atx case

[jeenyes]

Are all cases atx? If not, how do you tell if it is atx? Mine is a med case, came with a pc-100 mb and amd 450. I am going to ungrade to a much faster processor so i will need a mb for a athlon and just wondering if the case is atx or not. And also, will my video and sound card and other connections fit the athlon mb or will I need to change them? Thanks

[jaida]

there are more case formats then atx but I will just give you the other main format which is at.

at is a case that generally lays flat against the ground horizally. The motherboard mounts on the bottom of the case horizontally. An atx case is one that stands vertically. Its motherboard is mounted vertical generally on the right side of the case if you were looking at it from the front. hope this gives you some idea of the difference.

judging by the make of your processor I would guess your system is most likely in an atx case.

[daverme]

I hate to say this but jaida is a bit off target. These are the relevant differences between ATX and AT cases:

(1) An AT case has eight openings for expansion slots and a large hole, maybe 3/4" in diameter, where the keyboard plugs into the mobo.

(2) An ATX case has openings for seven expansion slots and has several openings in the area where the AT case has only one for the keyboard plug. ATX mobo's have built-in ports for a PS2 mouse, printer, comm ports and the keyboard (which is the same size as the PS2 mouse port) and the ATX case will have openings for all of these. Since some mobo's have built-in audio and video, the ATX case will also have knock-outs for these ports as well.

(3) A major difference between AT and ATX cases is the power supply. They operate differently - an AT case will have a switch that is either "on" or "off" (I forget the term for it) while the ATX case has a contact switch that turns causes the mobo to turn the power on.

(4) The power supply connectors to the mobo also differ greatly between AT and ATX cases - the AT power supply has two connectors (which CAN be incorrectly attached - been there, done that) while the ATX power supply has a single connector that pretty much cannot be connected incorrectly.

[Hellmund]

It's a "two state" switch I think you mean. Daverme is right. A basic way of telling is how you shut-down. So you go to shutdown and the computer shuts off without pushing the swich, or do you get a screen "it is now safe to shut-down" and push the switch. If it auto-shut's down it's ATX, if you need to push the button then it's AT.Oh and jaida, I currently have an AT case that sits vertical(tower case). I don't use it anymore but nontheless it exists.

[jaida]

I know they do exist I work on alot of them just couldn't explain it properly in words kinda had a brain lapse my description was pretty bad. Sorry bout that, just one of those days.

Good description there daverme that nails it right on.

[This message has been edited by jaida (edited 04-20-2001).]

[ramuno]

jeenyes,

Since you are going all the way up to an Athlon, you will probably need a better power supply (AMD recommends several on it's web site).

As for your current sound card and video card, you might want to upgrade them at the same time. If not, the new motherboard might have only PCI slots for the sound card. What type of slot does you old card use?