Motherboard form factor

Specifically, in the IBM PC compatible industry, standard form factors ensure that parts are interchangeable across competing vendors and generations of technology, while in enterprise computing, form factors ensure that server modules fit into existing rackmount systems.

A PC motherboard is the main circuit board within a typical desktop computer, laptop or server.

Differences between form factors are most apparent in terms of their intended market sector, and involve variations in size, design compromises and typical features.

Most modern computers have very similar requirements, so form factor differences tend to be based upon subsets and supersets of these.

Single-board computers built to this form factor are often sold by COTS vendors, which benefits users who want a customized rugged system, without months of design and paper work.

As compared with PC/104 modules, these larger (but still reasonably embeddable) SBCs tend to have everything of a full PC on them, including application oriented interfaces like audio, analog, or digital I/O in many cases.