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how do i know my motherboard form factor

by Chadrick Little Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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You can find out your motherboard form factor by checking the manual or the manufacturer’s website. And as far as the case is concerned, it is almost always listed explicitly in the article name or somewhere in the description so that you can know for sure.

Motherboard form factors are easily identified by their physical dimensions.
  1. An ATX motherboard size is 12 inches by 9.6 inches.
  2. An Extended ATX (EATX) measures 12 inches by 13 inches.
  3. A micro-ATX (mATX) motherboard measures 9.6 by 9.6 inches.
  4. A mini-ITX motherboard measures _6. 7 by 6.7 inche_s.

Full Answer

How to choose the right form factor for your motherboard?

When buying your form factor, consider its shape, what you need it for, the cost, as well as the size of your computer case. Some may require you to get another case to accommodate the new size or shape of the motherboard. Just before we go, let's look at some of the most frequently asked questions about motherboard form factors.

What distinguishes one motherboard from another?

Motherboards come in different sizes and specifications – the motherboard form factor is what distinguishes one motherboard from another. Keep reading and we will tell you all about it. What is a Motherboard Form Factor? The motherboard of any computer is analogous to the engine of a vehicle.

What type of motherboard do I need for my PC?

A micro ATX motherboard is ideal for you if you are a light user, and you only need a maximum of four PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) slots. 3. Motherboard Form Factor For Home and Office PC: Mini-ITX The Mini ITX motherboard is a smaller form factor ideal for light-duty PCs such as those used in homes or small offices.

What do the specifications on my Motherboard mean?

The specifications on your motherboard determine how your computer performs, which parts can be connected to it, power supply requirements, computer case size, and the functions that you can carry out on your machine.

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How do I know if my case is ATX?

PC cases themselves are often referred to by these three form factors, but the terms more accurately refer to the size of the motherboards they can host. ATX boards measure 12 by 9.6 inches, MicroATX up to 9.6 by 9.6 inches (they're sometimes smaller), and Mini-ITX 6.7 inches square.

How do I know what case fits my motherboard?

0:293:45How to know if your case is compatible with the rest of your buildYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if you want to go really tiny mining idx anyways all you have to do is check what size yourMoreAnd if you want to go really tiny mining idx anyways all you have to do is check what size your motherboard is and then make sure that your case supports that size next up let's check out the GPU.

What are the 3 main form factors of motherboards?

There are four primary motherboard form factors:Mini-ITX.Micro-ATX.ATX.E-ATX.

What is form factor of ATX motherboard?

The ATX form factor is a replacement for the older AT and baby AT form factors. Invented by Intel in 1995, it incorporates the first major change in the layout of PC motherboards to occur in years. The ATX motherboard rotates the orientation of the board 90 degrees.

Do all ATX motherboards fit ATX cases?

ATX motherboards can fit in most full-size and mid-size towers, but it's rare to find a small form factor case that can fit a full size ATX board. There are larger cases designed to support the larger Extended ATX standard motherboards which can usually take ATX boards too.

Is my motherboard ATX?

ATX motherboards are the largest commercial motherboards. They are also the most common. You can tell if your motherboard is ATX or not by either measuring it dimensions, which should be 12 x 9.6 inches (305 x 244mm), or by its name.

What is the difference between e ATX and ATX?

ATX is the standard form factor of the motherboard. EATX is nothing but a type of ATX with a bigger size. As of 2021, it is the de facto standard of the motherboard. EATX is the largest variant of the ATX board.

What is ITX vs ATX?

The main difference between ATX and ITX is that ATX has a standard size and is intended for use in standard PCs, have a high number of PCI slots and higher RAM capacity while an ITX is smaller than the standard size and are used in compact PCs usually meant for traveling.

Is microATX better than ATX?

As for pure advantages over the ATX, Micro-ATX takes up less space and can be used in a smaller PC case as a result. The smaller form makes the average cooling and airflow setup more efficient.

What is the most common motherboard form factor?

