino, EZgo, and many others", so I'm not sure if it can also deliver 19v or if the other voltages are close enough...

the p1900 and p2140 also have secondary voltage outputs so you can power a range of accessories that also need a specific regulated voltage. See the manuals for details.

Thanks guys, you solved my problem more than once! I have already ordered the p2140.

@Punky, do you have the Asrock? The instant on has two modes. One is on in 3s which is very impressive but consumes some power as you say. But the other mode (probably equivalent to hybernate) is on in 20s and does not consume power (I have good reasons to believe). The difference to hybernate is that the device actually boots properly i.e it clears the garbage (according to Asrock).

Zotac's Ion Rev 2: Wake on USB Fixed
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3611

I do not have the asrock, i'm currently using a foxconn.
If you want fast resume, don't bother with anything but standby.
To do standby you need a deep cycle battery, and a PSU that allows the 5v to stay on.
Then you can sleep your system using standby, and the resume is instant.
I'm currently using this setup and i'm very happy with it.

Punky, my experience from laptops is that standby tends to gradually rotten after 2-3 cycles. More specifically the wi-fi tends to stop working even after one standby. I don't have wi-fi in the car system but I have bluetooth. Not sure whether that stops working too after standby. Did you have any similar problems which you solved?

if your system has usb connection, it tends to die after standby/hibernate.
download xport and it should solve this problem.
my current setup is working as if i was hibernating, only way faster.

Hi,

Is there anyone who tried to connect two D-Sub VGA displays to a Zotac Ion?

I have an A-E version and i cannot get two Analog Displays connected to the board.

The DVI port on this board is a DVI-I Dual Link (Digital & Analog)?

I am using this adapter: