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Difference between AT and ATX Motherboard
In a computer system, motherboard is a crucial part of the system. This is because, the complete electronic circuit of the computer system is designed on it. Motherboard includes several electronic circuits and slots for connecting various system components like RAM, HDD, CPU, etc. At present, there are several types of motherboards available in market.
In this article, we will discuss the two important types of motherboards namely, AT motherboard and ATX motherboard, and the important differences between them. So, let us start with a basic introduction of AT and ATX motherboard.
What is AT Motherboard?
AT Motherboard stands for Advanced Technical Motherboard. AT motherboard was very common in personal computers during the 1980s. AT motherboards are characterized by their physical size and layout, and can fit only in AT casing. The size of AT motherboard is about 305 mm × 280 mm.
In the AT motherboard, a large power connector and many expansion slots are aligned in a single row along the bottom edge of the motherboard. The socket for connecting processor is provided in the upper-right corner of the board. The memory slots are located to the right of the processor socket.
In the AT motherboards, a 16-bit industry standard architecture (ISA) bus is provided for expansion. When AT motherboards are compared to modern motherboards, they have lesser number of connectors and ports. At present, the AT motherboards are replaced by modern motherboards like ATX motherboards.
What is ATX Motherboard?
ATX Motherboard stands for Advanced Technology Extended Motherboard. ATX motherboard is a type of motherboard which is extensively used in modern personal computers (PCs). The ATX motherboard is basically an evolved version of the earlier AT motherboard and hence it offers many improvements and features.
The ATX motherboard is characterized by its physical dimensions and layout. The size of a typical ATX motherboard is approximately 305 mm x 244 mm. In the case of an ATX motherboard, a power connector is provided near the top edge of the board. The expansion slots are aligned in a single row along the bottom edge of the motherboard. The ATX motherboard has larger expansion cards that allows more space between cards. The socket for the processor is located in the center of the motherboard, and the sockets for memory are provided to the right of the processor socket.
The ATX motherboard offers improved power management. In the ATX motherboard, a new power supply standard is introduced that includes a soft power switch. This feature allows the computer to be switched on and off from the operating system.
ATX motherboards also offer several other features and improvements over earlier motherboard designs. Some important of them are new processor socket design, faster memory, large number of expansion slots, built-in support for peripheral interfaces like USB, etc.
Difference between AT Motherboard and ATX Motherboard
The following table highlights all the important differences between AT motherboard and ATX motherboard −
Parameter |
AT Motherboard |
ATX Motherboard |
|---|---|---|
Full form |
AT motherboard stands for Advanced Technology Motherboard. |
ATX motherboard stands for Advanced Technology Extended Motherboard. |
Introduced by |
AT motherboard was introduced into the market by IBM in August 1984. |
ATX motherboard was introduced into the market by Intel in 1995. |
Dimensions |
AT motherboards are larger in size. The AT motherboard measures 305 mm × 280 mm. |
ATX motherboards are relatively smaller in size. The ATX motherboard measures 305 mm x 244 mm. |
Power connector pins |
A 12-pin power connector is used in the AT motherboard. |
A 20-pin power connector is used in the ATX motherboard. |
Mounting in CPU |
AT motherboard is mounted at the front of the CPU case. |
ATX motherboards are mounted at the back of the CPU case. |
Version |
AT motherboards are the older versions of the ATX motherboards. |
ATX motherboards ae the modern and improved versions of the AT motherboards. |
Expansion slots |
AT motherboards have a limited number of expansion slots. Hence, we can connect very few devices at a time. |
ATX motherboards have more number of expansion slots. Hence, multiple devices can be connected at the same time. |
Space required |
AT motherboards have larger surface area and hence they require more space to fit into the CPU cabinet. |
ATX motherboards have smaller surface area and hence they require less space to fit into the CPU cabinet. |
Cooling |
AT motherboards have poor cooling. |
ATX motherboards have enhanced cooling, as the processor is located nearer to the power supply fan that provides better air circulation. |
Ease of installation |
AT motherboards are comparatively complex to install. |
ATX motherboards are easier to install. |
Power management |
AT motherboards do not support advanced power management features like standby mode, etc. |
ATX motherboards support advanced power management features. |
Expansion slot standards |
In the AT motherboards, only Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion slots are provided. |
ATX motherboards have both ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) and PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) expansion slots. |
Soft power switch |
AT motherboards do not have the feature of soft power switch, which allows computers to turn on and off from the operating system. |
ATX motherboards have soft power switch. This feature allows the computer to turn on and off from the operating system. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, all these are the important differences between AT motherboard and ATX motherboard. Both AT (Advanced Technology) and ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) are the two form factors of PC motherboards. The AT and ATX motherboards are characterized by their sizes and layouts, and the features.
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