Thread: M4-atx (6-30v) 250 Watt

Originally Posted by Fox_Mulder

USB Programming? Is this to update the firmware or to change the timing settings?
I have instructions on howto build the USB cable, and build an ICSP to load new firmware over here http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/powe...ur-m4-atx.html

Mini-box told m they were releasing software soon that should allow us to change the timing of the M4 shortly. Until then your M4 will be recognised as a HID device in the Device Manager, and no one has figured out how to talk to it yet. Guess we'll just have to wait for the software

That's what I was looking for. I need to build the cable. So they are actually going to release software to control the PSU settings? Awesome.

Anyway....I solved my problem...when in doubt...RTFM! I had the ground and ACC wires reversed..so no wonder it would not work. Worked like a charm! I think my firmware is ok...the PC booted up in 5 seconds, and then shutdown within 15 seconds...this was with the setting P1. I made a boot on/off wire from the PS to the motherboard on/off using an old CD-ROM audio wire than I simply cut from 4 pins to 2. I found have a IDC 10 pin with length of ribbon cable, but I'd like have some spare parts so I can tinker more. The thing is...with a company like mini-box..offering a product like this....why didn't they make a cable to sell? I would, and still will buy this, just to avoid the hassle!

It makes no sense why they would release this product, without sufficient means to support it with appropriate accessories.

If it helps, anyone, the M4-ATX PS will fit fairly neatly within a power supply shell casing from a Dell Optiplex GX100. I'm sure there are other PS casings that will work as well. The nice thing about the dell casing is the fan mount. I removed the original fax, and replaced it with a thinner heat sink fan from the CPU. I have yet to figure out how I am going to mount the PS unit inside the computer casing.

i'll keep you informed....I have to create an entry for my project.

I'm having some issues with getting this power supply working. I have the #1 dipswitch down, and the #2,3,4 dipswitches off. I have pins 6,7 of J8 hooked up to the power switch pins on the motherboard. When I supply IGNITION power to the M4, it starts flashing, but the computer never turns on. The M4 manual isn't real detailed so not sure where to go from here.

**EDIT**

Ok, I figured out what is going on. Dipswitch #1 down is supposed to be 5 second startup delay, but it is actually taking 60 seconds. Are the settings incorrect in the manual?

sounds like you have a version of the M4-ATX with an older version of the firmware. If you look for the posting on Everything you want to know about your M4-ATX, you'll see how to build your own board to update the firmware, otherewise you'll have to return your board to where you got it from and get a newer version with the updated software. I'm fortunate that my board works properly.....so far

No, Heather from the store told me that mine was delayed because the newer versions were on their way and that was what I was getting.

Originally Posted by phuz

No, Heather from the store told me that mine was delayed because the newer versions were on their way and that was what I was getting.

And...just received an email from her this morning now stating that I must ship mine back and they will send me a new one...even though my correspondence prior to the order being shipped stated that I was receiving a new unit so that I would NOT have to deal with returning this one.

But after re-reading the "Everything you need....." thread, I realized that it states the bug causes the shutdown pulse to take 1min/30sec no matter what the setting is. Well, I have mine set on P1 and it does shutdown after 5 seconds, but the startup pulse takes 1 min and according to the manual, it should be 5 seconds.

Hi guys,

I'm interested in designing a 12VDC powered server for a Solar site we have.

The focus is on undervolting and underclocking an Intel i5 2500K CPU based system.

Would be very interested in any advice in this area.

Is it feasible to design an ATX system that can limit the power used to under the 250Watt rating of the M4-ATX?

-- More info from our current server posting --

Greetings!

You may have noticed that the service now has a Minecraft server.

Current testing has been good considering the limited hardware that the service is running on.

Current resources are.

- Optus Cable connection [Docsis 2.0] - 20Mbit/512Kbit - 120 Gig Data [Month] (50 Peak / 70 OffPeak) - (Peak Midday to Midnight .AU time).
- Server - AMD Athlon 1Ghz - 768MB Ram - 250Gig PATA (IDE) Hard drive. OS - Gentoo Linux.

The plans are to upgrade the server hardware and possibly the connection also if needed. (Hardware first)
I invite recommendations on hardware design from the users.

Planned upgrade.

- Optus SuperSonic Cable [Docsis 3.0] - 100Mbit/2Mbit ($15 extra per month)
- New 12VDC Solar / Wind powered ATX Server. (Main focus - low Wattage design and scalable power usage)-
-= M4-ATX 250Watt (300Watt Peak) 12VDC Power supply (See Mini-box.com) http://www.mini-box.com/M4-ATX?sc=8&category=981
-= Low Wattage CPU with scalable power usage - Possibly Intel i5 2500K ?? Recommendations needed here.
-= ATX Motherboard. Must have 4-5 PCI slots, SATA & RAID, 2x USB 3.0, 8+ USB 2.0, Low Wattage with green modes etc.
-= Ram at least 4Gig with room to expand.
-= Hard drive will be 2TB Seagate Sata.
-= Backups via Rsync to a USB 3.0 cradle and SATA Hard drives.

At present recommendations on the CPU and motherboard are required.
I have been looking at Intel i5 17Watt CPU's but the socket for those seems to be for Mobile (Laptop) motherboards only.
The big requirement is the ability to idle back power consumption trading off CPU horsepower when the system is idle, under little load, or limited to low power availability.

Feel free to post any info that may be of use here.
--

Thanks,
Ken
.-.-.