What is an ATX Power Connector?
An ATX power connector is a Molex type power connector which can be used with the ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) motherboard form factor in personal computers. Before you learn what an ATX power connector is, it is important to set the foundations of the ATX form factor as a whole.
The ATX Form Factor
The ATX form factor was originally developed in 1995 by Intel, the world's largest chip manufacturer. It was designed to replace the aging AT form factor in new systems and continues to be the most popular type of motherboard design in modern personal computers; however, competition from the BTX form factor is beginning to take hold. While the ATX design is ultimately the same as it was in 1995, there have been significant revisions over the years, giving rise to the most recent ATX 2.2 specification.
ATX Power Connector
ATX power connectors are the specific types of connectors designed to connect a computer's power supply to an ATX motherboard. They are of the Molex type, meaning they are constructed of metal pins laid throughout a nylon matrix. A female type ATX power connector extends from the ATX power supply to plug into the motherboard. The nylon matrix on modern day ATX power connectors can contain 20 or 24 pins, depending on the power necessary for the equipped processor.
Unlike previous motherboard and power supply specifications, the ATX power connector allowed a new range of options when it came to turning a computer on and off. Previously, users were required to power a computer on and off via built in hardware. However, with the ATX specification, software and Wake-on-LAN technology could be used to power the computer on and off without having to press a dedicated power button every time.
The ATX power connector also offers another benefit over its predecessor. Older power connectors did not have any direction, so it could be plugged in via a variety of orientations - often leading to short circuits. The ATX power connector, however, is designed to only be plugged in one orientation.
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