MicroATX in an ATX case?

[stokey7873]

its been a while since i've built a computer and i was wondering if its possible to fit a MicroATX motherboard in an ATX case. Also, are there any special requirements for a MATX motherboard or am i just being dumb?

thanks

 

[mechBgon]

Works fine The stud positions are different, but usually the case has vacancies for both... I know Antecs do, because micro-in-full-ATX is what we build at work.

 

[Peter]

The stud positions aren't different either. ATX standard uses nine stud positions, of which an mATX board uses the upper six.

 

[mechBgon]

To be clear, Peter, I think that may be the case with some microATX boards, but not all. My A7N266-VM, for example, uses eight: the top six, plus one at the level of the third expansion slot and one at the level of the fourth expansion slot.

 

[Peter]

Sure, there might be extra holes just as well as missing ones, but those holes that are in the actual standard definitions are in the same place.

 

[stokey7873]

sounds good then. i'm prolly gonna get her the ECS K7S5A. saw an ok review on it and its only around 50 bucks. Any better suggestions for an Athlon build?

 

[stokey7873]

haha it looks like that board isn't even microATX! oh well, this is still somehing good to know. Thanks guys!

 

[Peter]

Do you have to recycle SDRAM DIMMs, or are you building from scratch? If the latter, then no need to go with K7S5A. Something more modern, like L7S7A2, is the best budget choice then. Still not mATX

If it's about extreme budget, consider one of ECS's boards that have a soldered Duron and onboard everything.