NLX (form factor)

NLX is a low-profile, flexible motherboard form factor developed by Intel in the mid-1990s. It was designed as a successor to the LPX form factor, addressing some of its limitations while maintaining a low-profile design suitable for slimline and small form factor desktop computers.

Key characteristics of the NLX form factor include:

• Low Profile: NLX motherboards are designed to be short in height, allowing them to fit into smaller cases.
• Riser Card: The majority of expansion cards are connected to the motherboard via a riser card, which is plugged into a dedicated slot. This allows the cards to be mounted horizontally, parallel to the motherboard, further reducing the system's height. The riser card typically includes slots for PCI, AGP (in older versions), and other expansion card types.
• Flexibility: NLX offered more flexibility in terms of component placement compared to LPX. Components like the CPU, memory, and chipset could be positioned more freely to optimize cooling and reduce conflicts.
• Rear I/O Panel: NLX utilized a dedicated rear I/O panel, similar to ATX, providing a standardized location for connectors such as serial ports, parallel ports, USB ports, and audio jacks. This made system assembly and maintenance easier.
• Power Supply: NLX systems typically used a specialized power supply designed to fit within the smaller chassis.

While NLX offered improvements over LPX, it eventually became less common as other form factors, such as MicroATX and Mini-ITX, offered similar or superior capabilities with greater industry support and component availability. NLX is now largely considered a legacy form factor.