ATXThe most common form factor is ATX, which evolved to mini-ATX, nano-ATX, pico-ATX, and further. A different type of form factor, and smaller than the ATX is the ITX, which is significantly smaller than the micro-ATX. The ITX form factor can also be found as nano-ITX, pico-ITX, mobile-ITX, and more.

Does motherboard form factor matter?

Computer form factors are important for any potential PC builder or upgrader, because they're a fixed set of dimensions that assure components fit together, and dictate the size of your finished system. After all, the best motherboard for you is one that will fit in your case of choice.

What are the 3 types of motherboard?

Below are the six different types of Motherboards:AT Motherboard. These motherboards have bigger physical dimensions of hundreds of millimeters and hence they are not the right fit for the mini desktop category of computers. ... ATX Motherboard. ... LPX Motherboard. ... BTX Motherboard. ... Pico BTX motherboard. ... Mini ITX motherboard.

How do you know if a computer case will fit?

Size matters for PC cases Before anything else, decide what size case you need. There are three major case sizes: Full tower, mid-tower, and mini-ITX. Full-tower and mid-tower cases both fit standard ATX motherboards—by far the most common motherboard size out there. Both can also fit smaller micro-ATX motherboards.

How do I find out my motherboard size?

Find Motherboard Details with Command PromptSelect the Start menu and type cmd. ... At the command prompt, type the following command and press Enter on the keyboard: wmic baseboard get product,Manufacturer,version,serialnumber.When you press Enter, you'll see those four pieces of information about your motherboard.More items...•

What does U ATX mean?

In computer design, microATX (sometimes referred to as μATX, uATX or mATX) is a standard motherboard form factor introduced in December 1997. The maximum size of a microATX motherboard is 9.6 × 9.6 in (244 × 244 mm).

Does it matter what PC case I get?

A PC case matters for your PC's build and look. Regardless of how many parts you can afford, you will almost always be limited by what the PC case can hold. A good case will also have better ventilation that will protect your PC from overheating.

What is a Motherboard Form Factor?

The motherboard of any computer is analogous to the engine of a vehicle. It cannot run without one, and it also provides a central platform to which all other components are connected.

Why are motherboards changing?

Motherboard specifications have been changing as manufacturers upgrade their products to keep them compatible with emerging technologies. They have to stay up to date and compatible with the latest generation of a processor (CPU), graphics card, and random access memory (RAM).

What is a mini ITX motherboard?

The Mini ITX motherboard is a smaller form factor ideal for light-duty PCs such as those used in homes or small offices. Users love it most for its small size, affordability, and ease of installation.

What is the ATX form factor?

The ATX form factor was developed in 1995 as an upgrade of the AT. Standard ATX is the most common form factor, particularly on a desktop computer. A standard ATX motherboard supports state-of-the-art graphic cards and has several expansion slots for RAM. 2. Best Motherboard Form Factor For Light Usage: Micro-ATX.

What to consider when buying a form factor?

When buying your form factor, consider its shape, what you need it for, the cost, as well as the size of your computer case. Some may require you to get another case to accommodate the new size or shape of the motherboard.

Is the form factor good for servers?

This form factor is excellent for servers. It has more than one memory slot, which gives users the option of scaling their memory capacity.

Is a motherboard easy to upgrade?

This computer motherboard form factor is easy to upgrade, giving you the option of incorporating future innovations into your system.

What page has an image of the MB showing the mounting points?

Page 92 has an image of the MB showing the mounting points.

Do you want standoffs on a MB?

You don't want any MB standoffs touching the underside of the MB.

What form factor is a motherboard?

As a result, almost all consumer motherboards sold today belong to one of these form factors: Mini-ITX, MicroATX and ATX.

What are the characteristics of a motherboard?

Despite their difference in size and features, all three types of motherboards share a surprising number of common traits: 1. They can support the same CPU. As long as they are of the same generation, all three form factors will have the same CPU socket.

Do all three form factors have the same CPU socket?

As long as they are of the same generation, all three form factors will have the same CPU socket. This is a big deal, since it means that a Mini-ITX motherboard is able to pack as much as computing punch as its full-sized ATX cousin (provided you're not overclocking or going for top end CPUs like Intel-E).

