M-atx Size

[Glendora Spink]

microATXwas explicitly designed to be backward compatible with ATX. The mounting points of microATX motherboards are a subset of those used on full-size ATX boards, and the I/O panel is identical. Thus, microATX motherboards can be used in full-size ATX cases. Furthermore, most microATX motherboards generally use the same power connectors as ATX motherboards,[a] thus permitting the use of full-size ATX power supplies with microATX boards.

microATX boards often use the same chipsets as full-size ATX boards, allowing them to use many of the same components. However, since microATX cases are typically much smaller than ATX cases, they usually have fewer expansion slots.[citation needed]

In the DIY PC market, microATX motherboards in general are favored by cost-conscious buyers, where cost savings for the equivalent feature sets outweigh the added expandability of extra PCI/PCI Express slots provided by the full ATX versions. Since 2006, dual-GPU configurations became possible on microATX motherboards for high-end enthusiast gaming setups, further reducing the need for full ATX motherboards.[6]

Compared to Mini-ITX, microATX motherboards have a maximum of four expansion slots and four DIMM slots, as opposed to the single expansion slot and two DIMM (or SO-DIMM[9]) slots on Mini-ITX motherboards. This means that microATX allows dual-graphics card and quad-channel memory configurations.[10]

Building a new gaming PC means making a number of exciting decisions. AMD or Intel? How much RAM should you have? Should you push the boat out and get a 4K-enabled graphics card? Is it worth it to add some eye-catching watercooling for an extra quiet build?

Indeed, the Chillblast system configurator for custom gaming PCs is specifically divided into M-ATX and ATX builds, offering different hardware options and designs for each. What makes them so different, though? And which should you pick when it comes to building your new PC?

The Advanced Technology Extended, or ATX form-factor, is the name for a particular specification of motherboard and power supply that, when debuted in 1995, built upon older designs to create a more unified and capable standard for the industry.

Unless you have a specific purpose for them in mind though, standard ATX cases are usually more efficient in their use of space, leaving room for additional components instead of greater motherboard sizes.

With a greater motherboard surface area to work with, ATX PCs almost always have a greater array of component options to choose from. They tend to support a greater number of storage drives and add-in cards.

ATX motherboards also typically have more capable cooling and higher-end components for its voltage regulator module (VRM), which can play a major part in how overclockable a system is. If you want to push your CPU and memory to their maximum potential, an ATX motherboard is almost certainly the way to go.

Due to being the most popular PC form-factor, ATX motherboards also receive more support from manufacturers. In turn, that means Chillblast can offer a wider array of ATX motherboards. That gives you more choice in aesthetics, features, and performance, ultimately making it easier to get a gaming PC that meets and exceeds your expectations.

M-ATX is the slightly smaller cousin of ATX, cutting its length by around 25 percent, to a typical size of 244 x 244 mm. It supports all of the same processors and graphics cards as ATX motherboards, as well as four RAM slots, but typically cuts back on a few additional features to help save space.

Most M-ATX boards will typically have a maximum of two PCIExpress x16 slots, with the second mounted very close to the bottom edge of the board. This makes it hard to fit dual graphics cards in most cases designed with M-ATX boards in mind.

M-ATX cases come in all sorts of shapes and types, offering noise-cancelling foam and side panelling for quiet, refined builds, or more open, tempered-glass designs that show off more of what you have inside.

In either instance, the cases themselves are smaller and lighter, taking up less space on your desk or floor, and making them more portable if you like to travel to LAN parties or move your PC from room to room.

Despite that smaller physical footprint, modern M-ATX cases can still enjoy high-end cooling with excellently designed system fans and cooling chambers. Cable management is a little more difficult due to reduced space to hide them away, but with less open space, M-ATX builds can be much neater looking too.

Perhaps the most important benefit of M-ATX PCs though, is cost. Thanks to their reduced physical size and materials that go into the smaller motherboard, you can make a noticeable saving by opting for an M-ATX PC over a full-size ATX design.

Mini-ITX is the next step down in size from M-ATX, and the next step-up in terms of space and cost saving. Mini-ITX motherboards measure just 170 x 170mm, and represent the smallest standard motherboard size available.

