An Advanced Technology Extended (ATX) case is a case manufactured to industry ATX standards. The ATX standard is a format for computer hardware manufacturers that ensures interoperability. The ATX case supports an ATX power supply and an ATX motherboard.
ATX and mid-ATX cases are the most common in desktop computers.
The ATX case arose from the shortcomings of earlier standards, namely the AT and Baby AT standards. As technology improved, many significant changes were made to the hardware, necessitating a new style of case. This case is the natural evolution in computer case design.
An ATX case can come with a power supply or can be purchased separately.
For example, component-laden computers require more power today than they did in the early 1990s and more cooling capacity. Power supplies and power schemes have become more powerful and efficient. An ATX case usually comes with a power supply, or the consumer can purchase an ATX power supply separately, knowing that it will work in any ATX-style case.
The back of the ATX case has also changed to accommodate ATX motherboards with integrated ports that snap into place to become part of the rear wall. This replaces the old style Baby AT cases that were designed for empty IDE slots, with the only integrated port being the keyboard port. The holes on the ATX motherboard also align with the pins on the case.
The number of internal and external bays varies in ATX chassis, so it’s important to choose one that fits your desired configuration. A Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) configuration that uses multiple hard drives will require more bays than are necessary for a system that will only house one or two hard drives.
If you want two DVD drives, make sure your case has the required number of 13 cm (5.25-inch) bays. The front of the case may also include Universal Serial Bus (USB), Firewire, and audio ports. This is very convenient for today’s portable devices such as digital cameras, audio players and memory cards.
An ATX case comes with fans in most cases. The size and number of fans vary between models. Fans are needed to draw heat away from the motherboard and processor and out through the vents. The more ventilation, the better.
Modders like to spruce up their ATX cases with LED lights. Many feature clear side windows so the inside of the case can be illuminated when turned on. This allows the enthusiast to see the expensive components he has purchased.
ATX cases can have different numbers of hard drive bays.