Is the back panel of a motherboard the same size?

The space taken up by back panel ports and connectors (see image below) on a motherboard is about the same regardless of its size. Rather, the number and type of back panel ports on a motherboard are influenced by its price (expensive board = more and better ports).

Does motherboard size affect graphics card performance?

However, high-end graphics cards tend to be massive so most Mini-ITX cases (and some MicroATX ones) won't have enough space to accommodate these behemoths.#N#For those of you relying on integrated graphics, the good news is that motherboard size no longer affects graphics performance ever since Intel and AMD fused their graphics processing unit with the CPU (instead of leaving it on the motherboard).

Where is the motherboard info on my computer?

Sometimes you'll find the motherboard info written along the very edge of one of the sides of the motherboard, or in the very center near the CPU.

What is the size of a motherboard?

AT: The original motherboard, used in nearly all computers up until the Pentium 2. These measured 13.8 x 12 inches with 6-pin plugs and sockets for power. A smaller form factor of this motherboard, called "Baby ...

What is the form factor of a motherboard?

The form factor determines the type of case that will suit your motherboard perfectly without causing any issue to it. You will be able to find the perfect place for your motherboard with the help of the form factor.

Why do motherboards have form factors?

There are different motherboards with their degree of expandability. So when the motherboards come in different sizes and shape its regulation is known as the form factor. The form factors influence the performance of the motherboard as well because it specifies physical specifications.

Why is a large motherboard important?

The main benefit of the form factor is that it controls the extent of expansion of the device. Large motherboards come with a large number of slots that lead to greater expansion of different components of the motherboard. Large motherboards also provide extra slots and the small motherboards only come with a few extra slots. If you want maximum performance from your computer then you should go for a motherboard that provides extra slots and is large because it will be able to handle those heavy projects easily.

Why is it important to choose the right size case for a motherboard?

If you have a large sized motherboard then don’t go for a case that fits small motherboards.

What is the size of the ATX form factor?

This form factor is smaller than the standard ATX and measures 9.6 x 9.6 inches. This form factor is the most common one found in most everyday PCs.

What is the size of a motherboard?

It is important to regulate the performance of OEMs in motherboards. The first Form factor that was introduced was AT (Advanced Technology). Its size was 12 x 13.8 inches. With time there have been gradual improvements in form factors which lead to a reduction in their size. This helps contribute to the excellent performance of your motherboard.

What is the function of a form factor?

One of the major functions of the form factor is that it controls the size of the motherboard. Motherboards are available in different shapes and sizes and to have control over that it is very important to have a form factor. There are manufacturers that develop large motherboards with multiple expansion slots but this also causes issues when the motor board has to fit in the case and it becomes impossible to do so.

What does mid tower motherboard mean?

Starting with a mid-tower case usually means getting a full-ATX motherboard , but it’s important to remember that Micro ATX and Mini ITX still fit (they just leave more space in front and below the board).

Why is form factor important?

Computer form factors are important for any potential PC builder or upgrader, because they’re a fixed set of dimensions that assure components fit together, and dictate the size of your finished system. After all, the best motherboard for you is one that will fit in your case of choice.

Do power supplies have their own form factors?

Power supplies have their own form factors, which like motherboards are defined by dimensions that include mounting hole location . That doesn’t stop anyone (including reviewers) from misnaming them by motherboard form factor, even though ATX define s only the electrical standard for most consumer PC power supplies.

hiimbogo

I am looking to upgrade my case, but I do not know what form factor my motherboard is. I have a Dell Studio XPS 8100 with a Dell 0T568R motherboard that is a H57 chipset. If anyone can help my identify the form factor of this motherboard, I would greatly appreciate it.

ThunderShark

It appears to be a micro-atx form factor. 1 PCIe x16, 2 PCIe x1, 1 PCI slot?

hiimbogo

I can't get a good picture, but the motherboard appears to be about 9.5" by 10". It has one PCI-E x16 slot, two PCI-E x1 slot, and 1 PCI slot, if that helps.

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