In my humble opinion, the ATX commonplace is damaged. The PCs we all know and love have developed a lot over the past 30 years. Small revisions and additions to the usual aren’t assembly the wants and necessities of a 2024 period PC, to say nothing of the calls for of a PC as we transfer in direction of—and into the 2030’s.
ATX (Superior Expertise Prolonged) is a motherboard and energy provide configuration specification launched by Intel in 1995. Its objective is to outline the essential fundamentals of our PCs. Should you take a look at the internals of a PC from the mid 90’s and evaluate it to 1 right this moment, the structure is well recognizable.
At its most elementary, ATX exists to make sure compatibility throughout the PC ecosystem. In idea, any ATX motherboard could be put in into any ATX case with any ATX energy provide. The size, mounting factors, the form and site of the I/O panel and the positioning of the growth slots are key to this.
Over time the ATX commonplace has undergone many revisions and expansions. Essentially the most well-known of those are the addition of the microATX and Mini-ITX requirements, although there are others extra related to workstation and enterprise motherboards. Prolonged ATX is one we frequently see in high-end client motherboards.
PC energy provides are additionally required to fulfill sure specs. That features the bodily connectors and the requirement to produce varied voltages inside tolerances. These embody the 12V, 5V and three.3V rails, in order that it ensures compatibility with—hopefully—all motherboards.
The newest main ATX energy provide revision is ATX 3.0, which was launched in February of 2022. ATX 3.1 is coming this 12 months. It introduces the 12V-2×6 16-pin connector which may provide 600W of energy to the thirstiest graphics playing cards. It replaces the problem susceptible 12VHPWR connector, which has not precisely gone properly.
There are a large number of the reason why I imagine there is a want for an ATX alternative. These embody the rise of M.2, the bodily measurement and calls for of recent graphics playing cards, cooling necessities, energy effectivity, cable administration, and the necessity to put together for future applied sciences.
However there are some components of the usual which might be completely wonderful. The positioning of the rear I/O panel and the motherboard mounting factors are two options which have stood the check of time.
M.2 wasn’t even a twinkle in daddy Intel’s eye 30 years in the past
I am going to start with M.2. I’ve beforehand outlined the explanations why I feel M.2 is a poor answer. It is acquired nothing to do with the efficiency of a speedy NVMe M.2 drive, it is all to do with the bodily, electrical, and cooling calls for it locations on a contemporary system. Lately, motherboard designs are just about dominated by M.2 slots, and there was nothing like them when ATX was launched in 1995.
Ditching M.2 in favor of an alternate kind issue would take away the need for expansive motherboard mounted heatsinks, it will unlock motherboard PCB area for different elements (or make them cheaper), they usually require inefficient 3.3V energy.
For some purpose, competing cabled requirements together with U.2 and U.3 connections have by no means taken off within the client area. U.3 consists of help for 12V energy. Eradicating 3.3V help would repair one of many inefficiencies of recent ATX energy provides. However, I am going to get to that shortly.
A U.3 drive might incorporate cooling right into a 2.5-inch SSD chassis. Such a drive would require the *shock* routing of a cable. However, that could possibly be simply solved by placing the connectors on the rear of the motherboard, which brings me to my subsequent level.
Make bottom cable connectors obligatory
Mounting all the motherboard connectors and headers on the rear of the motherboard can be one of many simpler adjustments to mandate. Motherboard producers are already experimenting on this regard, with MSI’s Challenge Zero and Asus’ BTF ideas being distinguished examples.
Rear mounted motherboard connectors enhance aesthetics and case airflow. It could additionally make the system simpler to entry. M.2 drives are a ache to put in, whereas a SATA (or U.3) SSD could possibly be merely and simply mounted and hooked up with not one of the fiddliness of M.2 drives.
One other instance many builders have in all probability come throughout is the problem of accessing the EPS energy connectors when you’ve got high mounted followers or an AIO cooler put in. Rear mounted connectors fully take away this situation, and others prefer it, resembling cables that connect to headers alongside the underside of the motherboard. They are often tough to entry when you’ve got a PSU shroud instantly under them, or have growth playing cards put in.
So, bottom motherboard connectors make your system look higher, enhance case airflow, are comparatively straightforward for motherboard producers to implement, and make system modifications simpler. It is a no brainer.
Graphics playing cards have change into bodily dominant
Altering the discrete graphics card kind issue is way simpler mentioned than achieved. It is nearly laughable how bodily massive a contemporary high-performance graphics card is. Evaluate them to the heatsink-less single slot designs from the 1990’s! Apparently, although, a quad slot RTX 4090 can theoretically be put in into an ATX case from 30 years in the past when single slot, half size passive playing cards have been widespread.
A contemporary graphics card nonetheless must be put in right into a slot that bodily differs little from the AGP slots of the 1990’s. The identical could be mentioned of a case’s growth slots. Anti-sag brackets handle the burden facet, however the purpose they exist in any respect is proof that trendy graphics playing cards are nothing like their 1990’s ancestors. Their dimensions and weight, together with runaway energy and cooling calls for have come too far to be sustainable. What’s subsequent? 600W five-slot playing cards? That is ridiculous.
This brings me to the tough half. I might wish to see a brand new graphics card kind issue. A big graphics card already protrudes above the highest of the I/O bracket. Why not take {that a} step additional? As an alternative of a card that is 140mm tall, why not make it 180mm? Makers might set up larger CFM, decrease RPM followers which might be quieter, whereas permitting the playing cards themselves to be thinner or shorter. You may mount them vertically, away from the motherboard, not in contrast to you are able to do with riser cables now. That manner we would not should resort to instances which might be extra like cubes than the oblong towers they’re now.
the PCIe graphics card kind issue we all know and love is trending in an unsustainable path.
