Intel abandoning BTX?

[programmer]

Has Intel given up on the BTX form factor already? They are practically no BTX motherboards or cases available, and even Intel themselves have only released ATX/microATX motherboards with their latest chipsets (925/955).

Is BTX dead?

 

[programmer]

Reading around other forums, it sounds like it may just now be getting off the ground (or at least attempting to do so). Gateway and Dell are starting to offer some BTX systems.

 

[Aenslead]

Anand did a review a while ago, and decided it was not that great at all. Also, motherboard makers seem very skeptical on the subject, since it would afect them directly, not to mention the case makers. It is yet ANOTHER bad move from Intel.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Intel badly botched the roll-out and support. Announce a product as ready for prime time, then leave it out in the breeze. BTX really is a better way of building a computer. The only boards are Intel's with the 915 chips. From what I'm told, the 915 was a real lame duck to begin with.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
Intel badly botched the roll-out and support. Announce a product as ready for prime time, then leave it out in the breeze. BTX really is a better way of building a computer. The only boards are Intel's with the 915 chips. From what I'm told, the 915 was a real lame duck to begin with.

Well BTX is designed to address thermal issues with hotter Prescott chips. The concept is decent, but the whole delivery of the concept has been low-key and relatively botched.

 

[epiv]

I hate Intel's way of doing things. They can achieve the cooling function with a standard that is backward and forward compatibility with ATX. Why does Intel want us to throw out our ATX case?

 

[Mickey21]

I am all for ATX staying around, I cant see enough benefit from the BTX standard... Maybe they should quit trying to dictate the computing direction and start working harder at making more efficient and cooler processors.... Next they'll all be trying to convince us to move to Antarctica to have faster processors...

 

[darkswordsman17]

Yeah BTX doesn't seem that good to me. I can understand it in SFF PCs and the like, but not in mid-full towers.

I think that the case makers aren't making any BTX cases because there aren't motherboards to go in them, and the motherboard makers aren't because there aren't cases and other things to go in them.

Most of the BTX boards I've seen have terrible layouts as well. I don't understand why they would throw the power connectors and IDE and SATA connectors where the cables will cover all over the board and limit the airflow.

 

[mohjong]

Intel ordered about 900 BTX cases from us for shows and demostrations (they've tested on 915 and 945 MBs). So I think the future is bright. In fact ASI already ordered all our remaining stock (I can't even get one for myself).

 

[filterxg]

I hope you guys are right. Except in SFF cases, I see no reason for BTX. However, Anandtech predicted 2007 before we are all forced to switch. I'm hoping its more like 2010 or 2013.

 

[erikistired]

i think it's awesome there are so many computer engineers here who have done the research and modeling and everything else to make such astute observations as "i don't think it's necessary and i don't see where it would help."

 

[StormRider]

I hope it dies -- I have invested too much in ATX cases (I have 10 of them sitting around here)

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: StormRider
I hope it dies -- I have invested too much in ATX cases (I have 10 of them sitting around here)

That's like saying "I hope I don't get stuck with all these 8-Track players I bought."

Nobody's forced to change, as ATX will be around for many years.

I'm stoked at the BTX prototypes I saw here.