Favored MB form factor? (ATX, mATX, ITX - poll included)

[PeterScott]

For my next build I wanted to downsize from Full ATX. I am never going to do SLI/CF, and adding cards seems much more of a rarity as time goes by. So why not go smaller?

I was surprised at the relative lack of ITX, mATX boards. Multiple ATX choices per chipset, often with just one token ITX/mATX per brand chipset (if that).

Do most people still want all those card slots?

So my question/poll to find out what people prefer. If you can elaborate on why that would be nice.

 

[ElFenix]

ATX. the extra slots can be useful even if you're only using a single graphics card and nothing else - you can put the card in a different slot to prevent interference with drive cages, cable locations, etc. also could be useful in troubleshooting.

 

[UsandThem]

I've only used ATX boards in my builds going back to 1997. My next build will almost certainly be mATX, if not smaller.

Like you, I don't run multiple video cards anymore, haven't used a discrete audio card since 2014, and motherboards can have everything like Bluetooth and Wifi on it.

 

[EXCellR8]

ATX for me as well, followed by mini ITX, basically all I own.

 

[PeterScott]

I've only used ATX boards in my builds going back to 1997. My next build will almost certainly be mATX, if not smaller.

Like you, I don't run multiple video cards anymore, haven't used a discrete audio card since 2014, and motherboards can have everything like Bluetooth and Wifi on it.

My first build was a 486 in 1993, so that was probably Baby AT.

Nearly a quarter century later I would have thought we would have miniaturized a bit more.

I get that some people need all those slots, but do most people? I need a GPU slot, and maybe one more for something unforeseen in the future. But 7 slots?

 

[Crono]

I like mini ITX, especially now that multi GPU is seeing less support and that m.2 has become standard. There's very little I need to connect to my motherboard now, though a full ATX build is still nice for the upgradability, cooling options, and working space they afford.

 

[fleshconsumed]

Depends on the application. pfSense box obviously uses mITX. Everything else ATX for flexibility reasons. My primary desktop for example has 2 slot videocard, second NVMI drive in one of the PCIe 3.0 16x slots and a discrete sound card. I don't want to cram all of that into mATX motherboard so ATX it is. Server box has multiple add on cards too. Technically I could get away with using mATX in HTPC, but HTPC usually gets whatever was in my main desktop after I upgrade it, so it also gets ATX. Technically GF could also get away with mATX, but once again, she just gets my leftover ATX stuff.

 

[Rifter]

ATX. the extra slots can be useful even if you're only using a single graphics card and nothing else - you can put the card in a different slot to prevent interference with drive cages, cable locations, etc. also could be useful in troubleshooting.

Couldnt have said it better myself. Not to mention more room for m2 slots.

 

[StrangerGuy]

MATX for best size/price/expandability balance and ITX for minimum size. I despise full ATX with a burning passion for being a outdated oversized standard, I haven't used more than 2 card slots since 2003 and 99% of that time not more than one.

 

[arandomguy]

Most people don't need or use what ATX brings over mATX.

Most people don't benefit from the space savings of mATX over ATX.

So it's a bit interesting for the DIY and custom market in terms of common offerings, no reason not to switch over but no reason to switch to mATX being the most common offering either.

 

[bigboxes]

I want a bigger case. mATX is so limiting for options, expansion, cooling, and just general room to work with. If my goal is to build the tiniest computer then mATX all the way. I just replaced my file server's mobo with a mATX and can't wait for the day that I toss it in favor of an E-ATX board.

 

[EXCellR8]

Most people don't need or use what ATX brings over mATX.

Most people don't benefit from the space savings of mATX over ATX.

So it's a bit interesting for the DIY and custom market in terms of common offerings, no reason not to switch over but no reason to switch to mATX being the most common offering either.

MOST people don't build their own computers.

 

[rchunter]

My current x99 board is single socket SSI CEB form factor.
I prefer a full size mb. I usually keep my boards for a long time and having the extra space is nice for expansion. I also run internal pci-e capture cards in my machine.

