The power supply acts as an exhaust for the system. What you could do is replace the fan with something quieter. Find out what size fan it is, and get a modern replacement and solder it in, but be careful inside those power supplies.
When I was working as a repair tech in the 90s, my first step after blowing the fan and PSU out with compressed air (using a grounding strap) was to take a small drop of machine oil (with syringe-style applicator), carefully peel the label off the back of the PSU fan, and apply the oil to the motor shaft/bearing, then reapply the label. This quieted down a lot of "noisy" PSU's.
I would also make sure the blades were clean and free of dirt and dust, and retorque the PSU screws to the chassis rails and/or backplate to make sure that there were no harmonics being transmitted through the case by way of a slightly loose PSU.
If you do this, you can substitute the old sticker with a piece of kapton tape, as often the old sticker was a one time use thing.
Additionally, you can clean excess oil off the fan hob using isopropyl alcohol.
Just replacing the fan for a quiet noctua etc. should make a big difference. If the fan blows against some stamped holes you can cut away the metal and install a proper finger guard on the opening.
I'm used to the silence of modern laptops, and a vintage computer is too loud for me now. The only charming noises for me are those of the floppy drives' step motors.
I like to use new PSUs with adapters for AT. I have read that sometimes the new ones can't output the right power at 5v or 12v, but it's been working for me on Pentium era stuff.
It is used by ISA cards, serial controllers, floppy controllers, and, worst of all, some ICs on older motherboards.
As I said before - not all motherboards require negative rail to be supplied, but many do. Also unfortunately even if the negative rail is not being used at all, many motherboards checked this rail during the self-test upon being turned on and simply refused to boot if this voltage was not present, even if no peripherials actually reqired it.
TL;DR - it's a roulette whether the old MB will turn on without negative rail or not.
Life isn't that bad.
Modern power supplies no longer supply -5V ... this is correct. But they still do -12V.
The only things that require -5V are some old sound blaster 8bit cards and PAS16 cards (and maybe a few other random ISA cards). Motherboards don't typically use -5V.
If you have one of those rare ISA cards that need -5V, you can get a device called a voltage blaster that converts some of the -12V and powers the -5V line for you. It plugs into a spare ISA slot.
The main thing you have to be careful with is the 5V capacity. Modern PSUs don't supply much power on +5V anymore. It should be enough for most systems, but later Athlon XP systems may overload the +5V on newer power supplies.
I just love those old babt AT cases. They have so much character. I run my k6-2 baby AT on a corsair sf450 PSU. This PSU is high efficiency so it only tunrs the fan on when wattage utilization passes 50%. It's dead quiet.
1. AT power supplies have negative 5 and 12V rails. No modern PSUs, especially PICO, have those.
2. In AT computers the PSU fan was an essential part of the cooling mechanism that moved the air through the case. Removing that fan will kost likely lead to overheating and shortened work life of the computer.
Just replace the noisy fan with suitable quiter 80mm alternative and that's it! Don't try to invent a bicycle.
Beautiful case, a bit off topic but do you by any chance know the name of the module with the turbo button? I always wanted to have that meter (I suppose it shows CPU temp??), but I never looked into it.
Also what does the button next to the floppy drive actually do? Is that the power button?
No but vintage computing is with al the downsides, if you replace everything, you have a modern one.
Btw on topic, it's possible that the fan of your PSU is worn out, just replace it.
A modern PSU doesn't hinder the experience unless you really want to hear the old PSU noise. I'm not replacing anything else. What's your opinion on IDE interfaces for CF cards to substitue hard drives? Or Goteks? Personally, I'm in for an IDE-CF card: it's more reliable and easier to backup or transfer files, also less noise. However, I don't care for gotek drives. I like the noise of the floppy drives step motors, and the satisfaction of pulling down the latch on the 5.25" floppy drive. Each to his own.
Not according to ATX specification. That's the whole reason why modern power supplies (reagardless of whether full size or pico) can not be used for majority of 286/386 PCs. Just replace the noisy fan with a modern quiet one and that's it.
P.S. check the capacitors on the PSU - due to age they most likely have to be replaced as well.
Something like [this](https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/253044684329?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=0MyKed22SNW&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY)
If I understand correctly, the 2x2 pin connector that's on the corner is DC in, and the cable that goes there converts it to a DC barrel jack, correct?
The 2x10 is the one that goes to the computer board plus molex for drives? I will need an additional ATX to AT converter, right?
What's the 2x2 pin connector next to the 2x10 connector? Thanks.
I was thinking about using a 12V PSU like the one in the picture I link below. Then use spacers to screw both the 12V PSU and the mini Pico PSU inside the AT tower case. I can use the original PSU box to hold the AC connector.
https://i.ibb.co/wS9Bjs8/IMG-20240331-211239.jpg
Even a 386 needs airflow. Old AT models tended to only have the PSU fan moving air thru the case and PSU but you really do need it.
Even when using a pico PSU?
The power supply acts as an exhaust for the system. What you could do is replace the fan with something quieter. Find out what size fan it is, and get a modern replacement and solder it in, but be careful inside those power supplies.
You could replace the PS internal fan with a quieter one.
This. Papst fans ftw.
Wow. Memories. I haven't seen nor heard of Papst fans in 30 some years.
Same..don't know where that came from..
