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Case Confusion: What does ATX even mean?

By November 29, 2016 No Comments

Breaking Down Form Factors (ATX, Mini-ITX, etc)

Here are a few different ATX form factors. Steam controller for scale.

Here are a few different ATX form factors for motherboards. Steam controller for scale.

 

If you’re new to the PC world (welcome!), sometimes a lot of specifications can be overwhelming. A major aspect of modern computing is the form factor of the computer in use, and Syber is here to give you the lowdown on what a lot of these terms mean. ATX (and similar terms) refers to the form factor of a motherboard, but the term is often used liberally to describe case and component form, which we’ll use here. The Syber computers are built with end-use in mind, so take a gander at our machines below and see what works best for your gaming needs.

ATX

This is a Syber M Series with a mid-size tower case.

This is a Syber M Series with a mid-size tower case.

“Advanced Technology eXtended” is a form factor developed by Intel. The vast majority of PCs on the market use cases that fit the form factor specification. The Syber M uses Mid-size towers that allow for a large range of expandability. Let’s say the internal gears on your optical disc drive give out–you can simply have the drive replaced instead of having it shipped off and repaired. Is your console overheating? The cases for the M Series can fit extra 240-280mm radiators to keep the heat off.

Ultra ATX / E-ATX / XL-ATX

These form factors only fit in full-size towers, but the options increase from here. You can keep your system cool with more case fans. Exploring triple 4K monitors is not out of the question if you combine your graphics cards. That beats a single monitor any day. If you’re an extremist and love to keep all your games installed, you can use the extra drive bays to install several terabytes of storage space–you can literally keep your entire Steam library local. You don’t have to wait for downloads or clear off other games–everything is stored locally.

Mini-ITX

The Syber S, V, and C Series all use Mini-ITX which is a compact form factor used in home entertainment builds.

The Syber S, V, and C Series all use Mini-ITX which is a compact form factor used in home entertainment builds.

The Mini-ITX form factor was developed by VIA Technologies in 2001. The benefits of having a small size, low noise, and minimal power consumption caught the eye of case modders and Mini-ITX became a staple for case mods and extreme computing. Our C, Steam, and Vapor Series use the Mini-ITX form factor and are equipped with proper cooling mechanisms to ensure your entertainment doesn’t burn out. If you’d rather just game solely on Steam and don’t want to bother with other PC functions, the Syber Steam Series is a perfect choice. Plus, the C-Series is VR ready–try out the HTC Vive!

We’re proud to offer a range of computers with different form factors. Review your options and see what kind of Syber computer fits your budget, lifestyle, and space demands.