computer science

NLX (form factor)

NLX (form factor) is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand NLX (form factor) rather than just read about it. In short: NLX (short for New Low Profile eXtended) was a form factor proposed by Intel and developed jointly with IBM, DEC, and other vendors for low profile, low cost, mass-marketed retail PCs. Release 1.2 was finalized in March 1997 and release 1.8 was finalized in April 1999.

Key takeaways

NLX (form factor) belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect NLX (form factor) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of NLX (form factor) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

NLX (short for New Low Profile eXtended) was a form factor proposed by Intel and developed jointly with IBM, DEC, and other vendors for low profile, low cost, mass-marketed retail PCs. Release 1.2 was finalized in March 1997 and release 1.8 was finalized in April 1999. NLX was similar in overall design to LPX, including a riser card and a low-profile slimline case. It was modernized and updated to allow support for the latest technologies while keeping costs down and fixing the main problems with LPX. It specified motherboards from 10 × 8 in (254 × 203 mm) to 13.6 × 9 in (345 × 229 mm) in size. Officially, the NLX form factor was designed to use ATX power supplies and featured the same soft power function. However, for size reduction, some NLX cases instead used the smaller SFX form factor or proprietary form factors with the same 20-pin connector. Many slimline systems that were formerly designed to fit the LPX form factor were modified to fit NLX. NLX is a true standard, unlike LPX, making interchangeability of components easier than it was for the older form factor. IBM, Gateway, and NEC produced a fair number of NLX computers in the late 1990s, primarily for Socket 370 (Pentium II-III and Celeron), but NLX never enjoyed the widespread acceptance that LPX had. Most importantly, one of the largest PC manufacturers, Dell decided against using NLX and created their own proprietary motherboards for use in their slimline systems. Although many of these computers and motherboards are still available secondhand, new production has essentially ceased, and in the slimline and small form factor market, NLX has been superseded by the Micro-ATX, FlexATX, and Mini-ITX form factors.

Further reading Kozierok, Charles M. (17 April 2001). "Motherboard Form Factors: NLX". The PC Guide. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12.

Specifications "NLX Chassis Design Suggestions, Version 2.0" (PDF). Intel Corporation. November 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-25. "NLX EMC Design Suggestions, Version 1.0" (PDF). Intel Corporation. May 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-25. "NLX Ground Clip Design Suggestions, Version 1.0" (PDF). Intel Corporation. May 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-25. "NLX I/O Shield Design Suggestions, Version 1.0" (PDF). Intel Corporation. May 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-25. "NLX Motherboard Specification, Release 1.8" (PDF). Intel Corporation. April 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-17. "NLX Power Supply Recommendations, Version 1.1" (PDF). Intel Corporation. May 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-25. "NLX Rail Design Suggestions, Version 1.0" (PDF). Intel Corporation. May 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-25. "NLX Thermal Design Suggestions, Version 1.0" (PDF). Intel Corporation. May 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-25.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with NLX (form factor)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what NLX (form factor) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to NLX (form factor) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about NLX (form factor) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of NLX (form factor)

In research: NLX (form factor) appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses NLX (form factor) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: NLX (form factor) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computer-related introductions in 1996, IBM PC compatibles, Motherboard form factors, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for NLX (form factor) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study NLX (form factor) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what NLX (form factor) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain NLX (form factor) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is NLX (form factor) in simple terms?

Why does NLX (form factor) matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study NLX (form factor)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on NLX (form factor).