Will I need a new PC case for Athlon64?

[Bagheera]

Hey guys; I am wondering, are standard ATX cases (P4/Athlon-compatible) compatible with the Athlon64 motherboards?

 

[First]

Yes, you have nothing to worry about.

 

[Bagheera]

Would technologies like USB 2.0, Serial-ATA, PCI-Express, etc. make it onto ATX-compatible Athlon64 motherboards, or are they BTX-exclusive?

 

[First]

Originally posted by: Bagheera
Would technologies like USB 2.0, Serial-ATA, PCI-Express, etc. make it onto ATX-compatible Athlon64 motherboards, or are they BTX-exclusive?

USB 2.0 and SATA are already available on Athlon 64 motherboards that can be found online currently. PCI Express won't be ready for prime time until next year (Q1/Q2 2004), be when it's ready it'll appear on Athlon 64 and Pentium 4 motherboards for sure.

The BTX form factor won't hit the market for quite some time, at least a year.

 

[AndyHui]

It won't be necessary to have a BTX system for PCI Express.

 

[Luagsch]

yeah, if you plan to buy a vapochill or a permithia (sp???) refrigerator wait a year.... btx will screw it up...
(that's about the only downside i see in the inroduction of btx.. i'll have to wait another year to enter extreme cooling stuff... i'll buy one and then keep it for some years while being able to upgrade it :beer: )

 

[Bagheera]

Thanks for the replies guys! So just to make sure: basically BTX will be an "optional" upgrade? Eventually all computers will become BTX but I should be able to find USB 2.0/S-ATA/PCI Express on ATX Form motherboards, right? In another word, aside from the more efficient cooling I get from BTX, there's no technological advantage to go for a BTX?