Tiny new YTX motherboard format trims the fats, provides M.2 slots

Motherboards are available numerous normal sizes, however for many of us, the selection boils all the way down to ATX, micro-ATX, and mini-ITX, from largest to smallest. However that’s largely variations on what number of PCIE playing cards it might probably maintain. There’s now a brand new normal that swaps just a few issues round, assuming you solely need a graphics card and possibly fewer RAM DIMMs, traded for extra M.2 storage choices.

It’s referred to as “YTX,” from Maxsun, a lesser-known model based mostly out of mainland China. The promotional materials positions the YTX kind issue as a extra highly effective various to the smaller ITX, widening it out previous the world that often holds the RAM DIMM slots to be able to slot in three easily-accessible, full-length M.2 2280 slots. The primary board that makes use of the scale is the MS-Terminator H770, an Intel-branded LGA 1700 board with an H770 chipset. The 245mm x 175mm board is nearly precisely so long as a mini-ITX board, “lengthy” within the sense of taking place in direction of the PCIE space, (170mm) however 75mm wider.

On high of the novel sizing, it additionally positions energy, SATA, and different connection slots on the again of the motherboard, following the pattern of routing cables within the rear of the case for a clean-looking setup. On high of the PCIE 5.0 slot, different highlights embrace Wi-F 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and 4 M.2 slots in whole (they’re stacked), all sadly sticking with PCIE 4.0 speeds. PCGamer noticed this one, but when there’s a worth or launch date, I can’t see it there or on Maxsun’s website.

A brand new format for one thing as entrenched as motherboards is at all times a troublesome promote. However I feel this one could be helpful. This YTX board is made with small, highly effective builds in thoughts, and anybody who’s made one is aware of that the limiting issue for that usually isn’t the mini-ITX motherboard, it’s really getting a graphics card to slot in these teeny tiny instances. Sure, you may transfer it round a bit with a PCIE riser, however that doesn’t assist with the size challenge. The YTX format would acknowledge which you can’t do something about that, whereas making the most of the house so as to add much-needed M.2 capability.

Whether or not we’ll really see case producers help this format…properly, that’s one other factor solely. The YTX board received’t slot in a typical mini-ITX tray, however a micro-ATX case would maintain it unmodified. That’ll must do till somebody makes one thing particularly designed for this longer SFF setup.