DTX (form factor)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Computer form factors	PCB Size (mm)
WTX	356×425
AT	350×305
Baby-AT	330×216
BTX	325×266
ATX	305×244
LPX	330×229
NLX	254×228
microATX	244×244
DTX	244×203
FlexATX	229×191
Mini-DTX	203×170
EBX	203×146
microATX (Min.)	171×171
Mini-ITX	170×170
EPIC (Express)	165×115
Nano-ITX	120×120
COM Express	125×95
ETX / XTX	114×95
Pico-ITX	100×72
PC/104(-Plus)	96×90
microETXexpress
nanoETXexpress
mobile-ITX	75×45

The DTX form factor was announced to be in development by AMD on January 10, 2007. It is for small form factor PCs (especially for HTPCs) with dimensions of 203 mm by 244 mm,^[1] AMD stated that the DTX form factor is an open standard, and is backward compatible with ATX form factor cases. They also present a shorter variant named Mini-DTX which is smaller in PCB size of 203 mm by 170 mm.^[1]

The specification provides for up to 2 expansion slots on a DTX motherboard, in the same position as the top two slots on an ATX or microATX board. Upcoming DTX boards will likely contain one PCI Express slot and one PCI slot. The spec also provides for optional ExpressCard expansion slots on DTX motherboards.

[edit] Benefits

There are several benefits DTX provides to reduce production costs.^[2]

DTX will allow up to four motherboards – for low cost – per standard printed circuit board manufacturing panel sizes
Mini-DTX will allow up to six motherboards – for low cost – per standard printed circuit board manufacturing panel sizes
DTX motherboards can be manufactured in as few as four layers of printed circuit board wiring for motherboard cost savings
By leveraging backward-compatibility with ATX infrastructure, vendors may gain a low-cost DTX product offering with little development expense