Micro ATX - mATX - life expectancies

Noid

Platinum Member
Sep 20, 2000
2,389
193
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Hi all ...

I built a LAN box about 5 years ago, and have put 3 AMD micro mb's in it. None of the mb's lasted more than 1.5 years. ( 1 DFI and 2 - ASrock - all with OnBoard video )

Needless to say ... over $300 in mb's is unacceptable.

What are your experiences?

It's a pity I will be putting this nice mATX case back in the box and into the closet.

I'm currently writing on my NF7-S with W2K. Still overclocked at 200fsb at 1T for over 11 years. I will be moving components from the LAN box to a standard ATX case now.
 
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Batmeat

Senior member
Feb 1, 2011
803
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Funny that they haven't lasted that long. I know mATX is gaining popularity, so I'd imagine quality ought to be good. I don't have any personal experience with them though....yet. I'm pricing out a micro setup to build for my birthday in a couple weeks.
 

WilliamM2

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2012
2,664
671
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I've had DFI mATX boards running here at work for much longer than 5 years. Some of them are P3's, most are P4's. I have Lanparty ATX boards that are 9 years old as well. I kind of miss DFI, they always seemed very reliable to me.

We also have a few Asrock boards running here, some are close to 5 years old, never had an issue. Could the problem lie elsewhere, bad PS, or maybe not on a surge protector or UPS?
 

PClark99

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2000
3,825
70
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We need a little more information to go on here.

What case and power supply are you using?
Do you overclock, if so do you overvolt?
Do you have the computer plugged into a UPS/Surge Suppressor?

Post the specs on the entire machine.

It could be bad luck or it could be something else. I doubt it can be blamed on the smaller footprint of the matx board itself.

Been running matx myself for about 6 years and never had any issues. But I tend to load my case up with fans and a good CPU cooler.
 

Binky

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,046
4
81
It's not surprising that a machine that's moved around a lot has a shorter life than a machine that sits still, and possibly stays running. I'd also guess that the gaming machine is tinkered with more (video card upgrades, etc.) than the old-ass stable machine. Lots of power cycles, more frequent hardware changes, and bouncing around would shorten the life of any size motherboard. It most likely has nothing to do with the form factor.
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
It is probably like everthing else. There are good computers cases and cheap computer cases. One of the most important factors is the cooling and air flow inside the case. Also if you put a lot of things in a small case and the airflow is not good it will just overheat.

I have an antec computer case at home with an Intel MATX motherboard and it has been running for 5 years or so. Purchased an ANTEC case with an ANTEC Basiq power supply. This was a typical setup with a CORE 2 DUO processor (1st Gen - E7200), one Hard Drive and One optical drive. No overclocking. Still use it at home.

It is quite possible that you have a lousy power supply. In my case I have the fan set to low speed and use integrated video to watch movies. Sometimes play old low-end games. I play HALO on it also.
 

IntelEnthusiast

Intel Representative
Feb 10, 2011
582
2
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While I haven't seen any hard numbers I have talked to a lot of people being routed over to technical support; I have not seen anything that would lead me to believe that Micro-ATX boards are less reliable then an ATX board. Heck my home system is running an Intel® Desktop board DP55WB for two and half years now and never had an issue with it.
 
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superccs

Senior member
Dec 29, 2004
999
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Been using mATX for years now, now problems.... Only board I have had die on me was an ABIT p35 ATX board
 

thelastjuju

Senior member
Nov 6, 2011
444
2
0
Hopefully this "lan box" wasn't just a cheap case with poor airflow and an even cheaper PSU.

The link for it in your sig just directs me to anandtech's homepage.
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,684
5,223
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Been building with mATX boards for well over a decade, from those cheapo ECS/cpu combos Fry's used to sell to boards from Gigabyte, AsRock, Asus, Biostar and others, and honestly I've never noticed any shortened life span because of the form factor. Haven't had to take one of my builds back for a bad board in the last 15 years. In fact, I cannot remember the last motherboard that died on me.....been a long time. Maybe the Asus CUSL2 was the last I had to RMA for failure.

But during that time, I've had various sticks of RAM, video cards, hard drives, darned near every other component die...but motherboards have been rare and never had a cpu die. And I doubt the form factor would play a part in failure or longevity....manufacturer, sure, but not form factor.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
2
81
has nothing to do with the form factor.

This.

My in-laws are still using a Pentium 4 2.4GHz computer that I originally built for my wife almost a decade ago. It has an AOpen micro ATX motherboard in it.

As others have said, bad luck, lousy PSU, lousy AC power, lousy airflow, etc. can all contribute.
 

Noid

Platinum Member
Sep 20, 2000
2,389
193
106
This case was never transported, and was on wheels. Never bounced or bumped. However, I have an uncountable number of lightening strikes and transformer explosions here that have taken down my power. My power supplies are still Ok. ( I swapped a 550w Antec TP II to see if that was the problem )

I had to think about everything carefully, to create my mATX history.

