ATX

ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) is a motherboard and power supply form factor and configuration specification developed by Intel. It aimed to improve on previous de facto standards such as the AT design. Originally released in July 1995, it was the first major change in desktop computer enclosure, motherboard and power supply design in many years, improving standardization and interchangeability of parts. ATX as a motherboard standard defines the dimensions of the board, the mounting points to connect with the computer case, the input/output (I/O) connector panel, expansion slot placement, and power supply connectors. ATX as a power supply form factor defines the dimensions, electrical current, and cables of a desktop power supply, designed specifically to be compatible with ATX and similar motherboards. ATX is a commonly used motherboard and power supply hardware form factor for desktop computers. The ATX form factor defined a general mounting point placement and I/O panel size that smaller motherboards share (such as microATX, FlexATX, and Mini-ITX), making them backwards compatible in many computer cases.