Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!
Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!
-
Congratulations John Tel on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!
microATX vs. ATX
- Thread starter FFgamer
- Start date
In nearly all cases, cases, get it? lol, an ATX case will also support a micro ATX motherboard.
It is extremely unlikely that a bigger ATX case, designed for full sized ATX motherboards, wouldn't support the smaller footprint of the microATX design.
Obviously check with the vendor but I'm at least 95% sure on this one.
I would also say, given the choice, I would go for a full ATX mainboard but then I guess you are choosing the micro board for integration and overall cheapness?
Martin
We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.
It is extremely unlikely that a bigger ATX case, designed for full sized ATX motherboards, wouldn't support the smaller footprint of the microATX design.
Obviously check with the vendor but I'm at least 95% sure on this one.
I would also say, given the choice, I would go for a full ATX mainboard but then I guess you are choosing the micro board for integration and overall cheapness?
Martin
We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.
The Micro ATX design uses the same mounting hole pattern as the normal ATX design. So the mounting holes will all line up. Normally they both can use an ATX power supply as well so it is fully compatible.
The big thing is some Micro-ATX motherboards skimp on quality parts and are just not manufactured to the standards of the larger motherboards. They seem to be targetd for low-budget builds. They cut corners to get all the components on a smaller motherboard. For higher quality motherboards go with ATX.
If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.
The big thing is some Micro-ATX motherboards skimp on quality parts and are just not manufactured to the standards of the larger motherboards. They seem to be targetd for low-budget builds. They cut corners to get all the components on a smaller motherboard. For higher quality motherboards go with ATX.
If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.
ceh4702, would you rather see him buy a board like this one?
ATX Board
In other words, I do not think it is very good advice to paint a picture that mATX boards are built to be cheap and to cut corners in manufacturing, and that all ATX boards are better. That is just bad advice all around.
Here's another unique full size ATX motherboard, and you'll be hardpressed to find a lot of people not happy with the quality of intel manufactured boards:
intel ATX board
And no, not all screw holes match up between ATX & mATX. On the image of the intel board, there are two screw holes above & below the 2nd & 3rd pci slots. Those holes are present in all mATX boards, but only on a few select ATX boards, and not all ATX cases support standoffs in those locations.
Bottom line, pick a motherboard with a very good chipset, from a reputable manufacturer, and check that it's well reviewed by others. If you post which mATX board you are looking at, people here could tell you if its a good chipset & a good manufacturer.
ATX Board
In other words, I do not think it is very good advice to paint a picture that mATX boards are built to be cheap and to cut corners in manufacturing, and that all ATX boards are better. That is just bad advice all around.
Here's another unique full size ATX motherboard, and you'll be hardpressed to find a lot of people not happy with the quality of intel manufactured boards:
intel ATX board
And no, not all screw holes match up between ATX & mATX. On the image of the intel board, there are two screw holes above & below the 2nd & 3rd pci slots. Those holes are present in all mATX boards, but only on a few select ATX boards, and not all ATX cases support standoffs in those locations.
Bottom line, pick a motherboard with a very good chipset, from a reputable manufacturer, and check that it's well reviewed by others. If you post which mATX board you are looking at, people here could tell you if its a good chipset & a good manufacturer.
mATX wasn't designed to skrimp on component quality, it was designed to result in a smaller system. This means fewer expansion slots and a higher level of integration. That's not a bad thing, but a lot of enthusiasts have the impression that integrated means cheap. While integrated usually means less expensive, it's not always low quality. Look at some of nVidia's integrated solutions, for example.
dakota81,
I agree with ceh4702. Also, trying to get at things on an mATX board is another issue, though its probably not as bad when its in a full ATX case. I believe that an mATX board should stay in an mATX case. Any board that was designed to live in a case the size of a toaster is not worthy. Just my opinion.
I agree with ceh4702. Also, trying to get at things on an mATX board is another issue, though its probably not as bad when its in a full ATX case. I believe that an mATX board should stay in an mATX case. Any board that was designed to live in a case the size of a toaster is not worthy. Just my opinion.