I've had bad luck, "has nothing to do with the form factor"

Unable to EDIT my OP, so I will clarify my timeline.

____________________________
1/20/2007. -- Everything purchased to work with W2K, and my set of 512 Corsair XMS that runs 205fsb

Thermaltake VF1000BWS Black Aluminum Front Panel/ SECC Chassis MicroATX Desktop Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133035

DFI RS482 INFINITY 939 ATI Radeon Xpress 200 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Antec True Power Trio TP3-430
AMD Athlon 64 3400+ Venice 2.2GHz Socket 939 Single-Core
Thermaltake Venus 7+ 70mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

Graphics stopped working.

____________________________
3/22/2008

ASrock 939S56-M
SAPPHIRE 100218L Radeon HD 2600XT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16
CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200)

Everything ran nice until the Sapphire caught on fire.

____________________________
8/28/2010 - The 64bit W7pro LAN build

ADATA XPG Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000G
AMD Sempron 140 Sargas 2.7GHz
ASRock 880GMH/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX

6/24/2012 - No POST.


My final thoughts:

I have 2 mb's on 'Wishlist".
One of both form factors.

I really like this LAN box.

Sorry my frustration has mislead everyone in my OP.
 
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Binky

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,046
4
81
Lightning can have a detrimental effect on the life expectancy of almost any electronic device. ;)
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,566
10,181
126
I've still got my 780G mobo that I got when they first came out, using it as my HTPC for a number of years without issue. (Well, just one minor issue, the 40mm/60mm fans on the back of the case started making noise once.)
 

Charles Kozierok

Elite Member
May 14, 2012
6,762
1
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However, I have an uncountable number of lightening strikes and transformer explosions here that have taken down my power. My power supplies are still Ok.

They probably aren't. They will seem okay, but that doesn't mean they are.

What are you using for power protection?
 

Noid

Platinum Member
Sep 20, 2000
2,389
193
106
My update:
Turned out that my CPU died - not the MB.
( I have NEVER had a CPU die on me. So, my initial diagnosis was at fault. )

Anyway,,, Here's the new build. ( for $225 )

ASUS M5A88-M ( $100 )
AMD Athon II 3000 x4 640 ( $71 )
ADATA XPG 2000
Antec VP450 ( $35 )
ASUS DRW24B1ST ( $19 )

OC'd my X4 3000 @ 3625 ( 14.5 x 250fsb with 1.4v ) Passed 13 hours of P95 blend torture.
My A-Data DDR3 2000 running 1000 Mhz at default settings.
HT Link at 2500 Mhz.
GPU oc'd to 750.

No BSOD when Windows 7 x64 Pro initialized itself (from my ASrock install).
My W7 x64 Pro found all but 1 device ( USB3 ), before I popped in the driver CD.

Been running solid for over a month.

Very happy with this build. I will make an attempt to install a 'MicroCool" HSF unit on the chipset later to see if I can get a better OC on the video. ( has a passive HS )

Oh ... and .... GO BEARS !
 
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RU482

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
12,689
3
81
what a strange way to come to a conclusion that mATX is inherently a bad form factor
 

Noid

Platinum Member
Sep 20, 2000
2,389
193
106
what a strange way to come to a conclusion that mATX is inherently a bad form factor

I draw no conclusion.
But you made one.

You might try to comprehend what you have read.
( maybe you were to lazy to read the whole thread ? )

Or maybe your just a NEFFER
 
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Andle Riddum

Member
Dec 6, 2011
52
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Since the widespread deployment and marketing of Japanese solid capacitors, modern motherboards are better than ever.

If my memory serves me right Gigabyte were the first (starting with the P965 chipset)
 

RU482

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
12,689
3
81
I draw no conclusion.
But you made one.

You might try to comprehend what you have read.
( maybe you were to lazy to read the whole thread ? )

Or maybe your just a NEFFER

wow, who pee'd in your cheerios?
 

smangular

Senior member
Nov 11, 2010
347
0
0
curious what the surge protector and UPS. Bare to the wall in an environment with power problems is just asking for trouble.

Btw, Many good surge protectors have tighter tolerances than UPSs.

Recommend: Wall -> Surge -> UPS -> PC.
 

Andle Riddum

Member
Dec 6, 2011
52
0
0
It's wrong to daisy chain SPD's (surge protection devices). They're designed to work alone. Actually a surge protector is superfluous if you have a good quality PSU, because PSU's also have MOV's that divert surges to the ground. That being said, proper grounding is mandatory!
 

Noid

Platinum Member
Sep 20, 2000
2,389
193
106
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to say that this MB is still kicking.

Added a new chip and more DDR over 2 years ago

Vishera 4 core 95 watt, and some more AData ( now 20gb )

Been running at 4.5g with 1.4v ( multi @ 19 )
AData at 2606 HT ( bus 237 )

( also with an ADC 1,500 UPS - money well spent )

No issues ... none.
 
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