The story of mini ITX motherboards.

When the word shrinking is used for computers, one of the first things that flash across our minds are smartphones, laptops, and tablets. For once, the term may even be associated with AiO PCs, but that’s not all, and several other innovations manage to fly under the radar but have created their mark in the computing ecosystem as well. One might not come across these on a daily basis, at least not visually, but the role that they play in our daily lives is simply mind-boggling.

Here, we will be taking a look at one such innovation, and how it changed computers as we know them, forever. Yes, we are referring to the ITX motherboard. Let us take a brief look at its developmental history and some of the real-life uses and advantages that a thin mini ITX possesses. So, let’s start.

The story of the thin mini ITX.

Let us rewind a couple of decades, all the way back to 2001 when VIA technologies proposed the conceptualization of ITX motherboards to support the C3 chipsets that they procured from Centaur technologies. These chipsets needed very low power to work. Robert Kuo, the head R&D honcho at VIA, demonstrated his brainchild in the information PCs and set-top boxes, and companies like shuttle and jetway went on to manufacture several box and cube computers along the way. Soon enough, the configuration caught on, and the popularity of thin mini ITX PCs was on the rise.

As VIA created a motherboard division to support manufacturing, and embedded systems were just around the corner, enthusiasts from all around the world picked these systems up in droves, and thanks to their compact dimensions, they started to install them in everything from toasters to musical instruments, and anything that they could lay their hands on. Needless to say, these toasters were transformed into powerful CPUs overnight that could rival any modern fill-size PC of the day. The minuscule dimensions of these motherboards meant that they didn’t need large cabinets to fit in, and this is one of the main factors that supercharged their sales, but more on that later.

Soon enough, other manufacturers jumped on the ITX motherboard bandwagon as well, with Intel being one of the first ones to integrate their Atom processor platforms into the ITX boards that they had crafted and manufactured in-house.

This was a very brief look into the evolution of mini ITX motherboards. Now, let us take a look at some of their prominent applications.

● Automobiles- Modern automobiles, be it cars, motorcycles, boats, etc. all use computers and technological wizardry to a very large extent. Our vehicles are equipped with several electronic and technological goodies that are controlled by a central command centre onboard the car. One of the most critical electronic components of any vehicle is its ECU, and since space is at a premium when it comes to vehicles, mini ITX systems are popularly used here. These systems are quite energy-efficient as well, making them a perfect fit for such applications.

● Set-top boxes– As televisions started to gain traction all over the world, set-top boxes became a critical part of the overall ecosystem, and since these boxes are quite compact in their dimensions, mini ITX systems can be witnessed in action in these boxes as well.

● Wi-fi routers- Arguably one of the most essential commodities of the modern lifestyle, routers are prominently found all over the world, and they are some of the most advanced pieces of technology that one can find domestically, barring computers and smartphones perhaps. Most of the routers that are used domestically are pretty compact in their dimensions, and using a large motherboard in such devices isn’t really practical. Mini ITX motherboards are commonly used in routers, and this is one of their most important applications in this day and age.

These are just some of the many applications of mini ITX motherboards that one comes across on a daily basis. Now, let us take a look at the advantages that these systems bring to the table.

● They are compact- The appeal of the motherboards lies in the fact that they are extremely compact when compared to their conventional counterparts and thus making them perfect for electronic appliances that feature diminutive dimensions.

● They are energy-efficient- A thin mini ITX motherboard consumes a lot le power when compared to its conventional counterparts, and this makes them suitable for appliances that rely on energy efficiency.

● They are silent- When compared to conventional systems that require fans and radiators to cool down, the mini ITX systems generate a negligible amount of heat, and this boosts their applicability in situations that call for near-silent operations like routers, compact office PCs, etc.

● The variety on offer- These motherboards feature extremely long lifecycles, and this boosts the variants and versions on offer. Due to this factor, these motherboards are highly customizable as well and can be tailored to suit particular requirements.

Final take:

A thin mini ITX motherboard is an extremely important component of our modern lifestyles that we often overlook. These wonderful pieces of equipment drive a lot of implements that we use daily. If you are looking for such a motherboard to build your home PC, it is advisable that you procure one from a reputed manufacturer.