AT case specs

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Pawihte

I need the specs for AT computer cases (cabinets) but am not having much
success with a search. Can anyone please provide a link?

I need info about dimensions, mounting hole locations, etc. I've been to
formfactors.org, but there doesn't seem to be anything about AT except some
passing mention.
 
I need the specs for AT computer cases (cabinets) but am not having much
Click to expand...

As far as I know, there aren't any. Every motherboard I've looked at, with
on board connectors, has a different layout, and will only fit with a very
limited number of cases. I've frequently had to cut out metal from the back
of a case, to allow the on board usb connectors, to be used. Most other
connectors use cables to connect from the plug on the outside of the case,
to the motherboard.

Regards, Dave Hodgins
 
David W. Hodgins said:
As far as I know, there aren't any. Every motherboard I've looked at,
with
on board connectors, has a different layout, and will only fit with a very
limited number of cases. I've frequently had to cut out metal from the
back
of a case, to allow the on board usb connectors, to be used. Most other
connectors use cables to connect from the plug on the outside of the case,
to the motherboard.
Click to expand...

An ATX motherboard should fit in an ATX case.

The only issues I've had (which sound similar to yours) have been with the
motherboard connectors (vga, network, keyboard etc) - the case provides a
large rectangle pre-cut hole and the motherboard should come with a flimsy
metal pre-cut template which fits in that hole, providing a cut out for each
connector on the motherboard. The only issues I've had have been when the
motherboard and the cut-out have been separated.
 
David W. Hodgins said:
As far as I know, there aren't any. Every motherboard I've looked at,
with
on board connectors, has a different layout, and will only fit with a very
limited number of cases. I've frequently had to cut out metal from the
back
of a case, to allow the on board usb connectors, to be used. Most other
connectors use cables to connect from the plug on the outside of the case,
to the motherboard.
Click to expand...

Even if the backplate is a varying size, the mounting holes that he asked
about must be in a standard position or you couldn't install the motherboard
into a case!
 
Pawihte said:
I need the specs for AT computer cases (cabinets) but am not having much
success with a search. Can anyone please provide a link?

I need info about dimensions, mounting hole locations, etc. I've been to
formfactors.org, but there doesn't seem to be anything about AT except
some passing mention.
Click to expand...

Are you sure you mean AT and not ATX?

AT is a very old specification which was popular back in the late 1980s and
early 1990s but was subequently superseeded by ATX. Source:
http://everything.explained.at/AT_(form_factor)/

The spec for AT or ATX will give you mounting holes etc for the motherboard,
not the case. So the spec will be of interest if you intend to design a
case, but will only give you a very rough guide (if that) as to the size of
the case that houses the AT/ATX motherboard.

ATX specification: http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/atx2_2.pdf

If you are looking at cabinets then I think you should be looking at "Rack
Units". Cabinets are specified (I think - never needed to buy one myself) in
terms of the number of units they will hold, and different equipment is
given in terms of its rack unit size. You might find the following useful
reading: http://everything.explained.at/Rack_unit or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rack_unit

Hope this helps.
 
Pawihte said:
I need the specs for AT computer cases (cabinets) but am not having much
success with a search. Can anyone please provide a link?
Click to expand...

AT?
You want vetern hardware specs?
The case that could hold a mobo 1/4 sq yard in area?

I need info about dimensions, mounting hole locations,
Click to expand...

AFAIK, there wasn't any standard and every case was different. there was
up to 20(+?) mounting points depending on the motherboard. Maybe 9 were
commonly found.

Given that some cases also allowed the mounting of full brick tape dives
and had disks, but others were strictly 3.5" max size, there was wide
variation.
 
Brian said:
Are you sure you mean AT and not ATX?
Click to expand...

