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There are several types of power supply form factors: PC/XT, AT, Baby AT, LPX, ATX(NLX), SFX, and WTX. Each form factor is dependant on the case it is used in, and the motherboard it is connected to! The most common form factor is the ATX, as it provides a cleaner power to the system. Unlike AT P.S.'s, the ATX must be connected to a motherboard in order for it to be turned on. All current motherboards require an ATX power source and few support the older AT P.S.'s. ATX power supplies are superior as they deliver a more regulated current to the motherboard. ATX cases also typically have space for a second and third fan (for additional cooling) and second P.S. (to support additional high-powered devices). SFX and ATX P.S.'s can generally be interchanged in systems sized to hold them because their 20-pin main motherboard connectors are almost identical. They are not however exactly identical: the SFX P.S. does not provide the -5 V signal that may be required for some systems that use certain ISA bus expansion cards. |
| Power Supplies | |||||
| Form Factor | Typical Dimensions (W x D x H, mm) |
Usual Style(s) | Motherboard Connectors | Match to Case Form Factor | Match to Motherboard Form Factor |
| PC/XT | 222 x 142 x 120 | Desktop | AT Style | PC/XT | PC/XT |
| AT | 213 x 150 x 150 | Desktop or Tower |
AT Style | AT | AT, Baby AT |
| Baby AT | 165 x 150 x 150 | Desktop or Tower |
AT Style | Baby AT, AT, AT/ATX Combo |
AT, Baby AT, AT/ATX Combo |
| LPX | 150 x 140 x 86 | Desktop | AT Style | LPX, some Baby AT, AT/ATX Combo |
LPX, AT, Baby AT, AT/ATX Combo |
| ATX/NLX | 150 x 140 x 86 | Desktop or Tower |
ATX Style | ATX, Mini-ATX, Extended ATX, NLX, microATX, AT/ATX Combo |
ATX, Mini-ATX, Extended ATX, NLX, microATX, FlexATX |
| SFX | 100 x 125 x 63.5 * | Desktop or Tower |
ATX Style | microATX, FlexATX, ATX, Mini-ATX, NLX |
microATX, FlexATX, ATX, Mini-ATX, NLX |
| WTX | 150 x 230 x 86 (single fan) 224 x 230 x 86 (double fan) |
Tower | WTX Style | WTX | WTX |
| ATX Power Connector | ||
| Pin | Signal | Wire Color |
| 1 | +3.3Vdc | Orange |
| 2 | +3.3Vdc | Orange |
| 3 | GND | Black |
| 4 | +5Vdc | Red |
| 5 | GND | Black |
| 6 | +5Vdc | Red |
| 7 | GND | Black |
| 8 | PWR-OK | Gray |
| 9 | +5Vdc VSB standby Voltage | Purple |
| 10 | +12Vdc | Yellow |
| 11 | +3.3Vdc | Orange {brown is 3.3Vdc sense] |
| 12 | -12Vdc | Blue |
| 13 | GND | Black |
| 14 | PS-ON | Green |
| 15 | GND | Black |
| 16 | GND | Black |
| 17 | GND | Black |
| 18 | -5Vdc | White |
| 19 | +5Vdc | Red |
| 20 | +5Vdc | Red |
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There's also a 5v source that stays live when the power is off (purple wire) but output is very low and the power varies with each model of power supply. FYI, you can power up an ATX P.S. by shorting the green wire with any black ground wire. As you know, the ATX P.S. will not turn on normally without a motherboard connected to it. There are times when you may want to test an ATX P.S. or use the voltage from one but don't really want to hook up a motherboard. There's only one green wire and there are plenty of ground wires so it's easy to do. To use a bent paper clip and insert one end in the green wire connector and bend it around and put it into a black wire connector. | ||
| AT Power Connector | ||
| Pin | Signal | Wire Color |
| 1 | Power Good * | Orange |
| 2 | +5Vdc | Red |
| 3 | +12Vdc | Yellow |
| 4 | -12Vdc | Blue |
| 5 | Ground | Black |
| 6 | Ground | Black |
| 7 | Ground | Black |
| 8 | Ground | Black |
| 9 | -5Vdc | White |
| 10 | +5Vdc | Red |
| 11 | +5Vdc | Red |
| 12 | +5Vdc | Red |
| * Power good pins gives +5V output when the voltage in the P.S. outputs is according the specs. This power good pin is usually used for resetting purposes so that the motherboard reset signal is kept active until the power good signal is raised to +5V. This keeps the motherboard not trying to do anything before the operating voltages have stabilized. Some motherboards will only work if +5V is applied to the power good pins slightly after the power is turned on on other pins. | ||