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A number of standard and proprietary form factors have evolved for motherboards in
personal computers, some more successful than others. In an attempt to reduce the
space requirements of computer systems, Western Digital introduced their proprietary Low
Profile eXtension (LPX) form factor in the early 1990s. The format relied on the
use of a riser board, mounted at right-
The Balanced Technology eXtended (BTX) form factor was proposed by Intel in 2004 as the successor to the popular ATX format, and introduced a number of new features including changes to the layout of the board designed to improve component placement, enhancing airflow inside the case and reducing the number of cooling fans needed (which has the additional benefit of making the system run more quietly). Unfortunately, the layout makes the format incompatible with processors that require a specific orientation relative to the board's memory slots. Whether because of this or for other reasons, the BTX form factor has never attained the popularity enjoyed by ATX and its variants, which continue to dominate the market. Whereas the popularity of the ATX format has ensured that there are a wide range of compatible and competitively priced products available for it, standardised and inexpensive components for BTX systems are comparatively hard to find. In addition, advances in processor technology have resulted in processors that are more compact and generate less heat than has previously been the case. This has reduced the need for the kind of improvements in airflow that BTX was designed to bring about. Intel themselves ceased development of BTX products as of 2006.
Although popular with OEMs for a few years, LPX had a number of limitations. The
number of expansion slots was limited, the system was difficult to upgrade or repair
due to its proprietary format and the low availability of compatible parts, and poor
airflow inside the chassis could lead to cooling problems. The format was revised
by Intel and standardised in the shape of the New Low-
Layout of a typical ATX motherboard -
The Motherboard ~ Part #2
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