BTX Information

BTX vs ATX

BTX Support Retension Module (SMR)

BTX Motherboard specifications

Front Panel and Motherboard connection

Slots and riser cards

BTX vs ATX How to make the difference between a BTX and an ATX board.

(Balanced Technology eXtended vs Advanced Technology eXtended)

-The I/O ports are on the RIGHT and PCI slots on the LEFT.

-All components are parallel allowing a better air flow.

-The CPU is situated at the front of the PC and at a 45degree angle which allows a better ventilation.

-The I/O ports are on the LEFT and PCI slots on the RIGHT.

-All components are NOT parallel which disrupts the air flow.

-The CPU is situated somewhere between the I/O ports and the Memory slots, away from an efficient air flow..

BTX Chassis

ATX Chassis

-The ports are on the RIGHT and PCI slots on the LEFT.

-The ports are on the LEFT and PCI slots on the RIGHT.

BTX Tower

ATX Tower

BTX I/O shield

ATX I/O shield

-The BTX I/O Shield measures: 40x170mm

-The ATX I/O Shield measures: 45x160mm

BTX Support Retension Module (SRM):

All our BTX chassis, desktops & Towers, come with SRM (Support Retention Module circled in red) to support the CPU.

The SRM is not removable and is only suitable for the type of BTX Motherboard described bellow.

BTX Motherboard specifications:

You BTX board will fit our BTX chassis only if:

-the CPU is at a 45 degree angle

-the motherboard is a Pico or Micro BTX form factor

     Our BTX desktops can take a board up to 264x267mm

     Our BTX towers can take a board up to 280x267mm

BTX board drawing

This type of BTX board bellow is compatible with any of our BTX chassis.

Micro BTX Motherboard size:

266 x 243mm with up to 3 slots (Missing slot 1)

or 266 x 263mm with up to 4 slots.

Compatible BTX board

This most common type of BTX board bellow is compatible with any of our BTX chassis. The CPU cooler screw holes form a 66x112mm RECTANGLE,

the CPU is at a 45degree angle and the CPU is at 18 to 23mm from the edge. This board will fit our chassis SRM.

Incompatible BTX board

This type of BTX board bellow is NOT compatible with any of our BTX chassis. Even though the CPU screw holes form the correct 66x112mm rectangle, the CPU is too far away from the edge of the board. Also, the CPU is NOT at a 45degree angle.  This board will NOT fit our chassis SRM.

Incompatible BTX board

This type of BTX board bellow is NOT compatible with any of our BTX chassis. The CPU cooler screw holes form a 69x69mm SQUARE and the CPU is NOT at a 45degree angle.  The CPU is also too far from the edge of the board. This board will NOT fit our chassis SRM.

Front Panel and Motherboard connection:

Our BTX chassis have a front panel with standard motherboard connections (Switches, LEDs, USB & Audio ports). This means that your BTX board must have the standard connectors pictured bellow.

However, some BTX systems such as Dell Optiplex and others, have a NON standard connection between the front panel and the board.

This may make the transfer of components from an old BTX system to our BTX chassis difficult. See picture bellow.

In order to get round this problem, the front USB & Audio ports could be replaced by a "Front USB & Audio kit" (see item no 9 here >>), The LEDs and Reset switch could be ignored, but the On/Off switch would need to be connected to the correct pins on the board.

Slots and riser cards:

- Up to 3 Low Profile (Short) cards can be plugged into slots 1, 2 & 3 on the Motherboard.

Example of Low Profile card

suitable for slots A,B & C.

Example of Standard PCI Card

 only suitable for slot D (with riser card)

- A Standard size 32bit PCI Card can be used in horizontal slot D in conjunction with the optional Flexible 32bit PCI Riser Card plugged into slot 1,2,3 or 4 on the motherboard.

Optional Flexible 32bit PCI Riser card

- A Standard size PCI Express x16 Card can be used in horizontal slot D in conjunction with the optional Rigid PCI Express x16 Riser Card plugged into slot 4 on the motherboard.

Optional PCI Express 16x Riser Card

PCI Express x16 slot

on motherboard

Riser card inserted in

motherboard slot

Riser card secured by the

top support bar.