ATX

was developed as an evolution of the Baby AT form factor and was defined to address four areas of improvement: enhanced ease of use, better support for current and future I/O, better support for current and future processor technology, and reduced total system cost. The ATX is basically a Baby AT rotated 90 degrees and providing a new mounting configuration for the power supply. The processor is relocated away from the expansion slots, allowing them to hold full length add-in cards. The longer side of the board is used to host more on-board I/O. The ATX power supply, rather than blowing air out of the chassis, as in most Baby AT platforms, provides air-flow through the chassis and across the processor. Mini-ATX This form factor is basically the same as ATX with a smaller allowable board size. ATX = 12" x 9.6" Mini-ATX = 11.2" x 8.2" microATX This form factor was developed as a natural evolution of the ATX form factor to address new market trends and PC technologies. microATX supports: Current processor technologies The transition to newer processor technologies AGP high performance graphics solutions Smaller motherboard size Smaller power supply form factor FlexATX A subset of the microATX design. FlexATX offers the opportunity for system developers to create many new personal computer designs. FlexATX allows enhanced flexibility where conforming motherboards may be enclosed; that is, all-in-one computing devices, LCD-personal computers, or standard desktop systems. This form factor is designed to allow very custom case and board designs to be manufactured. For example; The NBA could commission computers that looked like basketballs. There is not too much limit on the shape of the board and case. We should see some very interesting system designs emerging from this form factor. Supports current socketed processor technologies Smaller motherboard size ATX 2.03 I/O panel Same mounting holes as microATX Socket only processors to keep the size small