BTX gaming build issues

[booman]

I've got two BTX motherboards, CPU's, Aopen cases, and HS&fans from a friend for free. Obviously I want to keep them and build them into some functional gaming machines. These are going to be LOW budget but still faster than my old P4 machines.
My issues are as follows:

1. Aopen case has 250w power supply which won't power any PCI-E video card that will play newer games
2. Aopen case is too small to put a full size Power Supply in
3. Aopen case may have poor ventilation due to its size and mess of hardware inside.

I guess my main issues are with the Aopen case.
I've thought of purchasing a new case but then I'll have to purchase a new power supply also which increases my budget.

Right now all I need to purchase is RAM, video card, and some way to power it all.

I've found some 5.25 drive power supplies that is 270watts
Thermaltake PSU
So would this work with the existing 250w power supply in the aopen case to power my whole rig?

Here is the Pico BTX motherboard



The only other thing I can think of is modding in a regular ATX 300-400watt powersupply in it, but I don't think there is any room.

Here is the case:
Aopen B300
Any ideas?

[ccperf721p]

The 5.25 bay PSU will power the video card and hard drive(s) I still would be uncomfortable with the Aopen powering anything more than a single core. When dealing with power supplies the amount of power is only half the equation, can it supply that power cleanly is critical. It will have the same effect as distotion has on a speaker..

[booman]

The CPU is a single core. So hopefully the 250w Aopen PS would carry the weight of the motherboard and the 5.25 thermaltake PS would carry the weight of the hard-drive and video card like you said.
Technically that would give me a 500w power supply but we all know that isn't true under full load.

If this works then what would I do for a DVD Rom to install games? The Aopen only has one 5.25 slot and it will be taken up with a PS.

I was thinking of modding in a DVD Rom or just installing the games from a shared drive on the server. But I havn't done that before...

[ccperf721p]

Daemon Tools is what I use so I don't have use the disc everytime I want to play a game. It will allow you to mount an image on your drive or network attached drive as a virtual ROM drive.

THE DAEMONS HOME

[booman]

I've purchased Alcohol but it only allows it to be installed on one computer.
I though of doing that but you know how large games are and if I have the whole game installed and the whole game on a virtual drive, thats a lot of Hard-Drive space.
Maybe I can mod a thin DVD into the case where the Floppy is....

[cloasters]

BTX gear is interesting, thanks for the education booman!

[booman]

yeah, interesting and a pain. I would never have to mess with it if I didn't get it for free. I'm almost thinking of building some office workstations out of them and selling them to build one decent gaming machine.

[booman]

I've been searching the internet for slim DVD drives but I can't find an adapter to the regular motherboard IDE connection. You know how laptop drives have a different IDE/PATA connection? How would I connect that via USB or IDE on a regular motherboard?

[cloasters]

Wonder if one of these slim drives is available with a SATA connection?

[funnyperson1]

Slim ATAPI Converters from Addonics

[booman]

thats it! You Rock funnyperson1
That would be perfect because it comes with a mount also.

[booman]

After doing some searching, the cheapest Slim DVD drives are all IDE. The laptop kind. I'm not sure what its called but its smaller than regular IDE connectors. All the rest are DVD burners with ATAPI connections.
I love the adapter, but what is the cheapest solution and which combination?
My final goal is to have a simple Slim DVD drive that can plug into my motherboards USB, IDE or SATA ports. You know without having to run cable outside the case.

[Samuknow]

I picked up a USB cable that connects SATA, IDE, and 2.5" IDE. (laptop) at The egg for about 12 bucks. It works great. Might want to look that way too.

[booman]

Me too
Kingwin
I was thinking of something without all the cables and the external power connector. Like the one in Funnyperson1's link. It is perfect but I have to find a cheap ATAPI DVD drive or a similar connector for IDE

[booman]

Now I'm getting confused...
Here is the cheapest DVD slim drive on Newegg.com
LiteOn slim DVD
in the pictures you can see the port on the back. Its says IDE/PATA
I know this is different than a SATA port but I can't find an adapter that will go from IDE/PATA to a regular 40pin IDE or SATA on my motherboard...
If I can't find an internal adapter then I might as well get an expensive ATAPI slim DVD... and I will still have to get an adapter for $25.
There has to be a cheaper way

[Samuknow]

I thought PATA was 40 pin IDE....?????

[booman]

It probably is but if you look closely at the picture of the back of the slim DVD it looks totally different because it plugs directly into laptops....
I was hoping for a 40pin like on 2.5 hard-drives.

[Samuknow]

That deal I got will work on those too. Does it have a power conn or is it powered like a laptop HDD?

[booman]

I found the perfect IDE connector for slim DVD's

IDE Converter
I don't know how much 8,00EUR is but that would work.
I wonder if I could find one in USA?

[Samuknow]

Maybe you can get one of these lads to help you out.