I f'd up and ordered a Micro-ATX board. I can't return it.

[HonorFool]

If I keep it, I'm gonna need to buy a new case I guess. But, can I keep it with this build? I built the whole PC pretty unconventionally.

motherboard: MSI z68Ma-ED55 (b3) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130596
cpu: i5 2500k
memory: 2 x 4gb ram
GPU: eVGA GTX 570 (too big and hot for micro-atx?)

I don't see any PCI slots, but I guess I can use onboard sound... I don't really mind the stuff it lacks at all, but I'm worried about it all fitting and heat. I'm probably going to need to get a expensive-ass micoATX case with a million fans, huh?

 

[d4a2n0k]

Micro ATX mobo will work in an ATX case.

 

[HonorFool]

Oh, good. And a roomier case would be better, huh? What are the downsides, beside there being less ports? It has sli and crossfire support and stuff, but I'm fearing 1 GTX570 won't fit much less 2 in the distant future.

Getting a Micro-ATX isn't a big deal i take it?

 

[dma0991]

mATX boards are great fun to build with IMO, especially if you could get a case that fits mATX boards like a glove as well. You don't have to get a mATX specific case if you don't want(they are not expensive actually, eg CM Elite 343 & CM Elite 360).

A mATX board will fit into a standard ATX case if you do not fancy smaller mATX cases. AFAIK most sound cards slot into the PCIE 1x slot so there is no problem whatsoever slotting in a sound card. Unless we're dealing with legacy PCI cards here then we will have a little bit of a problem.

 

[HonorFool]

I was going to reuse my old audigy 2 ZS platinum card. Oh well. So my GPU doesn't look too big and hot for this board?

I'm comparing this to the board I meant to get and I guess I won't be able to SLI in the future with this afterall. Maybe SLI won't be my best upgrade option anyway.

 

[Shawn]

Nothing wrong with MicroATX. Probably cheaper because there is less PCB and components. It has 4 PCI Express slots: 2 x16 and 2 x1, unless you are talking about the old school PCI slots, but those are very dated now and not really necessary.

You can get PCI Express sound cards, however I have been using the digital out on my onboard audio for several years now and I have never had any problems. Sounds great. Only works if you have a way to decode it though, like a receiver.

 

[dawp]

one option is to use this board for now and when you get the cash up, move this one to an HTPC or a server and get the board you really wanted. you shouldn't need to do a reinstall if they use the same chipset.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Onboard sound is fine for games now, and you don't need to mess with flaky Creative drivers.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Yeah. They're all right. Heck -- for the family, I built some mATX machines in their beige 1990's-era tower cases with a little sheet-metal work. Those boards cost about $80 or $90. They only had two memory slots.

Nobody complains. They have gigabit ethernet, TV tuner, decent onboard graphics.

And it isn't the board-size that would limit your PCIE graphics card size. It would be your case.

Figure you have the Z68 chipset, plenty of PCI-E slots including two "x16", and four slots for RAM.

My guess -- this COULD be a decent little mobo!