Power on/off HDD indicator and stuff

I'm pretty sure that my tower case will phsically accept a decently modern
mboard. It's designed to take full ATX size, the mboard in at the moment is
a bit smaller than that length-wise, and it will, I feel sure, fit a minATX
mboard. I'd have to get a new ATX PSU with the more up-to-date power
connector for modern mboards.

But something troubles me. The case (about 11 years old) has a mechanical
on/off push button. Also a mechaical "sleep" push button. There is a LED for
"HDD" and a LED for "sleep".

I'm not sure if I need to post pictures of the wiring and plugs associated
with the above, but anyway can anyone say whether I've got a major
"difficult to solve" problem here concerning a mboard made say during
the last 3 or so years? (I'm wanting to buy a mboard of about, well,
say 2.0 - 3.0 Ghz speed, with PCIe, that could be used as a
workstation).TIA.

 

ATX was already well established by 11 years ago. Is there a mechanical
connection from the switch to the PSU and the switch has 2 different
positions for on and off (AT), or is it connected electrically to the
motherboard and it has only one position other than when you're pushing
it (ATX)?

 

It's definitely an ATX case and PSU.

Here are pictures of the arrangement that allows the PC to be switched on
and set to sleep:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/richards_internet/TEMPORARY/PCSWITCH.html

Would I simply plug those sockets into a modern mboard. or was that
arrangement made obsolete? TIA.

 

This is the manual:

http://www.elhvb.com/mobokive/Archive/Achme/ms-6119/6119.pdf

 

I think folks need to look at pages 21 & 22. It's JFP1 connector that the
"arrangement" connects to.

 

What is was is that I like the case of my (first) PC. So, I got the same
base unit complete for £7.50 off Ebay with a view to putting in a moderm
mboard in the second case.

But, like you say I could have got a modern case + PSU for about £35.00! :c)
I can still get one if need be. Unless I decide to pick up an inexpensive
ATX PSU.

Anyway, I thought I'd picked up from some posts a concern that the
"arrangement" you see in the pictures was someway obsolete. Specifically,
that mechanical push buttons were now not employed to control PC on/off etc.
You have not mentioned anything being obsolete so I gues *in principle* the
"arrangement" that I have is okay. So it seems I can use the "arrangement"
using a bit of sense and having the new mboard manual.

I now see that there are just three things on my PC facia connected with the
"arrangement". A sleep function with sleep button with corresponding sleep
LED, HDD activity indication with LED light, and the power function with
power push button and power LED.

I'm just wondering whether modern mboards still bother with sleep. If not,
that sleep push button and the sleep LED would be redundant. I'd just be
using HDD activity and power.

Well, perhaps I'm sorted then. It looks like I can use that wiring and PCB
you see in the pictures with perhaps a little modification on a modern
mboard.

I may still go for a new case but at least I know I can use the old case.

You mean this?:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/richards_internet/TEMPORARY/image/DSCF0031.JPG

 

It's still a mechanical push button, but non-latching and controlling a
low voltage logic signal rather than a latching switch for mains power,
so just like the reset button on an AT case.

 

I thought the problem with eMachines PSUs was sub-standard rather
than non-standard components.

 

Hi. Non of the swithes latch, they push in and come out. What significance
is this?