mATX vs. ATX vs. "extended" ATX

[TheJTrain]

Looking to update my 5-year-old rig from LGA775 to LGA1155, pondering a couple of different boards, and had a question or two.

Is all you're really losing on a mATX board (in general, of course it depends on the chipset/specs/etc.) the space for the now-mostly-unnecessary PCI slots? I'm looking at a bundle at MicroCenter with either an Asrock Z77 Pro4-M (mATX) or an ASUS P8Z77-V LX (ATX). mATX might be nice because it seems to do everything I need, it's less $ and takes up less space in the case, which could provide for better cable management, etc. I just want to make sure I'm not losing anything else. Also considered the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H - I don't have any experience with any of those brands; I've been pretty happy with my eVGAs but these bundle deals with the i5-3570K are hard to pass up, and MC doesn't carry eVGA boards.

Is "extended" ATX just ATX that happens to be a bit longer PCB so it can accommodate more stuff? More than likely it'll fit in my old case that fits my current ATX board?

 

[Boulard83]

Lots of mATX board also loose a few Sata and USB ports. They usually have less Fan header.

I currently use a P8Z77m-PRO motherboard and i really like this little thing.

 

[greenhawk]

generally going matx you loose expantion options (less slots of all types) and have less connectors to more common things (sata and usb being high on that list) but that second is more to do with the detail that people that go the mATX setup have small cases and do not need those items anyway.

re E-ATX boards, not all cases can take them as they are longer, so being a ATX case does not guarrente a E-ATX will fit. in most cases, they will not.

As to mATX again, as long as it has all the features you want, going it over ATX is not a issue (they use to cost more going back a few years). Adding a video card is a given, adding a extra card like a sound card (if you do not like the onboard) or wireless card (if not wanting USB and the motherboard does not have it inbult) then only one extra slot is not a issue. Only problem with heavly integrated boards is the same as any other piece of electronics, if part of the board dies (outside warrenty) and you have no slots to place a card version into the board, then you have to buy a new board due to one faulty part. Not a bit deal when the boards are cheap, can be a issue down the road when the socket becomes obsolete.

But if using a 5 year old computer and have not done any major upgrades in that time, you proberly will not see a need to do a major upgrade in the future either.

 

[HURRIC4NE]

just upgrade to an ATX board, they are the best for everything, however if you can fit in an extended board... go for it!

 

[TheJTrain]

Thanks for the replies - I'm not too worried about the lack of expansion slots & input ports, I haven't run a PCI card for anything in years, don't have any eSATA devices, and don't need tons of USB ports.

 

[bononos]

Thanks for the replies - I'm not too worried about the lack of expansion slots & input ports, I haven't run a PCI card for anything in years, don't have any eSATA devices, and don't need tons of USB ports.

The ATX-M form factor is also popular for budget models which have no heatsinks for vrms and less power phases. Its probably not an issue if your cpu has somewhat lower power requirements.

 

[Meghan54]

The ATX-M form factor is also popular for budget models which have no heatsinks for vrms and less power phases. Its probably not an issue if your cpu has somewhat lower power requirements.

First, the form factor is known as mATX, not ATX-M.



Second, while it's true that the budget end of mATX motherboards in any chipset variation will be cheaply made, so are full size ATX boards in the budget category.


But when you bother to look above the budget segment, you can most certainly find mATX boards that are almost the equal of their ATX counterparts, the Asus Gene lineup is one example. So, just because one chooses to go with a mATX board doesn't mean one has to forgoe any power phases or heatsinks at all. You will give up PCI/PCIe slots, but if you're going to use more than 3 slots on the board, you won't be considering the mATX form factor in the first place.


I'm on my third Asus Gene motherboard and couldn't be happier with them. They all have overclocked as well as their full size counterparts, have all the slots I need, have all the power phases necessary to, for instance, take a 2600k up to and over 5GHz with rock solid stability.


So, if the mATX form factor is at all attractive to you, OP, don't hesitate to look at the good offerings out there...they do exist and they're not all budget, stripped down boards.

 

[bononos]

First, the form factor is known as mATX, not ATX-M.

Second, while it's true that the budget end of mATX motherboards in any chipset variation will be cheaply made, so are full size ATX boards in the budget category.

But when you bother to look above the budget segment, you can most certainly find mATX boards that are almost the equal of their ATX counterparts, the Asus Gene lineup is one example. So, just because one chooses to go with a mATX board doesn't mean one has to forgoe any power phases or heatsinks at all. You will give up PCI/PCIe slots, but if you're going to use more than 3 slots on the board, you won't be considering the mATX form factor in the first place.

I'm on my third Asus Gene motherboard and couldn't be happier with them. They all have overclocked as well as their full size counterparts, have all the slots I need, have all the power phases necessary to, for instance, take a 2600k up to and over 5GHz with rock solid stability.
.....

Just a slip of the keyboard, I'm well aware of the difference.

I never said mATX is inferior, just that budget models often use the mATX form factor. Its worth pointing out because newbies may have that checklist mentality and stability of VRMs for one aren't yet common knowledge. Furthermore the OP did say that his interest in mATX was to save $.

Your comment about the Asus Gene is odd since it is an oddball expensive model with 6 ram slots.

 

[BD231]

I swear by micro atx, all of the overclocking features, identical chipsets and none of the wasted space/unused PCI-E slots.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Lots of mATX board also loose a few Sata and USB ports. They usually have less Fan header.

I currently use a P8Z77m-PRO motherboard and i really like this little thing.

Just ordered this one myself. Don't see why I need ATX anymore, it's been long since I actually needed the expansion options.

This thing has everything I need, including the, for an m-ATX board, very decent amount of 3 casefanheaders.

