

While the market share of these exotic high-end mainboards is very low, almost all high-end cases and many mainstream cases support XL-ATX. Some XL-ATX mainboards increase the Mainboards width as well, to allow more space for the CPU and Memory PWM, and in some cases a second CPU socket. XL-ATX extends the length of the Mainboard to accommodate 4 graphics cards with dual-slot coolers. In the high-end segment the unofficial and loosely defined XL-ATX spec appeared around 2009. Desktop cases-and mini-tower cases under about 46 cm high-are popular in business environments where space is at a premium.Ĭurrently, the most popular form factor for desktop computers is ATX, although microATX and small form factors have also become very popular for a variety of uses.

Full-size tower cases are typically larger in volume than desktop cases, with more room for drive bays and expansion slots. For rack-mounted and blade servers form factors may include precise external dimensions as well, since these cases must themselves fit in specific enclosures.įor example, a case designed for an ATX motherboard and power supply may take on several external forms, such as a vertical tower or a flat desktop or pizza box. Form factors typically specify only the internal dimensions and layout of the case. Also sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "CPU" or "hard drive", it is the enclosure that contains most of the components of a computer. Freebase (4.17 / 23 votes) Rate this definition:Ī computer case is also known as a "computer chassis", "tower", "system unit", "base unit" or simply "case".
