Could I Get Away With A MICRO ATX Board?

[ttechf]

Hey,

So, I'm wondering if perhaps I could get away if you will with a Micro ATX board instead of a full size one. Sure, I know there's a few drawbacks but I'm not a power user and I never plan to put 3 video cards into my MoBo or anything. Or should I just get a full size board?

Only thing I'd still like to be able to do is overclock. Not ridiculous but a nice overclock.


This is the one I had in mind and by all means, suggest more to me that will save me even more money or the same money but better features.

Note - I really like the UEFI BIOS and would most likely want it.


- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157306



Thank you. : )

 

[Don Karnage]

Has 3 power phase's so its not going to be a great overclocker. Want something like this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138355

 

[ttechf]

Has 3 power phase's so its not going to be a great overclocker. Want something like this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138355

Thanks a lot.

So overclocking from 3.5Ghz on an i5 to 4Ghz, I'd need that board?

I've thought about going AMD Trinity APU later this year and the base is 3.8Ghz, turbo is 4.2Ghz. I'd like to OC to like 4.4 or 4.5Ghz. You can't recommend me a board yet due to FM2 isn't out yet but I'd need a good board for that, right?

 

[Don Karnage]

Thanks a lot.

So overclocking from 3.5Ghz on an i5 to 4Ghz, I'd need that board?

I've thought about going AMD Trinity APU later this year and the base is 3.8Ghz, turbo is 4.2Ghz. I'd like to OC to like 4.4 or 4.5Ghz. You can't recommend me a board yet due to FM2 isn't out yet but I'd need a good board for that, right?

No one stops at 4.0. 4.5Ghz would be simple with the board i linked.

 

[ttechf]

No one stops at 4.0. 4.5Ghz would be simple with the board i linked.

Haha, one thing i noticed is I don't think you linked me to a micro ATX, I still think that is a full sized board?

 

[Don Karnage]

Haha, one thing i noticed is I don't think you linked me to a micro ATX, I still think that is a full sized board?

Yeah thats a full size board. Would you prefer a micro?

 

[The_Golden_Man]

The mATX board in the first post actually has 6 phase power, and not 3, according to my counting

 

[Don Karnage]

The mATX board in the first post actually has 6 phase power, and not 3, according to my counting

I imagine it's 4 for CPU and 2 for memory

 

[ttechf]

Yeah thats a full size board. Would you prefer a micro?

Yes, if I could without sacrificing power and overclockability?

I don't need all the bells and whistles, just something that is nice and not outdated. : )

 

[Zap]

You can absolutely go mATX without sacrificing overclockability. How much you willing to spend?

GIGABYTE GA-Z77MX-D3H $130

ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M $130

ASRock Z77 Professional-M $170

GIGABYTE G1.Sniper M3 $180

ASUS Maximus V Gene $210

I don't understand the pricing for the Asus board, because the older IV Gene was priced $30 less. Guess it was the only top end mATX board for a while, so it got popular and made a name for itself.

 

[Meghan54]

Well, as for can you live with a mATX board, sure you can.

Four desktop computers in our house and all have mATX boards.....father-in-law's has an i5 750 with some Gigabyte mATX board, forget the model. Wife has a 2500k on an Z68 AsRock Pro3-M. I've got a 3570K on a Z77 Maximus V Gene. Just finished one this morning that has a G620 on a Z77 AsRock Pro4-M (that combo turned out to be darned quick!).


In fact, the last three boards on my main rig have been a Rampage III Gene, a Maximus IV Gene-Z and now the aforementioned Max. V Gene. All were a pleasure to use and OC'd well. The AsRock in the wife's computer, while not as OC'able as the Asus models, does right well.

And don't miss having a full sized ATX board one bit.

 

[Meghan54]

ASUS Maximus V Gene $210

I don't understand the pricing for the Asus board, because the older IV Gene was priced $30 less. Guess it was the only top end mATX board for a while, so it got popular and made a name for itself.

Yeah, that was the only part about the MV Gene that was bad....damned price creep. Great board, tho.

 

[ttechf]

You can absolutely go mATX without sacrificing overclockability. How much you willing to spend?

GIGABYTE GA-Z77MX-D3H $130

ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M $130

ASRock Z77 Professional-M $170

GIGABYTE G1.Sniper M3 $180

ASUS Maximus V Gene $210

I don't understand the pricing for the Asus board, because the older IV Gene was priced $30 less. Guess it was the only top end mATX board for a while, so it got popular and made a name for itself.

Thanks! appreciate it. I'll probably go with the ASRock Extreme4 for $130. : )

 

[Don Karnage]

Yeah, that was the only part about the MV Gene that was bad....damned price creep. Great board, tho.

A ROG board for 199.99 is a damn steal

 

[Phishy714]

Keep in mind that another drawback is less Sata ports overall - but you don't sound like this would be a big deal anyways. Enjoy the board! AsRock has come a long way at being a very good mobo manufacturer.

 

[cmdrdredd]

You can absolutely go mATX without sacrificing overclockability. How much you willing to spend?

GIGABYTE GA-Z77MX-D3H $130

ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M $130

ASRock Z77 Professional-M $170

GIGABYTE G1.Sniper M3 $180

ASUS Maximus V Gene $210

I don't understand the pricing for the Asus board, because the older IV Gene was priced $30 less. Guess it was the only top end mATX board for a while, so it got popular and made a name for itself.

My guess is there is no formula or extreme to compete so people will buy it since it's a ROG board and the only z77 version available.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

As long as you don't need many expansion slots you could probably get away with it.

However I don't recommend it. Everything is more cramped on mATX boards and on my motherboard the GPU blocks some SATA ports which makes the system a little harder to work on.

 

[Zap]

Keep in mind that another drawback is less Sata ports overall - but you don't sound like this would be a big deal anyways.

Nope, not that big a deal.

GIGABYTE GA-Z77MX-D3H $130
6x SATA ports

ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M $130
8x SATA ports + eSATA

ASRock Z77 Professional-M $170
8x SATA ports + eSATA

GIGABYTE G1.Sniper M3 $180
5x SATA ports + eSATA

ASUS Maximus V Gene $210
6x SATA ports + eSATA

How many SATA ports does a typical computer need these days with 4TB HDDs and even 512GB SSDs under $1/GB?

My big tower rig at home that is stuffed with drives has:
2x SSD
2x 3TB HDDs
1x ODD
Any of these mATX boards would suffice.

 

[cmdrdredd]

As long as you don't need many expansion slots you could probably get away with it.

However I don't recommend it. Everything is more cramped on mATX boards and on my motherboard the GPU blocks some SATA ports which makes the system a little harder to work on.

Most boards put the sata ports sideways so you aren't blocking their usage.

 

[Meghan54]

However I don't recommend it. Everything is more cramped on mATX boards and on my motherboard the GPU blocks some SATA ports which makes the system a little harder to work on.

That can be a problem and I've noticed it much more on Gigabyte boards as a brand. AsRock and Asus both seem to have figured that out and solved it, as noted before by others.

Heck, even that cheapie AsRock Pro4-M has 6 SATA ports on the side and 2 more like your Gigabyte board. Fortunately, all the "good" ports are side placed and won't be blocked by anything.