Newbie Question :o

[vivek]

Hi Friends,

I would like to ask a newbie question. So, please bear with me.
While going through the reivews of some of the motherboards, one of the rating factors is something called "Form Factor". What is a form factor and how should it be interpreted ?

Thanks in advance,

Warm Regards,

Vivek

 

[Henry Kuo]

the most common form factors out there are ATX and micro-ATX (there are some other formats, but either out of date or for server purposes). For both ATX and micro-ATX. the serial, parallel, USB(2), keyboard, mouse, game port, etc, are all integrated into the I/O aread at the back of the board.

The two formats differ in size. The size of micro-ATX is small, generally around 9 by 8 inches. ATX would be around 12 inches by 8.5 inches. Usually ATX boards will have more expansion slots (PCI, ISA, CNR, AMR, etc), and that's why we (hardware enthusiasts ) like it more. But micro-ATX boards are generally cheaper.

 

[Witor]

Before ATX and Micro-ATX, there was also the AT form factor, although you wont really need any info on that seeing as its rather defunct nowadays, unless you like collecting old PC's (p200 or older usually)

 

[Danlz]

...and, as Witor mentions, the AT has a different socket for connecting the power supply to the board. ATX and Micro ATX use the same (common) socket.