Several factors go into building any new PC, no matter what you want to use it for and picking the right size and form factor is one of the most important. When it comes to choosing the right PC size for you, consider what you want to use it for, how much space you have, and what your budget is like.

Up to eight (8) mounting holes are available. The two holes circled in green are optional positions for motherboard manufacturers to utilize and holes circled in red are usually eliminated if the board size is small to not require them.

DTX specifies length to be 8 inches with width varying from 6.7 to 9.6 inches. Mini-DTX specifically refers to DTX motherboards with a width of 6.7 inches. Compared to Micro-ATX, DTX has two less expansion slots.

Up to six (6) mounting holes are available. The holes circled in red are usually eliminated if the board size is small enough to not require them.Mini-DTX is the more common of the two DTX form factors

Many ASUS ROG series motherboards have dimensions of 12 inches by 10.6 inches, which is slightly larger than CEB specification. Cases designed for CEB motherboards are generally compatible with ASUS ROG series motherboards such as RAVEN RV02 and Fortress FT02.

While motherboard sizes are mostly standardized thanks to the ATX standard, motherboards still come in multiple sizes. All those sizes are standardized, but as someone new to PC building, you might be left a little confused by the difference between motherboard sizes and whether there are any other differences rather than just size.

The standard ATX size is close in dimensions to the older Baby AT format, but not quite. While Baby AT is 8.5 inches by 13 inches, ATX is slightly shorter but wider, at 9.6 inches by 12 inches. An ATX motherboard can fit many components, such as one CPU socket, up to four RAM slots, and multiple PCI Express slots, as well as all the necessary power connectors from your power supply (which are also part of the ATX standard since it's made to fit these motherboards).

ATX motherboards typically fit best inside either a half-tower or a full-tower, but they will not fit in smaller cases, something you need to consider when purchasing. In the market, this size is typically mostly reserved for mid-range to high-end motherboards since it has enough size to accommodate everything an average PC user or enthusiast would need.

Micro ATX is similar in size to a regular ATX motherboard, removing some vertical size, sitting at 9.6 inches by 9.6 inches. So while ATX is a rectangle, Micro ATX is square-shaped. You have many of the same commodities ATX has, including four RAM slots, but you have fewer PCI Express slots as a result of the reduced space. Aside from less expandability, though, you can expect Micro ATX boards to be very similar to their ATX counterparts.

Originally, they were a niche form factor developed by Via Technologies in 2001, but they gained steam several years later. They're 6.7 inches by 6.7 inches, so they're a good chunk smaller than Micro ATX. This size starts to come at the expense of some features. Most Mini ITX motherboards come with only two RAM slots and one single PCI Express slot with 16 lanes.

They gained steam thanks to small form factor (SFF) PCs becoming popular over the years. Some PCs are built to be roughly the same size or slightly bigger than a game console, and while building difficulty varies as you go smaller, a Mini ITX case is a must. For that reason, they're available for everything from low-end to full high-end.

While we already mentioned the three most common motherboard sizes, there are plenty of others that you might want to be aware of. Unfortunately, these are not commonly seen outside super-premium, server, or otherwise niche PCs.

In terms of size, Flex ATX is actually somewhere in between Micro ATX and Mini ITX, sitting at 9 inches by 7.5 inches. You won't really find a lot of Flex ATX motherboards out there, but you might occasionally see one inside of a low-end, prebuilt PC for something like an office.

Finally, we have the smallest size on this list: Mini STX. This standard was developed by Intel and sits at 5.8 inches by 5.9 inches. So while it manages to undercut the size of Mini ITX, it does so at the cost of expandability. You have no PCI Express expansion (some of these motherboards will include an MXM port if you need to plug in a PCIe peripheral), and the RAM slots are downgraded to laptop SODIMM slots, of which you still only have two.

LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. Learn more in our Cookie Policy.

If you are planning to build your own computer, one of the most important decisions you have to make is choosing the right motherboard. The motherboard is the main circuit board that connects all the other components of your system, such as the CPU, RAM, GPU, storage drives, and more. But not all motherboards are the same. There are different types of motherboards that vary in size, shape, features, and compatibility. In this article, we will explain the main differences between ATX, microATX, and mini-ITX motherboards, and help you decide which one suits your needs and preferences.

3a8082e126