BTX coming

[Steven Q Urkle]

in 2004 the switch to 64 bit CPUs, PCI express cards, DDR2 RAM, and BTX motherboards will begin.

article: http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1876&p=1

they will be smaller, and have a different layout than ATX.

check out the link for pic and more info

 

[Fat_Bob]

Wow... that means the prices will DROP very significant and the dream to get a new computer is getting even closer than it was for 5 minutes ago =)

 

[dawdler]

Makes you wonder... Why so late? ATX has been around for years... Surely the BTX format could have happened earlier? This assuming one could fit an AGP port on a BTX mobo size of course, if one cant do that its an excuse

 

[=)PoLo(=]

Will this have any effect on the case? Will ATC become BTC or something like that???

 

[dawdler]

Originally posted by =)PoLo(=
Will this have any effect on the case? Will ATC become BTC or something like that???

You have to get a new case obviously. The cards shift, the ports shift... Hell, the entire mobo shifts

 

[Fat_Bob]

which will means.. that you probably have to get a whole new computer.. cause i dont think that The BTX mobos will have either the same size or the same Com ports and so on that the ATX mobos have... damn.. lots of money.. better get myself a job to the summer.. =)

 

[Steven Q Urkle]

you will need new ram (ddr2) new CPUs, new video card (no AGP), new cooling, new case, and more

basically you can keep your old monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

 

[dawdler]

Originally posted by Steven Q Urkle
you will need new ram (ddr2) new CPUs, new video card (no AGP), new cooling, new case, and more

basically you can keep your old monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Basicly you need a new computer
BUT I disagree on both the CPU and ram. Most likely there will be "in-betweens" that support the PCI-X gcard but older CPU and ram. It depends on the design of BTX of course, I didnt read that close.

 

[Steven Q Urkle]

i thought they were mainly made for 64bit cpus, so whatever pin they are.

you can probalaly run DDR but it will use DDR2 as well.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

interesting stuff

does this mean upgrading now may be pointless?

im not big on being a ginuepig for others.. tho i do realize someones gotta buy it and appreciate the step they take.. essentially leaving the rest of us to go by "word of mouth" and the various reviews we see over the net..

anyway, if it comes out next summer, i give it til at least October for them to fix bugs that they will probably have and for some decent reviews to kick in

 

[KiNG]

it will take a while for ATX to die out. im going to have this computer for atleast a year and a half. BTX is next on my list. - in late 2004 most likely.

 

[SilentKilla]

Originally posted by Fat_Bob
Wow... that means the prices will DROP very significant and the dream to get a new computer is getting even closer than it was for 5 minutes ago =)

lol, sounds about right