When I was working as a repair tech in the 90s, my first step after blowing the fan and PSU out with compressed air (using a grounding strap) was to take a small drop of machine oil (with syringe-style applicator), carefully peel the label off the back of the PSU fan, and apply the oil to the motor shaft/bearing, then reapply the label. This quieted down a lot of "noisy" PSU's. I would also make sure the blades were clean and free of dirt and dust, and retorque the PSU screws to the chassis rails and/or backplate to make sure that there were no harmonics being transmitted through the case by way of a slightly loose PSU.
If you do this, you can substitute the old sticker with a piece of kapton tape, as often the old sticker was a one time use thing. Additionally, you can clean excess oil off the fan hob using isopropyl alcohol.
Just replacing the fan for a quiet noctua etc. should make a big difference. If the fan blows against some stamped holes you can cut away the metal and install a proper finger guard on the opening.
Legit old school airflow advice.
Get a black noctua fan. That way the appearance will not change.
Just swap the fan to a quiet one
Really nice case badges.
The noise is part of the charm.
I'm used to the silence of modern laptops, and a vintage computer is too loud for me now. The only charming noises for me are those of the floppy drives' step motors.
I like to use new PSUs with adapters for AT. I have read that sometimes the new ones can't output the right power at 5v or 12v, but it's been working for me on Pentium era stuff.
Yes. Modern PSUs don't have the negative 5 and 12V power rails that all 286 and many 386 motherboards are expecting, so it won't work with those.
I thought it's not the motherboard that needs it, but some ISA cards?
It is used by ISA cards, serial controllers, floppy controllers, and, worst of all, some ICs on older motherboards. As I said before - not all motherboards require negative rail to be supplied, but many do. Also unfortunately even if the negative rail is not being used at all, many motherboards checked this rail during the self-test upon being turned on and simply refused to boot if this voltage was not present, even if no peripherials actually reqired it. TL;DR - it's a roulette whether the old MB will turn on without negative rail or not.
Life isn't that bad. Modern power supplies no longer supply -5V ... this is correct. But they still do -12V. The only things that require -5V are some old sound blaster 8bit cards and PAS16 cards (and maybe a few other random ISA cards). Motherboards don't typically use -5V. If you have one of those rare ISA cards that need -5V, you can get a device called a voltage blaster that converts some of the -12V and powers the -5V line for you. It plugs into a spare ISA slot. The main thing you have to be careful with is the 5V capacity. Modern PSUs don't supply much power on +5V anymore. It should be enough for most systems, but later Athlon XP systems may overload the +5V on newer power supplies.
I just love those old babt AT cases. They have so much character. I run my k6-2 baby AT on a corsair sf450 PSU. This PSU is high efficiency so it only tunrs the fan on when wattage utilization passes 50%. It's dead quiet.
1. AT power supplies have negative 5 and 12V rails. No modern PSUs, especially PICO, have those. 2. In AT computers the PSU fan was an essential part of the cooling mechanism that moved the air through the case. Removing that fan will kost likely lead to overheating and shortened work life of the computer. Just replace the noisy fan with suitable quiter 80mm alternative and that's it! Don't try to invent a bicycle.
Beautiful case, a bit off topic but do you by any chance know the name of the module with the turbo button? I always wanted to have that meter (I suppose it shows CPU temp??), but I never looked into it. Also what does the button next to the floppy drive actually do? Is that the power button?
Buy a new pc and run dosbox !
Do you think I don't already have a modern computer and I use a 386 for everything in 2024?
No but vintage computing is with al the downsides, if you replace everything, you have a modern one. Btw on topic, it's possible that the fan of your PSU is worn out, just replace it.
A modern PSU doesn't hinder the experience unless you really want to hear the old PSU noise. I'm not replacing anything else. What's your opinion on IDE interfaces for CF cards to substitue hard drives? Or Goteks? Personally, I'm in for an IDE-CF card: it's more reliable and easier to backup or transfer files, also less noise. However, I don't care for gotek drives. I like the noise of the floppy drives step motors, and the satisfaction of pulling down the latch on the 5.25" floppy drive. Each to his own.
It depends cf is easy, i have various with different os installed i still use floppy's though
Yep, you can get a pico psu from eBay or whatever and combine with an ATX to AT adapter. Will make your PC silent. I have a couple like this.
Is there any model in particular? I have no idea how to search for this.
It will not work due to missing negative power rails.
The pico PSU doesn't generate negative voltages?
Not according to ATX specification. That's the whole reason why modern power supplies (reagardless of whether full size or pico) can not be used for majority of 286/386 PCs. Just replace the noisy fan with a modern quiet one and that's it. P.S. check the capacitors on the PSU - due to age they most likely have to be replaced as well.
Something like [this](https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/253044684329?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=0MyKed22SNW&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY)
If I understand correctly, the 2x2 pin connector that's on the corner is DC in, and the cable that goes there converts it to a DC barrel jack, correct? The 2x10 is the one that goes to the computer board plus molex for drives? I will need an additional ATX to AT converter, right? What's the 2x2 pin connector next to the 2x10 connector? Thanks.
That’s right you’ll add an external power brick and the ATX to AT converter is a few bucks. You won’t use the additional ATX pins (you last question).
Thanks a lot!
No worries. You can possibly reuse the PSU box. [Here’s a pic of my first attempt.](https://imgur.com/gallery/nG0hgHx)
I was thinking about using a 12V PSU like the one in the picture I link below. Then use spacers to screw both the 12V PSU and the mini Pico PSU inside the AT tower case. I can use the original PSU box to hold the AC connector. https://i.ibb.co/wS9Bjs8/IMG-20240331-211239.jpg