My only concern is the Realtek ALC892 sound chip, but since I'm not an audiophile I doubt I will notice the difference vs my current ALC889 one.

Reduced power consumption vs ATX is also nice.

Your comment about the Asus Gene is odd since it is an oddball expensive model with 6 ram slots.

Sorry? Maximus V GENE has 4 ram slots, like every other Z77 board. Compared to the full size ROG mobo's it's a very good deal, but a bit overkill nonetheless if you're not into fairly hardcore overclocking.

What I don't like about this board is that 2 of the internal sata ports come from an Asmedia controller instead of the Intel chipset. (the other 2 Intel ports are used for e-sata and mini-sata slots.)

 

[bononos]

.....

Reduced power consumption vs ATX is also nice.

Sorry? Maximus V GENE has 4 ram slots, like every other Z77 board. Compared to the full size ROG mobo's it's a very good deal, but a bit overkill nonetheless if you're not into fairly hardcore overclocking.
.....

My mistake, it was the Rampage Gene I looked up, regardless it is more of an expensive enthusiast model (Z77/Z68 Gene costs $210/$190) which cost more than some very good well reviewed standard ATX mbs.
Reduced power consumption is hardly a reason for consideration, I can't believe it saves much than than a few watts esp. the full featured boards which you are talking about.

 

[philipma1957]

I did 4 builds this year and I am going to do two more.

2 builds were atx and two were mATX.

the mATX are fine I also found a nice mATX case on the new egg web site.

a rosewill 25 bucks on sale.

I am far more happy with the mATX builds. then the full size builds. I purchased 2 more rosewill cases for the mATX builds.
This build can do gaming or htpc. Is small and quiet.

 

[coffeejunkee]

My mistake, it was the Rampage Gene I looked up, regardless it is more of an expensive enthusiast model (Z77/Z68 Gene costs $210/$190) which cost more than some very good well reviewed standard ATX mbs.
Reduced power consumption is hardly a reason for consideration, I can't believe it saves much than than a few watts esp. the full featured boards which you are talking about.

Yes it's obviously not a budget board, that's why I said it's a good deal when compared to the Asus ATX ROG boards, which are quite a bit more expensive but don't really offer that much more (mainly ability to run 3 or 4 videocards).

Power consumption should be compared to same class full size boards ofcourse, and then it can be anything between 10 to 20 or even more Watt less. If your pc is on a good part of the day like mine this starts to add up. Also, in most parts of Europe electricity is considerably more expensive. So if you live in US and don't care about the environment at all, it might be less relevant.

But TS is considering Asrock Z77 Pro4-M. I don't see anything wrong with it, has 8 sata ports, internal usb3, 2 casefanheaders, vrm heatsinks in case you want to do some overclocking. Could maybe use a few more usb on the back but those display connections take up a lot of space.

 

[pauldun170]

Gone are the days where I need to plug in soundcards and multiple nic cards.
I'm also not the type to use multiple gpu's are have windowed cases.
also done with 4+ hard drives and multiple drive bays filled with CD\DVD\BR

Micro all the way. As long as the VRM\heatsinks setup is solid I can't see myself spending cash on a full size board and full size case ever again.

 

[cmdrdredd]

The problem, and only problem with most mATX motherboards occurs with large CPU coolers like the NH-D14 or Thermalright SIlver Arrow. They interfere with the upper video card slot.

 

[ShintaiDK]

I went MiniITX. Didnt miss out on anything I wanted.

My last build was mATX. And I cant imagine a big bulky computer again.

And OC aint a problem either...

http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-p8z77-i-deluxe-review-redefining-the-itx-gaming-pc/15357-4.html

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

I have used a Micro ATX boards for a number of builds and really like them. Recently I had to build a number of new systems using ATX boards and I must I haven't come close to filling the slots in them. And until I am building some more servers I don't see any reason to use E-ATX.

I haven't done anything with Mini-ITX but I want to build some soon.

 

[bononos]

Yes it's obviously not a budget board, that's why I said it's a good deal when compared to the Asus ATX ROG boards, which are quite a bit more expensive but don't really offer that much more (mainly ability to run 3 or 4 videocards).

Power consumption should be compared to same class full size boards ofcourse, and then it can be anything between 10 to 20 or even more Watt less. If your pc is on a good part of the day like mine this starts to add up. Also, in most parts of Europe electricity is considerably more expensive. So if you live in US and don't care about the environment at all, it might be less relevant.
............

Yes if you can save money over a full size ATX for 3 less expansion slots it is a good thing.

How did you find out mATX uses 10W-20W less vs ATX (comparable features)? Power consumption was something I looked out for some time back and I found that it was so small that it wasn't worth considering.

The Maximus Gene uses about the same amount of power.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/asus-maximus-v-gene-motherboard-review/8
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Mother...ro-ATX-Motherboard-Review/Power-Consumption-a
http://techreport.com/articles.x/17789/5
The techreport review showed that the diff btwn mATX/ATX was only 7W max for MSI P55M-GD55/ P55-GD65 and 1-3W with MSI APS enabled. Diff btwn Gigabyte P55M-UD4/ P55M-UD4P is also only max 4W. Thats why I don't feel like I'm killing the environment if I don't enable the extra power management s/w.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Well, I was basing my statement on numbers in my head from different reviews I read over the years. Probably not a good idea, because I see now the difference is not that big in most cases. In fact, in this review: http://nl.hardware.info/reviews/265...gstest-stroomverbruik-zonder-losse-videokaart the Asus P8Z77-M Pro actually consumes a little bit more than full size Asus P8Z77-V Pro...(dutch site, numbers are with igp).

So, I take that back and am pleasantly surprised that an ATX board actually has lowest idle consumption in that test.