What the ATX Form Factor Means for Small PCs
ATX is a motherboard specification. It sets the board's dimensions, the power supply type, the location of the mounting holes, and the number of ports on the back panel. Standard ATX boards measure 305 × 244 mm (12 × 9.6 inches). Micro-ATX boards measure 244 × 244 mm. Mini-ITX boards measure 170 × 170 mm. These sizes decide which case a board fits, where cooling parts can go, and how many expansion slots are available.
Why Small Form Factor Matters
Small form factor systems need less desk and cabinet space than full-size towers. A smaller board also limits the number of expansion slots. Mini-ITX boards have only one expansion slot, and newer Mini-ITX boards use a PCI Express slot. Buyers who need many add-in cards usually choose ATX or Micro-ATX. Buyers who need a compact, quiet and low-power system usually choose a small form factor.
Comparison of Common Motherboard Form Factors
| Form factor | Dimensions | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ATX | 305 × 244 mm | Full-size desktops with many expansion slots |
| Micro-ATX | 244 × 244 mm | Compact desktops with fewer slots |
| Mini-ITX | 170 × 170 mm | Small builds with one expansion slot |
Thinvent Products in Compact Form Factors
Thinvent builds compact computers for industrial and commercial use. The Thinvent Treo Mini PC uses an Intel N5095A processor (4 cores, up to 2.9 GHz, 4 MB cache) with 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 1 TB SSD storage. The Thinvent Micro 6 Pro Mini PC uses an ARM Cortex A55 processor (4 cores, up to 1.9 GHz, 1 MB cache) with 4 GB onboard RAM and 32 GB eMMC storage. The Thinvent range does not include ATX motherboards. Thinvent mini PCs suit buyers who need a small, fixed-function system rather than an expandable ATX build.
