Date: Tue, 12 Nov 1996 12:32:59 -0500 From: Cat Okita <cat@uunet.ca> To: "Marc G. Fournier" <scrappy@ki.net> Cc: soward@service1.uky.edu, smp@FreeBSD.org, current@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: GigaByte GA-586DX-512 Motherboard Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.93.961112123120.3156I-100000@troll.uunet.ca> In-Reply-To: <Pine.NEB.3.95.961112114027.16175D-100000@quagmire.ki.net>
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On Tue, 12 Nov 1996, Marc G. Fournier wrote: > ATX case? What is ATX? ATX is a baseboard mechanical specification that addresses shortcomings in the Baby AT design. Think of ATX as a Baby AT board rotated 90 degrees so that the long side is to the rear of the chassis. This allows designers to add more on-board I/O, if they want. In addition, CPU and SIMM sockets are relocated to improve accessibility and eliminate interference with expansion slots. What are the main advantages? The ATX form-factor provides big advantages for manufacturers, integrators, and users of personal computers. For PC manufacturers, ATX brings the following benefits: 7 ATX allows use of higher integration and better design to reduce total system cost More on board I/O connectors reduce internal cabling and improve manufacturability 7 Relocated CPU and SIMM sockets allow easy access and dont interfere with add-in cards 7 All expansion slots support full length add-in cards 7 Improved layout allows a single fan to cool the entire baseboard, reducing cost and improving system acoustics 7 Double height flexible I/O supports multimedia requirements and highly integrated designs 7 Higher integration and less cabling means fewer emissions problems and easier CE mark certification with ATX based products 7 I/O supports future requirements like USB, video in/out, TV in/out, cable and ISDN 7 Single power connector located near the processor simplifies manufacturing and improves power trace routing 7 Floppy and IDE connectors are located close to peripheral bays to allow shorter cables 7 Mounting holes are defined to ease transition from Baby AT, allowing chassis to be designed that can accept ATX or Baby AT boards with minimal modification Advantages for Integrators and VARs For systems integrators and Value Added Resellers (VARs), ATX greatly eases the integration effort. With higher integration systems, there is less cable clutter and there are more empty expansion slots left for add-in card configuration; also, since the CPU and memory are relocated, these slots are all full length. Advantages for End Users For end users, ATX means better designed systems that are quieter, more reliable, easier to upgrade and easier to service. The improved layout gives the end user easy access to key components like memory and CPU sites, making upgrades much easier. Since all expansion slots in ATX systems are full length, end users need have no worries on fitting the latest full length multimedia upgrade boards in their systems.
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