CertiGuide to A+ (A+ 4 Real)  9  Chapter 8: Motherboards       9  The Future of Motherboards

FlexATX 1 ATX12V

Not on the (current) A+ 220-301 test however showing up, but in the big test of life is the Balanced Technology eXended, an Intel set of specifications. The main considerations of BTX are improving airflow and strict adherence to “volume zones” for subsystems such as drives. As I/O speeds have increased with entries such as Serial ATA and PCI Express, I/O placement has become a critical part of maintaining performance.

Specifications call for three different BTX boards. They are:

• BTX: 7 slots, 325.12 mm maximum width
  
  
• microBTX: 4 slots, 264.16 mm maximum width
  
  
• picoBTX: 1 slot, 206.20 mm maximum width

In the BTX line up, there is a new set of power connectors. The larger one titled “main power connector” is a keyed 2 by 12 connector featuring 12/5/3.3 VDC. Due to the increased demand for 12 DVC for motors, a separate 2 by 2 connector called +12 Power Connector features 12 separate 12 DVC lines. Both connectors are required for BTX designs.

As seen above motherboards are closely coupled with power supplies our chat would not be complete without a review. Therefore, up next we will glance at Power to the people, er no. Power to the system in ways not discussed above.

FlexATX 1 ATX12V