Kill ATX? The radical Asus Prime Utopia looks like a PC plucked from an alternate timeline - leeparunt

What piece of technology are you still using from 1995? Your computer case. Yes, if you run a desktop tower, it's likely reinforced on the Intel ATX specification first introduced in 1995—almost 25 years ago. But Asus's radical Prime Utopia image re-imagines what could comprise with an come out of the closet-of-this-world concept PC.

Definitely observe the video above to see this animal in action. Asus decided to relocate the graphics card from its measure PCIe time slot to the back of the computer. It's mounted vertically along the motherboard for added stableness when shipping or moving the system of rules.

With the GPU stirred to the hindermost, Asus uses the disentangled-up front space to mount quaternity M.2 solid-state drives and a 7-in touch OLED. The screen comes with Wi-Fi enabled, soh you can detach IT and put it along your desk likewise.

dscf0519 final — Asus' Prime Utopia features a Wi-Fi enabled detachable screen where the video card would go in a standard ATX motherboard.

With the OLED reveal entirely covering the expansion slots, Asus envisions most add-in hardware (of the future, obviously) going into standardised modules situated come on the I/O shield. These modules would embody built around the Mini-PCI-E standard and could be used to add 2.5GbE modules operating theater additional USB ports, for instance.

The Asus Prime Utopia doesn't mess with the Jam or C.P.U. layout, but IT does move the emf ordinance modules to back of the motherboard, where they pot be water cooled. The prototype PC also moves the main power connector to the back of the motherboard.

dscf0514 final — In this alternate timeline vision of the future, Asus mounts the GPU along the back of the motherboard, also as the VRM and chief mightiness connector.

Of course, none of this will work with the way that today's standard ATX systems and motherboards are studied. Thither merely isn't way, nor is ATX configured to handle any of these alterations. You know, since it's a 25-yr-old standard designed for hardware premeditated 25 geezerhood ago.

Before you get triggered, thinking that Asus is going to leave the ATX standard behind, take a breathing place. It isn't.

In fact, the company retributive introduced new lines of some AMD and Intel motherboards exploitation the venerable ATX spec. But Asus is obviously hoping to start a conversation about the idea that the spec should be modified.

Bequeath ATX die? Nah

The uphill problem for Asus? This was all tried before, and IT's forever unsuccessful.

In fact, Intel's BTX proposal in 2004 proven to upset ATX and failed miserably, even though or s of its changes add up. With ATX, the chipset that controls the USB ports is set about as far away from the back of the PC as thinkable, which complicates the routing of wires. BTX fixed that. Other BTX tweaks, however, were fact mood of Intel's world in 2004 and the too hot functioning Pentium 4. BTX would incite the CPU's location from closer to the rear of the PC all the way to the front, where it could well be cooled by air from the front end fans.

BTX went perfectly nowhere. Pushback from grammatical case vendors and motherboard vendors quickly sank its hopes.

If even Intel give notice't push a change to ATX, Asus's hopes are likely slim to none. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be tried or talked virtually, but the experience with BTX probably tells us that the Prime Utopia's intriguing reimagining of the PC ISN't likely to gain widespread attraction. Information technology sure is nice to dream, though.