Motherboard Form Factors

DOMAIN 3 - Hardware (OBJ 3.5)

Form factor - size, shape and layout of device; describes the number and type of adapter cards that can be installed within motherboard

When picking a motherboard, ask things like:

Form factor types:

ATX (Advanced Technology eXtended)
- Full size motherboards; can be put into any full size case
- Measure to be 12“ x 9.6“
- Have their expansion slots running parallel to the shorter side of the board
- Support rear port cluster that has integrated ports like video, audio, networking etc
- Only works in larger towers and cases
Mini-ATX
microATX (mATX)
- Measures 9.6“ squared
- Much smaller than ATX
- Has all same characteristics as full size ATX except it only has 4 expansion cards
ITX (Information Technology eXtended)
- Designed as replacement for ATX but never produced commercially
- Measures 6.7“ x 6.7“
- Only 1 expansion slot
Mini-ITX
- Measures 11.2“ x 8.2“
- Created for smaller PCs, smaller than regular ATX but still contains many of the same features as regular ATX motherboard
- Have their expansion slots running parallel to the shorter side of the board just like ATX
- Not used very often because they are almost same size as a full-size ATX board
- Support rear port cluster that has integrated ports like video, audio, networking etc

3 smaller variations of Mini-ITX include: