AMD Finalizes New DTX Form Factor

The new system standard is intended to make PCs smaller, quiter, and more energy efficient.

System builders will have yet another choice of form factor for their PCs after AMD announced on Tuesday that they have finalized a new open standard, dubbed DTX, with a focus on energy efficiency. The new specification was announced at the opening of the Computex trade show in Taipei, Taiwan, just six months after AMD introduced the draft for it.

The company credited support from many hardware vendors for the quick leap from specifications on paper to a finalized standard.AMD’s partners, including Albatron, Asus, Cooler Master, ECS, Gigabyte, MSI, Silverstone, and Thermaltake will demonstrate functional DTX products during the trade show.

AMD’s 65nm processor technology is at the heart of the DTX form factor. The company introduced two new processors, the Athlon X2 dual-core BE-2350 and BE 2300, to coincide with the announcement of DTX. Both processors are designed for energy-efficient and quiet operation.

"Our leadership of the DTX initiative, combined with the introduction of new energy-efficient desktop processors, demonstrates AMD’s belief that an open standards approach to driving innovation is the best way to enable solutions to exceed the needs of commercial customers and consumers," said Bob Brewer, corporate vice president and general manager of AMD’s Desktop Division, in a statement.

DTX products will begin to appear from vendors soon, and AMD’s BE-2350 and BE-2300 processors are available immediately for $91 and $86, respectively.