I think we are missing the point. If someone wants a small footprint rig and is satisfied with what comes with the matx setup, and it satisfies their price-point as well, knows what they want and what they are getting with the matx, then that matx rig is fine for them.
If another person has a higer price-point and wants more goodies or more features, or more powerful features, and this system is based on an atx setup, then that atx setup is fine for them.
So it depends on the person, their needs, sometimes where the unit is being placed, and other considerations.
So both have their place.
And i also wouldnt use a PC CHIPS mobo as an example of a "bad purchase". For some people, at certain price points, these are quite decent units. I own one myself and it has been humming away for 4 yrs now, my wife uses it every night and on weekends too. Its an ECS board, but PC CHIPS owns ECS and PC CHIPS boards are very good for the money. Sure, there are better mobos, but you cant compare apples and oranges. If you are comparing apples to apples, PC CHIPS boards are a very good deal for the money.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
If another person has a higer price-point and wants more goodies or more features, or more powerful features, and this system is based on an atx setup, then that atx setup is fine for them.
So it depends on the person, their needs, sometimes where the unit is being placed, and other considerations.
So both have their place.
And i also wouldnt use a PC CHIPS mobo as an example of a "bad purchase". For some people, at certain price points, these are quite decent units. I own one myself and it has been humming away for 4 yrs now, my wife uses it every night and on weekends too. Its an ECS board, but PC CHIPS owns ECS and PC CHIPS boards are very good for the money. Sure, there are better mobos, but you cant compare apples and oranges. If you are comparing apples to apples, PC CHIPS boards are a very good deal for the money.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
dakota81
Of course I agree, boards like the PCchips 810LMR and the ECS K7SEM are cheap SIS based mainboards with full integration aimed squarely at the cheapest possible solution with the most features.
These kinds of motherboards are popular with PC builders because it gives them a very cheap entry point for advertising.
What we have to be aware of though, is the fact that there are many other MATX mainboards out there, that AREN'T necessarily aimed at the same low end market, boards based on the excellent Nforce2 400 chipset for instance, this chipset has been used by Asus, MSI and Leadtek to name but a few, to put together some excellent MATX boards using the same high quality components as their full size ATX brothers.
So kmcferrin was correct in his post, MATX doesn't always mean sub standard budget, it just happens that this form factor has attracted many budget orientated manufactures with cheap SIS based products, so we don't need to tar them all with the same brush.
Martin
We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.
Of course I agree, boards like the PCchips 810LMR and the ECS K7SEM are cheap SIS based mainboards with full integration aimed squarely at the cheapest possible solution with the most features.
These kinds of motherboards are popular with PC builders because it gives them a very cheap entry point for advertising.
What we have to be aware of though, is the fact that there are many other MATX mainboards out there, that AREN'T necessarily aimed at the same low end market, boards based on the excellent Nforce2 400 chipset for instance, this chipset has been used by Asus, MSI and Leadtek to name but a few, to put together some excellent MATX boards using the same high quality components as their full size ATX brothers.
So kmcferrin was correct in his post, MATX doesn't always mean sub standard budget, it just happens that this form factor has attracted many budget orientated manufactures with cheap SIS based products, so we don't need to tar them all with the same brush.
Martin
We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.
To dakota81
So some neophyte newbie zapped his system with static electrical charges or lost a screw inside the systems somewhere and didnt bother to fish it out when he couldnt find it right away. Big deal!! I know plenty of people who have these type systems and they are just fine.
Sure, they arent the best in the world, no denying that, but they do the job at a low price-point. And they are quite reliable as well.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
So some neophyte newbie zapped his system with static electrical charges or lost a screw inside the systems somewhere and didnt bother to fish it out when he couldnt find it right away. Big deal!! I know plenty of people who have these type systems and they are just fine.
Sure, they arent the best in the world, no denying that, but they do the job at a low price-point. And they are quite reliable as well.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
- Thread starter
- #12
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Question
- Locked
- Question
- Locked
- Question