Another choice can be to go in the wrong way, so, to illustrate a card takes up 5 or 6 slots. In idea, a GPU cooler might incorporate a single 120mm or 140mm fan to direct cool air from the entrance of the case over an enormous heatsink floor space and straight out the rear of the case. That concept could possibly be a bit foolish, although.
That is only a spitballing of concepts, however with graphics playing cards trending upwards in energy consumption, which implies ever steeper cooling necessities, the PCIe graphics card kind issue we all know and love is trending in an unsustainable path.
The case for ATX12VO
Firstly, the 20-pin and now commonplace 24-pin energy connectors are relics. It would not be exhausting to make them bodily smaller, together with the 8-pin EPS connectors. However, there’s an current commonplace that addresses that, amongst different issues. It is referred to as ATX12VO, developed by Intel in 2019. Its important declare to fame is that it provides 12V DC energy solely.
The issue with ATX (and SFX) energy provides is that they carry the legacies of prior a long time. Lately, PCs rely much more closely on the 12V rail of the facility provide. System elements that require 3.3V (resembling M.2 drives) or 5V (USB) might use motherboard mounted step-down circuitry to produce the facility these gadgets require. The motherboard is already required to route these voltages anyway.
The upside is that ATX12VO energy provides can be a lot less complicated in design with higher effectivity. Meaning a mix of much less waste warmth and decrease energy consumption, an extended lifespan and cheaper buy value.
One of many potential obstacles I see is the rise of USB Energy Supply. ATX12VO PCs with a number of USB-PD supporting ports can be difficult for motherboard makers to implement.
ATX12VO might be the change I might award the bottom precedence to. I might like to see higher effectivity and thousands and thousands of ATX12VO energy provides combining to decrease international vitality consumption, however the ongoing improvement of ATX energy provides, with ATX 3.0 and three.1 being the newest examples, means ATX12VO has a steep—however not insurmountable climb forward of it, if it is to ever see widespread adoption.
As we transfer in direction of the 2030’s there shall be new issues
It is just a little exhausting to see into the crystal ball and predict a few of the adjustments to return. One instance that involves thoughts is that if or when optical interconnects change into viable. System energy consumption continues to rise, and there is a want for higher effectivity that is sooner, with decrease latency. Optical interconnects are one thing we’ll absolutely hear extra about within the years forward. What should you might get by with out the necessity for PCIe slots?
Because the mid 1990’s PCs have required SDRAM, DDR1, DDR2 and so forth. Their bodily dimensions stay basically the identical, even when they don’t seem to be suitable. A few weeks in the past, I wrote a narrative after recognizing an Asus ROG motherboard with SO-DIMM slots, and it acquired me excited about how desktop PC reminiscence might do with a bodily change, if solely to create just a little bit of additional PCB area for an additional M.2 slot.
Would possibly we see one thing much like CAMM reminiscence within the years forward? How about optical RAM? It is good to consider, however truthfully, we’re much more more likely to have the identical RGB geared up DDR7 in 10 years from now. Regardless of the case, a smaller RAM footprint wouldn’t go astray, if the business might get on board with it.
Lastly, simply how excessive will CPU TDP’s go? Lengthy gone are the times of flagship 65W CPUs that would get by with a easy air cooler. The ATX commonplace would not particularly handle the topic of cooling, but when CPU TDPs begin reaching ludicrous 500W ranges, it’s one thing that must be thought-about. The world required for monstrous VRM options and heatsinks to tame them should be factored right into a future commonplace.
Keep in mind BTX?
Ahh, do you bear in mind BTX? That was Intel’s try to exchange the ATX motherboard kind issue within the mid-2000’s with one thing extra related within the twenty first century. Other than a number of ideas and OEM programs, BTX got here and went with a whimper.
It did have some fascinating properties, certainly one of which was swapping the positioning of the I/O panel and growth slots. It additionally gave the CPU ‘first dibs’ on incoming case airflow. Some programs had the power to vertically mount the graphics card, and even have it positioned reverse the motherboard, permitting airflow to maneuver extra freely although the case.
It was developed to deal with the extreme warmth points affecting Intel’s Pentium 4 period CPUs. Historical past is repeating…
BTX was a novel concept, and one which had some actual benefits. It was developed to deal with the extreme warmth points affecting Intel’s Pentium 4 period CPUs. Historical past is repeating…
The issue was its lack of business help. Motherboard distributors did showcase merchandise round 2004, however BTX rapidly fell by the wayside. And therein lies the issue with any effort to exchange the ATX commonplace.
Some closing ideas
Any alternative of the ATX commonplace would require close to common business help. Intel cannot come excessive and say: ‘Let’s do it this fashion’ because it might in years previous. One thing like an IEEE group or another business physique made up of all the important thing gamers is the one sensible manner ahead.
Such adjustments have an effect on each space of not simply the PC, however every part else to some extent. From a easy motherboard to laptops to information facilities overlaying soccer fields: all can be affected in a minimum of a way.
Sadly, if I needed to put a wager on it, I might say the possibilities of main kind issue adjustments are just about zero within the quick time period
I say let the enterprise of us do their factor. These of us can chuck a billion {dollars} at an issue and remedy it. However the humble PC wants a redesign that introduces higher energy effectivity, improved cooling, and improved cable administration. Add a splash of simplicity and extra engaging aesthetics, and we have a bunch of issues all avid gamers would profit from.
Sadly, if I needed to put a wager on it, I might say the possibilities of main kind issue adjustments are just about zero within the quick time period. The business is simply too large today, there’s an excessive amount of time and cash invested within the current ecosystem. A change of momentum of this scale when so many corporations have their fingers within the ATX pie makes imminent change unlikely.