What Devices Use The M.2 Slot? At the moment, M.2 is primarily used as an interface for super-fast SSDs, both on laptops and desktops. If you walk into a computer hardware store and ask for an M.2 drive—assuming you can find a retail computer store still in operation, of course—they’ll almost certainly show you an SSD with an M.2 connector.
Mini Itx Spec
microATX (sometimes referred to as μATX, uATX[1] or mATX)[2] is a standard for motherboards that was introduced in December 1997.[3] The maximum size of a microATX motherboard is 9.6 × 9.6 in (244 × 244 mm). The standard ATX size is 25% longer, at 12 × 9.6 in (305 × 244 mm).
Currently available microATX motherboards support CPUs from VIA, Intel or AMD.
Backward compatibility[edit]
microATX was explicitly designed to be backward-compatible with ATX. The mounting points of microATX motherboards are a subset of those used on full-size ATX boards, and the I/O panel is identical. Thus, microATX motherboards can be used in full-size ATX cases. Furthermore, most microATX motherboards generally use the same power connectors as ATX motherboards,[4] thus permitting the use of full-size ATX power supplies with microATX boards.
microATX boards often use the same chipsets (northbridges and southbridges) as full-size ATX boards, allowing them to use many of the same components. However, since microATX cases are typically much smaller than ATX cases, they usually have fewer expansion slots.
Expandability[edit]
Most modern ATX motherboards have a maximum of seven PCI or PCI-Express expansion slots, while microATX boards only have a maximum of four (four being the maximum permitted by the specification). In order to conserve expansion slots and case space, many manufacturers produce microATX motherboard with a full range of integrated peripherals (especially integrated graphics), which may serve as the basis for small form factor and media center PCs. For example, the ASRockG31M-S motherboard (pictured right) features onboard Intel GMA graphics, HD Audio audio, and Realtek Ethernet (among others), thus freeing up the expansion slots that would have been used for a graphics card, sound card, and Ethernet card. In recent years, however, it is common even for ATX boards to integrate all these components, as much of this functionality is contained in the typical northbridge/southbridge pair. With the 'must-have' functions already present on the motherboard, the need for having many expansion slots has faded, and adoption of microATX has increased even to be used in ATX cases.
In the DIY PC market, microATX motherboards in general are favored by cost-conscious buyers, where cost savings for the equivalent feature sets outweigh the added expandability of extra PCI/PCI Express slots provided by the full ATX versions. Since 2006, dual-GPU configurations became possible on microATX motherboards for high-end enthusiast gaming setups, further reducing the need for full ATX motherboards.[5]
In addition, some microATX cases require the use of low-profile PCI cards[6] and use power supplies with non-standard dimensions.[7]
Compared to Mini-ITX, microATX motherboards have a maximum of four expansion slots and four DIMM slots, as opposed to the single expansion slot and two DIMM (or SO-DIMM[8]) slots on Mini-ITX motherboards. This means that microATX allows dual-graphics card and quad-channel memory configurations.[9]
References[edit]
- ^Ganesh T S (30 October 2015). 'ASRock Rack Launches Xeon D Motherboards'. AnandTech.
- ^Branton. 'mATX vs ATX motherboard – What should you use for your gaming PC?'. PC Game Haven. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
- ^Mueller, Scott (2003). Upgrading and Repairing PCs. Pearson Education. p. 211. ISBN978-0-7897-2974-3.
- ^As of 2007, most motherboards follow the ATX12V 2.2 specification, which provides for a 24-pin main power connector, and a 4-pin auxiliary connector.
- ^'EVGA - Community - Introducing the NF44'. EVGA Corporation. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- ^'SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.- INTRODUCTION：ML03'. SilverStone Technology. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- ^'Cooler Master: Mini 210'. Cooler Master. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- ^'ASRock > Q1900B-ITX'. ASRock. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
- ^'Head 2 Head: Mini-ITX vs. MicroATX Systems'. Maximum PC. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
The DTXform factor is a variation of ATX specification[1] designed especially for small form factor PCs (especially for HTPCs) with dimensions of 8 × 9.6 inches (203 × 244 mm).[2] An industry standard intended to enable interchangeability for systems similar to Shuttle's original 'SFF' designs,[3]AMD announced its development on January 10, 2007. AMD stated that the DTX form factor is an open standard, and is backward compatible with ATX form factor cases. They also present a shorter variant named Mini-DTX which is smaller in PCB size of 8 × 6.7 inches (203 × 170 mm).[2]
The specification provides for up to 2 expansion slots on a DTX motherboard, in the same position as the top two slots on an ATX or microATX board. The spec also provides for optional ExpressCard expansion slots on DTX motherboards.
Comparison[edit]
Simply speaking, DTX is a shorter version of ATX and micro-ATX, and Mini-DTX is a slightly longer version of Mini-ITX. Mini-iTX can have only one expansion slot, whereas Mini-DTX has the same width and can have two expansion slots.
| Specification | Year | Dimensions of motherboard | Expansion slots |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATX | 1995 | 12 × 9.6 in (305 × 244 mm) | 7 |
| microATX | 1997 | 9.6 × 9.6 in (244 × 244 mm) | 4 |
| DTX | 2007 | 8 × 9.6 in (203 × 244 mm) | 2 |
| mini-DTX | 8 × 6.7 in (203 × 170 mm) | 2 | |
| mini-ITX | 2001 | 6.7 × 6.7 in (170 × 170 mm) | 1 |
Benefits[edit]
There are several benefits DTX provides to reduce production costs.[4]
- DTX will allow up to four motherboards – for low cost – per standard printed circuit board manufacturing panel sizes
- Mini-DTX will allow up to six motherboards – for low cost – per standard printed circuit board manufacturing panel sizes
- DTX motherboards can be manufactured in as few as four layers of printed circuit board wiring for motherboard cost savings
- By leveraging backward-compatibility with ATX infrastructure, vendors may gain a low-cost DTX product offering with little development expense
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'ATX Specification is inch-based'. Archived from the original on 2008-11-08. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
- ^ ab'DailyTech report'. Archived from the original on 2007-01-12. Retrieved 2007-01-11.
- ^Early SFF Description
- ^AMD Press Release