The A8N VM CSM, an ASUS microATX motherboard

microATX, also known as µATX (sometimes transliterated as mATX^[1] or uATX^[2][3] on online forums) is a small form factor standard for computer motherboards, with a maximum size of 9. Mini-ITX is a 17 x 17 cm (or 693 x 693 Inches) low-power Motherboard Form factor developed by VIA Technologies. Embedded Platform for Industrial Computing (EPIC is a computer Form factor standard put forth by a combined effort from WinSystems VersaLogic Octagon Systems Micro/sys Nano-ITX is a computer Motherboard form factor first proposed by VIA Technologies at CeBIT in March 2003, and implemented in late 2005 COM Express, a Computer-on-module (COM form factor is a highly integrated and compact PC that can be used in a design application much like an integrated circuit ETX, standing for Embedded Technology eXtended, is a highly integrated and compact (3 ETX, standing for Embedded Technology eXtended, is a highly integrated and compact (3 Pico-ITX is a PC Motherboard form factor announced by VIA Technologies in January 2007 and demonstrated later the same year at CeBIT. PC/104 (or PC104) is an Embedded computer standard controlled by the PC/104 Consortium which defines both a Form factor Mobile-ITX is the smallest x86 compliant Motherboard Form factor. ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated (Asus () ( is a Taiwan -based multinational company that produces Motherboards Graphics cards Optical drives Transliteration is the practice of Transcribing a Word or text written in one Writing system into another writing system or system of rules for such practice An, or message board, is a Bulletin board system in the form of a discussion site Small form factor ( SFF) computers are housed in smaller cases than typical Desktop computers While the term has no exact definition it generally includes A motherboard is the central or primary Printed circuit board (PCB making up a complex electronic system such as a modern Computer or Laptop 6 inches x 9. 6 inches (244 mm x 244 mm), but some uATX boards can be as small as 6. 75 inches by 6. 75 inches (171. 45 mm x 171. 45 mm)^[4]. The standard ATX size is 25% longer, at 305 mm × 244 mm (12" wide x 9. The ATX (for Advanced Technology Extended) form factor was created by Intel in 1995. 6" deep).

Currently available microATX motherboards support CPUs from VIA, Intel or AMD. VIA Technologies ( is a Taiwanese manufacturer of Integrated circuits mainly Motherboard Chipsets CPUs, and memory, and

Backward-compatibility

microATX was explicitly designed to be backward-compatible with ATX. In Technology, especially Computing (irrespective of platform a product is said to be backward compatible when it is able to take the place of an older product The mounting points of microATX motherboards are a subset of those used on full-size ATX boards, and the I/O panel is identical. Thus, microATX motherboards can be used in full-size ATX cases. Furthermore, most microATX motherboards generally use the same power connectors as ATX motherboards,^[5] thus permitting the use of full-size ATX power supplies with microATX boards.

microATX boards often use the same chipsets (northbridges and southbridges) as full-size ATX boards, allowing them to use many of the same components. A chipset is a group of Integrated circuits or chips that are designed to work together and are usually marketed as a single product The northbridge, also known as the memory controller hub ( MCH) in Intel systems (AMD VIA SiS and others usually use 'northbridge' is traditionally one The Southbridge, also known as the I/O Controller Hub ( ICH) in Intel systems (AMD VIA SiS and others usually However, since microATX cases are typically much smaller than ATX tower cases, they usually have fewer I/O ports and expansion slots. Small form factor ( SFF) computers are housed in smaller cases than typical Desktop computers While the term has no exact definition it generally includes A computer case (also known as the computer chassis, cabinet, tower, box, enclosure, housing or simply case Memory-mapped I/O ( MMIO) and port I/O (also called port-mapped I/O or PMIO) are two complementary methods of performing Input/output An expansion card (also expansion board, adapter card or accessory card) in Computing is a Printed circuit board that can be inserted

The smaller case allows for portability and is a space saving case.

Expandability

Most modern ATX motherboards have five or more PCI or PCI-Express expansion slots, while microATX boards typically have only three (four being the maximum permitted by the specification). The Peripheral Component Interconnect, or PCI Standard (commonly PCI) specifies a Computer bus for attaching peripheral devices to a Computer Not to be confused with PCI-X, a different bus architecture Peripheral Component Interconnect Express, officially abbreviated as PCI-E In order to conserve expansion slots and case space, many manufacturers produce microATX motherboard with a full-range of integrated peripherals (especially integrated graphics), which may serve as the basis for small form factor and media center PCs. A motherboard is the central or primary Printed circuit board (PCB making up a complex electronic system such as a modern Computer or Laptop Small form factor ( SFF) computers are housed in smaller cases than typical Desktop computers While the term has no exact definition it generally includes The term media center refers either to a dedicated Computer appliance or to a specialized Personal computer Software, both of which are adapted for For example, the Asus A8N-VM CSM motherboard (pictured right) features onboard GeForce 6 graphics, AC97 audio, and gigabit Ethernet (among others) thus freeing up the expansion slots that would have been used for a graphics card, sound card, and Ethernet card. ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated (Asus () ( is a Taiwan -based multinational company that produces Motherboards Graphics cards Optical drives The GeForce 6 Series ( Codenamed NV40) is Nvidia 's sixth generation of GeForce graphics chipsets. AC'97 (short for Audio Codec '97) is Intel Corporation 's Audio " Codec " standard developed by the Intel Architecture Labs Gigabit Ethernet (GbE or 1 GigE is a term describing various technologies for transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of a gigabit per second, as defined by the

In addition, some MicroATX cases require the use of Low-Profile PCI cards. The Peripheral Component Interconnect, or PCI Standard (commonly PCI) specifies a Computer bus for attaching peripheral devices to a Computer

References

External links

• microATX Motherboard Interface Specification (PDF) (English) 23. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Intel Corporation. Retrieved on 2006-09-10. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde.