14 DAY TRIAL // AMD has been cooking this for a long time but it seems that now, they have finally managed to release some specs regarding the upcoming standard for SFFs. As you know, the "DTX" standard is just like any other in what regards the development of compatible parts. To get a better idea about what I'm talking about, you have to understand something: such a standard is related not only to the redesigning of the case and the air flow but it's also linked to the design of the motherboard. As a result, when this new standard is adopted, all SFF manufacturers will have to modify their motherboard designs in order to become compatible with DTX.
AMD intends to open the standard with the specifications scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2007. DTX is actually built on the existing 1995 ATX structure designed by INTEL motive for which it does not bring a complete redesigning of SFFs but rather some improvements in the layout and air flow area. DTX should take a lot from ATX and from its "benefits, including cost efficiency, system options and backward-compatibility, to allow for ground-breaking PC design."
Note that INTEL's idea to replace ATX/eATX with BTX was not welcomed very well, motive for which almost every motherboard and case manufacturer still relies on the old ATX specs. That might also be the case with SFFs as they currently use the micro ATX standard so it should take a while before we will actually see DTX products on the market. Asus and MSI have announced that they will be the first to integrate the DTX standard into their future products.