Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Photo courtesy of Tyan Computer Corporation.
The easiest way to identify a Baby-AT form factor system without opening it is to look
at the rear of the case. In a Baby-AT motherboard, the cards plug directly into the board
at a 90° angle; in other words, the slots in the case for the cards are perpendicular to
the motherboard. Also, the Baby-AT motherboard has only one visible connector direc-
tly attached to the board, which is the keyboard connector. Typically, this connector is
the full-size 5-pin DIN type connector, although some Baby-AT systems use the smaller
6-pinmini-DIN connector (sometimes called a PS/2-type connector )andmight evenhave
amouseconnector.Allotherconnectorsaremountedonthecaseoroncardedgebrackets
andareattached tothemotherboard viacables. Thekeyboardconnector isvisible through
an appropriately placed hole in the case.
See Keyboard/Mouse Interface Connectors , p. 742 ( Chapter 15 , Input Devices ”).
All Baby-AT boards conform to specific widths and screw hole, slot, and keyboard con-
nector locations, but one thing that can vary is the length ofthe board. Versions have been
built that are smaller than the full 9 inches×13 inches; these are often called mini-AT ,
micro-AT , or even things such as 2/3-Baby or 1/2-Baby . Even though they might not be
the full size, they still bolt directly into the same case as a standard Baby-AT board and
can be used as a direct replacement for one.
LPX
The LPX and mini-LPX form factor boards were a semiproprietary design that Western
Digital originally developed in 1987 for some of its motherboards. The LP i n LPX stands
forLowProfile,whichissonamedbecausetheseboardsincorporateslotsthatareparallel
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