 

[arandomguy]

MOST people don't build their own computers.

I'm assuming this discussion is framed in terms the DIY market and to some extent the custom/boutique market.

The mainstream consumer market as well as user facing enterprise market (eg. what the employees interact with not servers) has long since moved to mATX for its desktops or other smaller alternatives to the desktop such as AIOs, NUCs, or even laptops and other mobile devices.

 

[repoman0]

I went over to mATX a year or two ago and kind of regret it. Yes, it is objectively the right form factor for most of us, but the motherboard selection is pretty limited. I bought a Fractal Define Mini and the full size ATX version (Define S?) is really not much bigger at all.

Then again I wouldn't actually gain anything over the mATX board I have now ... maybe a slightly higher overclock, but it has everything I need feature wise. Just wasn't a lot of choice for board selection and it's a little limited in OC features, but got me to a solid point anyway.

 

[PeterScott]

I went over to mATX a year or two ago and kind of regret it. Yes, it is objectively the right form factor for most of us, but the motherboard selection is pretty limited. I bought a Fractal Define Mini and the full size ATX version (Define S?) is really not much bigger at all.

Then again I wouldn't actually gain anything over the mATX board I have now ... maybe a slightly higher overclock, but it has everything I need feature wise. Just wasn't a lot of choice for board selection and it's a little limited in OC features, but got me to a solid point anyway.

This is exactly the issue I am looking at now. Lack of MB choice in mATX, and wondering why it is so tilted to ATX.

I am looking at new Intel z370 MBs. A company might have 8-10 z370 MBs. They will have 1 token ITX, 1 token mATX, and all the rest are ATX.

I actually started out looking at ITX, but there are actual limitations on those boards. You get less RAM slots, probably less SATA connectors, less power phases, less m.2, and the cases always have issues.

 

[Campy]

My last build was mATX and my current is ATX, but I've always wanted a mini ITX build for the portability and nice small size to go on my desk.

I try to keep tabs on mITX products and there are a bunch of nice cases for the form factor that support ATX size PSUs, and some can even support 280mm radiator CLCs. Most of the motherboards still have at least 4 SATA ports, which honestly is more than enough in such a small case, especially when you have a couple of m.2 slots to play with too. 2x16GB RAM kits aren't rare these days either, not even 3000+ MHz ones.
The one big caveat that keeps me from going ITX is cooling, but also to some degree I still like the look of a full size case with a window.

 

[Chaotic42]

I like mATX for my gaming and HTPC systems, as long as they have optical audio out. My processing machine needs to be ATX or larger because I need a lot of memory on it. In general I prefer the smallest, quietest, least RGB lit system I can get for any given task.

 

[DaveSimmons]

"It depends"

For my upcoming Coffee Lake build I want ATX since it's going into an Antec P280.

For my next music jukebox it will probably be either mini-ITX or even smaller in a fanless NUC style heatsink-case with laptop CPU.

I keep wanting to build a mini-ITX gaming PC "just because," but I know using the Antec will let me build something quiet much more easily.

 

[whm1974]

I have always used ATX ever since I started building my computers. I'm thinking about going to MicroATX for my next build, but I am not sure yet.

 

[cmvrgr]

I like mATX because you can have a compact system with almost the options of full atx.

 

[Chaotic42]

No BTX fans in the house?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

ITX is my aesthetic preference, but mATX is probably the best price/size/performance compromise.

 

[NCIXGreg]

My last system I went mITX and I love it. She's in a Fractal Node 304 so I have room for 4 drives, I'm not really missing any features that I want.

Next build I may go up to mATX, but I don't think I'm going back to full sized ATX anymore.

And no, nobody likes BTX.

 

[crashtech]

I'm surprised by the results. Seems advocates of smaller form factors are a vocal minority. I use ATX for almost everything, although I did build an SFF mini-ITX system for my wife, and also have an SFF out on the shop floor. The thing I like most about ATX is that you already know it will have at least four RAM slots, which often comes in handy. That and being able to reposition the GPU are big pluses for me.