Motherboard Form Factors PDF

Book Title: eTextbook: CompTIA A+ Guide to IT Technical Support Motherboard Types and Features Motherboard Form Factors Motherboard Form Factors Core 1 Objective 3.4 Given a scenario, install and configure motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), and add-on cards. The mo...

Book Title: eTextbook: CompTIA A+ Guide to IT Technical Support Motherboard Types and Features Motherboard Form Factors Motherboard Form Factors Core 1 Objective 3.4 Given a scenario, install and configure motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), and add-on cards. The motherboard form factor determines the size of the board and its features that make it compatible with power supplies and cases. The most popular motherboard form factors are ATX, microATX (a smaller version of ATX, sometimes called the mATX), Extended ATX (E-ATX) (a larger version of ATX), and Mini-ITX, also called mITX (a smaller version of microATX). Figure 2-2 shows an ATX board. You saw a microATX motherboard in Figure 2-1. A Mini- ITX board is shown in Figure 2-3. The Mini-ITX board is also commonly referred to as an ITX board. Figure 2-2 Source: asus.com The ASUS Prime Z590-A motherboard uses the ATX form factor  Figure 2-3 Source: Courtesy of ASUSTeK Computer, Inc. A Mini-ITX motherboard 70 Table 2-1 lists form factor sizes and descriptions, and Figure 2-4 shows a comparison of the sizes and hole positions of three ATX boards. Each of those three boards can fit into an ATX computer case and use an ATX power supply. Table 2-1 Five Motherboard Form Factors Form Motherboard Size Description Factor ATX, full Up to 12” × 9.6” (305 A popular form factor that size mm × 244 mm) has had many revisions and variations MicroATX Up to 9.6” × 9.6” (244 A smaller version of ATX (mATX) mm × 244 mm) Extended Up to 12” × 13” (305 A larger version of ATX ATX (E- mm × 330 mm) ATX) ITX (Mini- Up to 6.7” × 6.7” (170 A small form factor (SFF) ITX and mm × 170 mm) board used in low-end mITX) computers and home theater systems; the boards are often used with an Intel Celeron or Atom processor and are sometimes purchased as a motherboard-processor combo unit Figure 2-4 Details Sizes and hole positions for the ATX, microATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards Exam Tip The A+ Core 1 exam expects you to know how to match up an ATX or ITX motherboard with the appropriate case and power supply that support the same form factor.