Motherboard Form Motherboard Form FactorsFactors

What You’ll Learn TodayWhat You’ll Learn Today

Explain motherboard components, types Explain motherboard components, types and features.and features. Form FactorsForm Factors

ATX / BTXATX / BTX micro ATXmicro ATX NLXNLX

Motherboard Form FactorsMotherboard Form Factors

Physical SizePhysical Size CasingCasing

Basic LayoutBasic Layout Room for small changesRoom for small changes

PowerPower Standard connectorsStandard connectors

AirflowAirflow Increasingly importantIncreasingly important

Wikipedia: There are 26 different motherboard type categorized!

ATX Form FactorATX Form Factor

Advanced Technology ExtendedAdvanced Technology Extended Standardized by Intel in 1995Standardized by Intel in 1995

Seen many updated over a yearSeen many updated over a year PowerPower

20 pin connector20 pin connector 24 pin connector, addition 4/8 pin connector24 pin connector, addition 4/8 pin connector

Port TypesPort Types Optional I/O backplateOptional I/O backplate Add and remove as neededAdd and remove as needed

ATX motherboards still manufactured in 2011ATX motherboards still manufactured in 2011

ATX MotherboardATX Motherboard

BTX Form FactorBTX Form Factor

Balance Technology ExtendedBalance Technology Extended Smaller profileSmaller profile

Lower but widerLower but wider Designed to dissipate heatDesigned to dissipate heat

Straight linesStraight lines No longer in productionNo longer in production

But many manufacturers use the benefits of But many manufacturers use the benefits of BTX engineeringBTX engineering

BTX Form FactorBTX Form Factor

microATXmicroATX

Smaller than an ATX motherboardSmaller than an ATX motherboard Limited expansion slotsLimited expansion slots

Backward compatibilityBackward compatibility Similar mounting pointsSimilar mounting points Similar powerSimilar power

Very popular form factorVery popular form factor Actively manufactured as of 2010Actively manufactured as of 2010

microATXmicroATX

NLX Form FactorNLX Form Factor

New Low-profile ExtendedNew Low-profile Extended A standardized version of LPXA standardized version of LPX

Support for Accelerated Graphics Port Support for Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)(AGP)

Better thermal characteristicsBetter thermal characteristics Easy to maintainEasy to maintain

Motherboard replacements without screws!Motherboard replacements without screws! No longer in productionNo longer in production

NLX Form FactorNLX Form Factor

MOTHERBOARD FORM FACTORMOTHERBOARD FORM FACTOR

ReviewReview

What’s the most popular motherboard form What’s the most popular motherboard form factor?factor? ATX (Advance Technology Extended)ATX (Advance Technology Extended)

Which motherboard factor was designed to Which motherboard factor was designed to better dissipate heat?better dissipate heat? BTX (Balance Technology Extended)BTX (Balance Technology Extended)

Which now-defunct motherboard was easy to Which now-defunct motherboard was easy to maintain?maintain? NLX (New Low-Profile Extended)NLX (New Low-Profile Extended)

What You Had Learned What You Had Learned Today is:Today is:

Motherboard components, types and Motherboard components, types and features.features. Form FactorsForm Factors

ATX / BTXATX / BTX micro ATXmicro ATX NLXNLX