Possible? The one motherboard and one hdd on each system, sharing one PSU. (300-350W). As in, can I tap the ATX connectors from one motherboard to the other?
It's possible yes, all you'd need to do was take the ATX plug, chop it off, and split the ATX power cable into two lines (so it's like a 'Y') and then fix an ATX plug to each end of that. Then when one is powered the other will be, so if you don't want that, you'll have to fix in a switch to the ATX cable itself, so that you flick the normal power button, PC1 turns on, then flick the other button, and PC2 turns on. Then you could turn on one or the other, or both. You just put the switch on the two magic wires (I forget which ones they are). That's about it. Although it might be good to get the opinion of one of the electronics gurus in here, as I'm just your average psycho. Macro, Linear? We have someone who needs some electrons! It's funny, most people are now starting to use two PSUs in one computer to give it more juice with smaller PSUs, and you want to power two computers off one PSU.. Hahah... There's always one...... EDIT: that's a little confusing maybe? If it doesn't make sense, just say, I'll draw up a sexy piccie of it. And then maybe it'll help... Maybe
You can just split it, I don't think there is any problem in that. But both will turn on at the same time. A simple switch wouldn't seperate them, unless it was a huge 20 pole switch.
Or 20 little switches ..... I see now yes, nevermind my idea about teh switch. They will both turn on..... I'm tired so teh laws of electricity evaded me..... EDIT: What about making one common ground? The ATX plug has a few grounds, so what if you took them all and made a comon link into a switch, then put the switch to the ground and then to a positive wire, the best one probably being that magic one witht eh quick flip (I think the green one)..... Then power to teh positive lines would have no where to go since all thte grounds would be cut off at one point in a normal switch..... Or am I still being stupid?
Umm this may work, but if there is any grounds at all running to the second board that are shared by the first, you will have big problems. Say some external perephrial that is connected to the first PC as well.
Maybe I wasnt' clear, or maybe I'm still inept, but what I meant was to gather all teh common grounds of just the ONE 'Y' length, so that one would be exaclty like a normal ATX cable, but with the second one coming off at teh 'Y' intersection. Then on the one section, gether those grounds. Wouldn't that isolate it from teh rest enough to be okay? Well Night night, time for my bedtime......
hi, well although im only doing gcse electronics i think if you use the y -splitter idea, it should be fine. BUT remember you put a diode on each of the 2 end of the y-splitter (facing the right way). this will stop back EPM (not sure if thats the right words) but you get the idea.
on the atx connector you will find the turn on cable, ussually green or grey in colour...add a switch onto this to be able to turn your pcs on seperatly...
This will not work. That switch is merly connected to header on the motherboard. It does not switch on the motherboard, it merly turns on the powersupply. If the motherboard receives power it WILL turn on, regarless of the state of the green wire.
