ATX 2.03?

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
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The Pentium IV will require ATX 2.03 compliant cases and power supplies. All new power supplies are compliant. Is there any real change in 2.03 compliant cases? I want to know before i spend tons of money modding a current case?
 

vailr

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Not that a P4 would be better than a DDR + Athlon setup, but
the only case change is: the extra 4 anchor points for the (heavy) P4 heat sink.
Probably modify an &quot;old&quot; case for <$5.



<< All new power supplies are compliant. >>


Do not assume this to be true: most PS's are still ATX 2.01.
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
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Sorry Vailr, the power supplies that I was looking at are ATX 2.03. Sorry for the confusion. Do either of you know where to get more info on the specs for an ATX 2.03 case? Also, will a case made for a P4 still work fine if I got a T-bird/DDR setup? Who knows AMD may use the new &quot;ten acre&quot; heatsink specs for its own products too.
 

RossGr

Diamond Member
Jan 11, 2000
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There is no change to cases in ATX 2.03. If you do a search on ATX you will find the ATX form factor page. There is a PDF for the spec. I could post a link, but so many people seem not be able to search for things. Try typing ATX in the address bar, hit return (I used Yahoo, the ATX form factor page was first listed).
 

fkloster

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 1999
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I am already using an ATX 2.03 PS &amp; case with my ASUS P3C-E and all is well (Addtronics WTX 8500 w/400 watt 2.03 PS)
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
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I just read about the Addtronics WTX 8500. Is WTX the new standard for when the P4 arrives? Basically, will the new CPU require an all new case? Thanks agin!
 

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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The WTX specification is for high powered workstations, for example, those based on the Itanium CPU.

A WTX PSU is big, about twice the size of an ATX PSU.
 

fkloster

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 1999
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Nope, WTX is just a new form factor for server level computers. ATX 2.03 is for the new P4's
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
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Thanks again everyone! So the only real difference is the four heatsink holes in the motherboard tray? If a new P4 requires a new case people will be tweaked!
 

Noriaki

Lifer
Jun 3, 2000
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As was said, WTX is for Workstations/Servers not P4.
Anything current will work perfectly fine in ATX 2.03 as well.

ATX 2.03 cases differ by 4 extra mounting holes on the motherboard plate. The P4 heatsinks look like they will be extremely large and heavy and have mounting brackets that go through the motherboard into the frame of the case. Look at it this way, after-market heatsinks can be even huger and more ridiculous than they are now :)

I'm not 100% sure on the power supplies but if memeory serves correctly, ATX 2.03 power supplies require a higher minimum amperage rating on some of the wires.
 

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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ATX 2.03 also offers provision for ATX/12V power supplies.

These supplies offer a seperate 12 V connector which is dedicated for the CPU (specifically, it powers the voltage converters on the motherboard).

It is a feature of the motherboard as to whether this new type of power supply is required, and I'm sure there will be some motherboards which will work with the current ATX supplies. However, Intel is pushing for the new ATX/12V supply; the prototype P4 systems that have been leaked use this system.
 

DaddyG

Banned
Mar 24, 2000
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I could have sworn that the P4 required some kind of extra EMI shielding in the case. Maybe I just had a bad dream ??
:confused:
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
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I hope they don't need EMI shielding as I really want a 100% clear plexiglass case! If there needs to be four holes in the motherboard tray for the heatsink; I am assuming everyone will either need a new case or have to drill holes in their current one. Is this correct? A new power supply isn't as much of a problem though.
 

AndyHui

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member<br>AT FAQ M
Oct 9, 1999
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4 extra holes for the heatsink? Hmm....nothing a drill wouldn't be able to fix right? Nothing I can do about the power supply, but I kind of like my case...;)
 

Noriaki

Lifer
Jun 3, 2000
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yeah Jumpem some careful drilling will fix the case problem.

Ah yes Mark R thanks, that's what it was, the ATX 2.03 had an extra 12V line dedicated to the CPU.

And people thought the Athlons took too much juice.

Edit: Scratch that....the Athlons do take too much juice, the P4 is going to take WAY too mcuh.
 

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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EMI shielding will be an absolute requirement for any CPU operating at frequencies of 2 GHz or above.

This will be in addition to the current requirements for shielding, and will consist of a metal box surrounding the CPU, and closely associated circuits on the motherboard.

Of course, this is only a requirement for sale of computer systems. There won't be anything to stop the end user removing the shielding, just as there isn't any way to stop the end user from removing the shielding on current systems - by drilling blowholes, or by replacing the metal case with plastic or wood.
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
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Not sure what I'm buying. It depends on what Intel and AMD have cooking in early January, when I am between semesters and have a couple months to spend. I would consider a T-bird or Mustang, but I really do not want to put up with all of the motherboard related incompatibilities associated with them.
 

Noriaki

Lifer
Jun 3, 2000
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The Athlons only have motherboard based incompatibilties compared to the BX. The BX has been around so long it's rock solid stable and very mature (and kudos to intel for making such a powerful chipset that is still good almost 3 years after it was released).

But if you compare a KT133 board to a Pro 133A or even an i815, they all have some issues, and they all need updated INF files for Windows.
How about the i820 problems? Lets just not go there.

Unfortuatnely it seems the golden age of the BX is pretty well at it's end, and I don't see any chipsets that can match it for speed/stability/flexibility. Any newer chipsets from Intel, Via or AMD have some problems problems.

Up until you could compare a P3 on BX to AMD on whatever, and yes the intel side had less issues. But Intel's &quot;official&quot; P3 platform is the i820...I'm hoping they do a better job on the i850 for the P4, but if they don't they won't have BX to fall back on this time.

But like you said, we just have to wait a few months and see what AMD and Intel cook up.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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I believe that ATX 2.03 spec also calls for a fan to be mounted on the side of the case,r ealitive to the processor.

But most of us probably have enough cooling in our cases, anyway. ;)