TestOut LabSim A+ Certification Practice Exam

What is a key difference between the BTX and ATX motherboard standards?

1. Processor slot orientation and thermal management improvements

2. Number of expansion slots and power connectors

3. Size and weight of the motherboard

4. Compatibility with older PCI cards

The correct answer is: Processor slot orientation and thermal management improvements

A key difference between the BTX and ATX motherboard standards lies in the orientation of the processor slot and the improvements in thermal management that BTX offers. The BTX (Balanced Technology Extended) standard was developed to address issues related to heat dissipation that are commonly encountered in ATX designs. In BTX motherboards, the CPU is oriented differently, which allows for more efficient flow of air across the components, thereby enhancing cooling performance. This design helps to improve overall system stability and longevity. Furthermore, the layout of components in BTX is optimized to align better with modern cooling solutions, facilitating more effective thermal management overall. This focus on heat management is particularly advantageous in high-performance computing scenarios, where preventing overheating is critical. While other options suggest variations in design aspects like size, weight, the number of expansion slots, or compatibility with older PCI cards, they do not capture the significant engineering advancements that the BTX specification introduced, particularly concerning processor orientation and thermal efficiency.