computer science

WTX (form factor)

WTX (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 WTX (form factor) rather than just read about it. In short: WTX (for Workstation Technology Extended) was a motherboard form factor specification introduced by Intel at the IDF in September 1998, for its use at high-end, multiprocessor, multiple-hard-disk servers and workstations. The specification had support from major OEMs (Compaq, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intergraph, NEC, Siemens Nixdorf, and UMAX) and motherboard manufacturers (Acer, Asus, Supermicr…

Key takeaways

WTX (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 WTX (form factor) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of WTX (form factor) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

WTX (for Workstation Technology Extended) was a motherboard form factor specification introduced by Intel at the IDF in September 1998, for its use at high-end, multiprocessor, multiple-hard-disk servers and workstations. The specification had support from major OEMs (Compaq, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intergraph, NEC, Siemens Nixdorf, and UMAX) and motherboard manufacturers (Acer, Asus, Supermicro and Tyan) and was updated (1.1) in February 1999. As of 2008, the specification has been discontinued and the URL www.wtx.org no longer hosts a website and has not been owned by Intel since at least 2004. This form factor was geared specifically towards the needs of high-end systems, and included specifications for a WTX power supply unit (PSU) using two WTX-specific 24-pin and 22-pin Molex connectors. The WTX specification was created to standardize a new motherboard and chassis form factor, fix the relative processor location, and allow for high volume airflow through a portion of the chassis where the processors are positioned. This allowed for standard form factor motherboards and chassis to be used to integrate processors with more demanding thermal management requirements. Bigger than ATX, maximum WTX motherboard size was 14 × 16.75 in (356 × 425 mm). This was intended to provide more room in order to accommodate higher numbers of integrated components. WTX computer cases were backwards compatible with ATX motherboards (but not vice versa), and sometimes came equipped with ATX power supplies.

See also eATX: a version of ATX which has a form factor of 304.8 × 330.2 mm (12 × 13 in). SWTX: Server Workstation Technology Extended

References

Further reading "WTX Workstation System Specification, Version 1.1" (PDF). Intel Corporation. 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-18 – via CaseReview.org. Kozierok, Charles M. (2001-04-17). "WTX Form Factor". The PC Guide. Archived from the original on 2019-01-30.

External links WTX Main power (P1) - The Hardware Book (HwB) WTX Additional power (P2) - The Hardware Book (HwB) WTX 12V CPU power (P3) - The Hardware Book (HwB) WTX 12V CPU power (P4/P5) - The Hardware Book (HwB)

Illustrations

Worked examples

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

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what WTX (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 WTX (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 WTX (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 WTX (form factor)

In research: WTX (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 WTX (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: WTX (form factor) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computer-related introductions in 1998, Computer hardware stubs, IBM PC compatibles, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for WTX (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 WTX (form factor) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what WTX (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 WTX (form factor) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is WTX (form factor) in simple terms?

Why does WTX (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 WTX (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 WTX (form factor).