How Many PCIe Slots Does an ATX Motherboard Have?

ATX is a motherboard form factor developed by Intel in 1995. It was the successor to the AT form factor, providing a significant increase in functionality over its predecessor.

The standard for the ATX form factor is defined in the Intel Specification Update for the ATX Form Factor, revision 2.2.

The most notable change from the AT to ATX form factor was the addition of a third mounting hole to accommodate a new row of expansion slots at the bottom of the motherboard. This allowed for the addition of new capabilities, such as Serial ATA and USB, while still providing compatibility with existing expansion cards.

In addition to the increased number of expansion slots, the ATX form factor also supports a larger variety of motherboard components, including support for integrated graphics and audio. The ATX form factor is also designed to be more thermally efficient than its predecessor, with better airflow through the case and improved cooling for components.

The ATX form factor has become the standard for desktop computers, and most motherboards on the market today are designed to support it. However, there are still a few holdouts that use the older AT form factor.

These include some high-end gaming and workstation motherboards that need the extra space for additional features and expansion cards.

So how many PCIe slots does an ATX motherboard have? The answer is six, but there can be variations based on the specific motherboard model. Some motherboards may have more or fewer PCIe slots, depending on their size and design.

Additionally, some motherboards may support different types of PCIe slots, such as x16 or x8 versions.

No matter how many PCIe slots your motherboard has, though, you can always add more by using an expansion card. Expansion cards are available that add additional PCIe slots to your system, allowing you to expand its capabilities as needed.