AMD Aims At New Standard for Motherboards

alexwcovington writes "CBC reports that AMD is launching DTX, a new motherboard layout about the size of micro-ATX. Their goal is to provide a small, energy efficient board that's compatible with as much hardware as possible. In the DTX, they're hoping to produce a new standard for desktops, and somewhat reverse the decline in consumer interest. From the article: 'Most desktops still have motherboards that operate using a standard laid out in 1995 by Intel called ATX, which stands for Advanced Technology Extended. ATX was designed to allow everything from memory cards to mouse ports to have a standardized spot alongside the central processing unit on a typical desktop motherboard. While there have been other standards since, ATX remains the most common standard for desktops, though its design is not suited for smaller, more energy-efficient desktops, AMD said.' Ars Technica has further details on the board."

Re:hmm BTX style?

[archen]

Cases are part of the problem. Intel realized this and that's part of what BTX is about, and I have to say the design really makes sense. Move air in a reasonable fashion through the case for more effective cooling. Current CPU cooling is totally asinine in the way you smash air directly against the heatsink to spill the hot air out in random directions throughout the case. It wasn't a problem back in the 486 days when you consider the microscopic fan size, but now it's truly beyond help.

I'm not sure who this thing is really targeted at. BTX at least was focused on replacing ATX as a better alternative. AMD admits that it wants to drive up desktop sales because laptops are now dominating computer purchasing more. They then cite that desktops are more upgradeable than laptops. Then it says the DTX will have ONE pcie slot. What is DTX trying to accomplish? A platform trying to capture the Mac Mini market I'm guessing (however big that is).

They might fare better than Intel's dead BTX....

[madhatter256]

With AMD now announcing this new form factor. They can take a look at what made the BTX standard fail. I just hope AMD doesn't do what Intel did that limited the BTX standard and that is to not shut out Intel from the DTX standard. The BTX was strictly for Intel CPUs since the 775 socket. The BTX was lay out was to simply have the CPU near the front of the desktop where the cool air enters the computer. THis was possible since the 775 CPUs still utilizes a northbridge to communicate with the memory. AMD couldn't apply itself to the BTX since its memory controller is on the CPU. DTX should allow Intel to be able to apply itself towards the standard if they want to see third party board makers and chipset makers create products for the DTX. If AMD achieves that, then the DTX has a chance taking over ATX.

The ATX is just way out of date but soo common and cheap that manufacturers continue to utilize it.

It is about time a big company like AMD, and soon Intel (they haven't officially announced any plans to start focusing on more efficient products), start focusing more on energy efficiency right next to better processing power.

Re:Might be just me

[n1hilist]

http://www.bit-tech.net/news_images/amd_announces_ dtx_for_small_form_factor/article_img.jpg [bit-tech.net]

photos to the rescue:

[Bananatree3]

dailytech.com [dailytech.com] and thetechlounge.com [thetechlounge.com] have some great photos:.

A guess: Ati?

[QueePWNzor]

AMD and ATI merged recently. ATI is pushing CrossFire, two cards together. Most non-full-ATX boards can handle this. Will the DTX? They want to share technology, and this would be the perfect (though risky) opportunity. Though, of course, it would not be exclusive. I have heard some crazy stories of how to cool down dual-ATI uber-cards, so maybe the "low power" aspect can help this, too. Just speculation, though.

Re:Bleh

[Anonymous Coward]

In the consumer market your statement is questionable - plenty of people want a PC at a desk. Pound for pound a desktop is better value for money - and the fact that the big manufacturers still pump out many many more desktops than laptops vindicates this.

In the business world you are completely wrong. Expensive, easily breakable (spill coffee over keyboard - oh fuck - that's $1000 wasted - spill coffee over desktop keyboard - oh dear, that $10 wasted), not value for money, poor screen size, easily stealable - this comparative list of disadvantages goes on and on - to the extend that other than for folks on the move regularly and for the boss who can have one if he wants as an extra - the vast majority of business machines are desktops - pretty much sinks your hypothesis.

Re:Bleh

[Wdomburg]

Two words - corporate sales. The market is a lot larger than retail and the preference is still for desktop machines (lower cost, lower theft). There is certainly demand for a lower cost alternative to current systems though. Expect the market to shift to SFF machines running "notebook" drives.

Even within the confines retail market, unit sales still favour desktop systems; notebooks have only outstripped desktops in terms of dollars spend due to the unit price being approximately $400 higher.

VGA? Not dual DVI

[gr8_phk]

It looks like they accept 1 DVI and one VGA connector. It doesn't look like it will fit 2 DVI connectors. IMHO it should have been made to accomodate 2 DVI or one of each, but there doesn't appear to be room. I for one and finnished with VGA and will only use DVI-D in the future.

Re:hmm BTX style?

[Ramble]

Performance decreases would be pretty big. Plus, you need to make interconnects and cut the boards into two which is bound to waste more space. Also, massive things like graphics cards are not going to fit.

Re:Dell, Gateway, HP and Sony have all pretty much

[Constantine XVI]

*BZZZZZZT*

Wrong Answer.
<URL:http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=btx+amd&b tnG=Search+Froogle&lmode=online&cat=1375&lnk=catsu gg>
0 results for BTX mobos for AMD
Regardless of the benefits, Intel has decided to cancel BTX development as of Sep 06.
Stuffing ATX boards in BTX cases might happen though

Re:Might be just me

[Anonymous Coward]

http://images.google.com/images?q=AMD+DTX [google.com]