AT and ATX tech specs [PAGE 2]

	Sign In Sign-Up

Jump to

AT & ATX Tech specs

USB

Overview

In the picture to the left you will see two power connectors, present in every standard computer since the dawn of the PC era are the AT and ATX connections. At the top there is a connector known as the AT "advanced technology" , at the bottom is a picture of the newer ATX "Advanced Technology Extension".
The top AT connection uses two female cables " labeled P* and P9", to connect to a single male connection on your motherboard. However, there are two problems accompanying this standard.

The first is that first time installers tend to connect the power in the wrong way which results in blowing out the motherboard or power supply. You can avoid this problem by obeying the number one rule "the four black wires point to each other", two black wires on P8 and two on P9
Above I stated that there are two problems with the standard AT power supply, the second problem is that this connector doesn't offer enough power to support Pentium II and compatible processors along with new standards like USB and AGP. These two problems gave rise to the ATX power supply. The ATX model is not only easier to install, it is quite impossible to install the wrong way.

Connections

So first lets look how to install the AT power cables, it is quite east to learn but if you think that they are ordinary connectors then you will quickly find yourself calling the motherboard stupid.

Looking at the picture to the right you will see that the cables are installed with the black wires pointing towards the center. Installing the cables can sometimes be tricky because they have little notches on the back that requires you to hook the connector on first then you push down, making the connection.

The ATX power supply is impossible to connect backwards unless you take a soldering iron and manually connect all the wires to the circuit board.
Below is a list of wires and their duties, no not to solder them to the board but to check them with an ammeter " measure amps" to see if the power supply is good.

Page 1 2