Yes, I do mean AT, not ATX. There's plenty of information about ATX, BTX,
etc., but little about AT.
AT is a very old specification which was popular back in the late
1980s and early 1990s but was subequently superseeded by ATX. Source:
http://everything.explained.at/AT_(form_factor)/

The spec for AT or ATX will give you mounting holes etc for the
motherboard, not the case. So the spec will be of interest if you
intend to design a case, but will only give you a very rough guide
(if that) as to the size of the case that houses the AT/ATX
motherboard.
ATX specification:
http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/atx2_2.pdf
If you are looking at cabinets then I think you should be looking at
"Rack Units". Cabinets are specified (I think - never needed to buy
one myself) in terms of the number of units they will hold, and
different equipment is given in terms of its rack unit size. You
might find the following useful reading:
http://everything.explained.at/Rack_unit or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rack_unit
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Perhaps I should have mentioned *why* I wanted the specs for AT, but I
thought it would be best to keep it brief. I want to use some old AT
mini-towers that I can get for free for some electronics projects. I want to
get the mechanical design ready, but I don't have them with me yet. In any
case, it's easier and more accurate to enter the physical dimensions into my
design from standard specifications than to measure them with a scale.

This is what I did earlier this year when I used an ATX case, complete with
the PSU, for a one-off project. I used the same atx2_2.pdf file that you
mentioned. I'd like to do the same thing with those smaller AT cases which
are about the right size for some of my upcoming projects.
 
GT said:
Even if the backplate is a varying size, the mounting holes that he
asked about must be in a standard position or you couldn't install
the motherboard into a case!
Click to expand...

Exactly. I didn't do a lot of assembling of computers in the pre-ATX age,
but with those that I did, I didn't have any problem matching the mounting
holes on the motherboards to those on the cases.

But my current requirement is not for computers. I want to use some old AT
mini-towers for custom-designed electronics projects.
 
Pawihte said:
Exactly. I didn't do a lot of assembling of computers in the pre-ATX age,
but with those that I did, I didn't have any problem matching the mounting
holes on the motherboards to those on the cases.

But my current requirement is not for computers. I want to use some old AT
mini-towers for custom-designed electronics projects.
Click to expand...

Can't you just map out the motherboard mounts on one of the cases you have?
Asuming the motherboard mount points are standard, then any case should do
for that!
 
GT said:
Can't you just map out the motherboard mounts on one of the cases you
have? Asuming the motherboard mount points are standard, then any
case should do for that!
Click to expand...

The problem is that, while I can get several cases for free (along with the
PSUs which I also intend to use), I don't have them with me yet. In any
case, it's easier and more accurate to enter the dimensional data from the
specs into my design. Besides, I also need info other than the mounting
points such as clearance to the sides, location of the slots, etc.

I used an ATX case for an important project earlier this year and used the
specs to work out everything before I ever started on the actual
construction. I took those specs into consideration while designing the PCB,
input and output ports, etc.
 
Pawihte said:
I need info about dimensions, mounting hole locations, etc. I've been to
formfactors.org, but there doesn't seem to be anything about AT except some
passing mention.
Click to expand...

21" W x 16.25" D x 5.5" H.

Google image search can help.

Here's a diagram of the power supply:

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/power/sup/z_pcpc_dim_at_desk.jpg

Did you have any luck by searching for "IBM 5170" or "IBM PC/AT 5170"?

How about Sears.com? I'm serious. They have tons of parts lists and
diagrams, but you need exact model numbers. Also what about the clone
manufacturers? Mitsubishi made a computer with a case that was
virtually identical to the IBM AT, and it was also sold under the
brand Leading Edge (model M -- Mitsubishi, not model D -- Daewoo).
 
I need the specs for AT computer cases (cabinets) but am not having much
success with a search. Can anyone please provide a link?

I need info about dimensions, mounting hole locations, etc. I've been to
formfactors.org, but there doesn't seem to be anything about AT except some
passing mention.
Click to expand...



In general, the mounting holes on those old AT cases are the same as the
current ATX cases but of course the back panel layout is different.

I've been known to use a nibbler and modify an AT case to use an ATX
mobo. Most folks would not want to waste their time doing so...
but I thought it a nice project to put a good dual core mobo
in one of those old Gateway towers.
 
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