Actually,
plugging into the mains does work. When I was at college, for high-jinx, we connected a small circuit board straight to the mains, and watched it vapourise into smoke and dust. Imagine the joy and fulfillment to be had with a full PC.
(
Chief Inspector Singh of the Yard,
Sun 25 Apr 2004, 0:01,
archived)
But
You'd have to solder up a wall cord to the atx connector (or more likely at connector on this oldie)
(
ProudClod,
Sun 25 Apr 2004, 0:34,
archived)