M1-ATX to work with Laptop?

**JuMpMaN6235** · 03-03-2005, 11:52 AM

I have a Laptop but i want to use the M1-ATX with it.... Could i just get this, plug it in the laptop then connect it to the M1-ATX??

I made a little diagram of how i plan on setting my carputer up, Let me know if this setup will work... also how many watt inverter would i need, and will the M1-ATx be able to supply power to the laptop, lilliput and 3.5" HD?

**97q45t** · 03-03-2005, 01:25 PM

No way!
Hooking up a laptop to 12V alone might work. The Lilliput and 3.5"HDD both draw about 1.5A from the M1-ATX. That's only 0.5A for the laptop -> NOT enough.

Any low wattage inverter would work because I see that you only use it to power the soundcard. Get anything that has wattage more than the power consumption of the soundcard then you should be ok.

BTW, your design is too complicated. Why so many stuffs? (especially using both inverter and M1-ATX). For the price of both, you could buy an Opus 150W. I think the less the better.

**JuMpMaN6235** · 03-03-2005, 01:35 PM

I want the M1-ATX because it has the auto start and the auto shutdown features plus that jumper setting to allow you to keep ur comp on when u turn the car off for a little while.......Ok will the M1-ATX alone be able to power up the laptop? ....i can just buy a seperate inverter......im powering the sound card, 4 port hub on one, then the 3.5" HD and Lilliput on the other......

**WebDog** · 03-03-2005, 01:39 PM

that will only work if you laptop is 12V my old car laptop was 19V my new laptop is 16V
I had to get a converter at RatShack for $99 that went 12V - 19V. its really better to use DC-DC, Why go DC-AC-DC?

**Change** · 03-03-2005, 02:15 PM

Check out the Carnetix products (www.carnetix.com), they're probably better-suited to powering a laptop than the M1-ATX. M1-ATX is a full ATX power supply, the Carnetix units provide only 12V or 19V regulated output.

**JuMpMaN6235** · 03-03-2005, 02:33 PM

Can i someway use the laptops battery then feed it continuous power, or does the battery require more than 12v?
M1-ATX->Inverter(300watt)->Laptop battery->Laptop

Originally Posted by Change

Check out the Carnetix products (www.carnetix.com), they're probably better-suited to powering a laptop than the M1-ATX. M1-ATX is a full ATX power supply, the Carnetix units provide only 12V or 19V regulated output.

From the CarNetix CNX-P1280 Dual Output 80 Watt 12V DC-DC Regulator info:

"It is designed to be used in conjunction with an existing DC-DC PSU that comes installed in a Mini-ITX case such as the Casetronic (Travla) C134 or C135 or the Morex 26XX/36XX series."

So i need to use this along with the M1-ATX?

Originally Posted by WebDog

that will only work if you laptop is 12V my old car laptop was 19V my new laptop is 16V
I had to get a converter at RatShack for $99 that went 12V - 19V. its really better to use DC-DC, Why go DC-AC-DC?

How about: M1-ATX-> ratshack 12v-19v->laptop

**JuMpMaN6235** · 03-03-2005, 05:12 PM

what do ya think

**WebDog** · 03-03-2005, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by JuMpMaN6235

Can i someway use the laptops battery then feed it continuous power, or does the battery require more than 12v?
M1-ATX->Inverter(300watt)->Laptop battery->Laptop

From the CarNetix CNX-P1280 Dual Output 80 Watt 12V DC-DC Regulator info:

"It is designed to be used in conjunction with an existing DC-DC PSU that comes installed in a Mini-ITX case such as the Casetronic (Travla) C134 or C135 or the Morex 26XX/36XX series."

So i need to use this along with the M1-ATX?

How about: M1-ATX-> ratshack 12v-19v->laptop

THe one from rat shack regulates the power so no point in using the power from M1-ATX for that.

**Change** · 03-03-2005, 05:55 PM

Gah! So you want to use an inverter AND a DC regulator? No! Bad! No cookie!

Laptops require regulated DC input of one particular voltage (such as 15V or 19V). Mini-ITX and other "normal" computer motherboards require a range of voltages (3.3V, 5V, +/-12V), hence the requirement for ATX power supplies with their wide assortment of wires sprouting out of them.

Now, there are some ATX power supplies that take regulated 12V in and provide regulated ATX power out (PW-200M for example)...this is where the Carnetix P1260 and P1280 are used. So, unregulated power to the Carnetix to the ATX supply to the motherboard. Or, you can use the M1-ATX to provide ATX power from unregulated vehicle power. For the laptop, which takes regulated power in, the P1900 (if your laptop uses 19V input) will take the unregulated vehicle power and feed the laptop with it.

For more, search the forums, read more posts, and check out the Carnetix forums.

But avoid inverters as much as you can, they're very inefficient.

**JuMpMaN6235** · 03-03-2005, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Change

Laptops require regulated DC input of one particular voltage (such as 15V or 19V).

Doesnt the Laptops battery regulate the Output to whatever the laptops Voltage is? Wouldnt the inverter just act as a wall outlet, when the battery plugs into it then plugs into the laptop the battery will have continuous power to the laptop?