Converting AC-DC to DC-DC PSU still good idea?

**n0risc** · 12-29-2003, 11:01 PM

I've read in the past some places with instructions on converting AC-DC PSU's to DC-DC, which a few modifications to the transformer.

Is it worth the hassle, cheaper than building your own, or buying one w/ sequencer?

I have a EPIA M10000, and wanting to run 3.5" HDD & 5.25 CD/DVD, and possibly a SB Audigy 2 w/ optical outs.

I'd figure at a minumum of 200watts is required, if not more.

Thanks in advance.

**Jackso** · 12-30-2003, 12:53 AM

200 watts??? Only if the audigy draws about 100 watts. I use the smallest E-machine supply I could find to power mine. Smallest both physically and power (120 Watts I think). I power the M10000 a maxtor 120GB 3.5" 5400 RPM HDD and a Pioneer DVD. Plus all the USB accessories: 2 webcams, keyboard, optical mouse, linksys usb wireless adapter, GPS, and ATI remote wonder. And I have no probs. Also, I think with a small hack you can get the 5.1 surround to an optical out right off the EPIA board, I grabbed an ASUS digital sound header from the local computer shop, but have yet to uninstall the car-puter to attempt the hack. I don't really have anything that required the optical out, but on a lonely day, I might give it a shot.

**robiewp** · 12-30-2003, 01:33 AM

I was going to say something about the 200 watts, but then didn't...

I do think there is a strong possibility one of the dinky single board power supplies may not be enough. While it is is true that they can handle the normal draw of a system, I'm not sure it could handle the boot. When I had two vid cards in my mini itx system, for example, the system couldn't boot because of the draw of all the board, a harddrive, and a dvd drive spinning up at the same time.

I'd look into the opus gear.

**n0risc** · 12-30-2003, 11:55 AM

>Also, I think with a small hack you can get the 5.1 surround to an optical >out right off the EPIA board, I grabbed an ASUS digital sound header from >the local computer shop, but have yet to uninstall the car-puter to attempt >the hack. I don't really have anything that required the optical out, but on >a lonely day, I might give it a shot.

I have an extra MSI AUD connector with the Optical Out, wonder if tha'll plug into my M10000..

I have everything, except PSU, LCD, and CASE.. I'm thinking of constructing my own case out of lexan/plexi. Of course it would be nice to have slim line devices... 2.5" Lappie HD, and DVD/CD combo. About $450 for both used (60gig 2.5", and DVD-R-CDRW), thats on ebay.

More research to come. YAY!

**Jackso** · 12-30-2003, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by robiewp

I was going to say something about the 200 watts, but then didn't...

I do think there is a strong possibility one of the dinky single board power supplies may not be enough. While it is is true that they can handle the normal draw of a system, I'm not sure it could handle the boot. When I had two vid cards in my mini itx system, for example, the system couldn't boot because of the draw of all the board, a harddrive, and a dvd drive spinning up at the same time.

I'd look into the opus gear.

A video card is one of the most power hungry devices in the computer. Keep in mind that the video card is almost a mini computer, processor, ram, rom, etc. Thus, 2 video cards is much more a load than a video card and audio card.

**robiewp** · 12-30-2003, 04:29 PM

I think you're generally right. that said, in 2 vid cards I was including the onboard. The one additional was a TNT2 with a heatsinc and no fan. I don't know for sure, but I believe the consumption of that to be less than or equal to that of my audigy 2 nx(which pulls more than 1/2 amp (and less than 1.5 amps).

I do not know how the audigy 2 nx comapres in consumption to the non nx.

rob`