What are the draw backs of a microATX mobo?

[Acts837]

I don't use very many cards and I kind of like my new Soyo 7VCM/InWin 500 system I built. Very compact! So what is the draw back? Small PSU?

 

[KGB1]

I have a small lil' Celeron server in a Gateway Micro ATX case, its perfect. I use a geforce 3 ti200, ethernet card, and firewire card and i still have a free PCI slot. There are relatively no drawbacks to micro ATX, if you would have liked you should have bought an ATX motherboard.

By "Small PSU " I have a 200 WATT Sparkle Micro ATX power supply, good thing about MIcro ATX motherboards are they do NOT need 550 watt Enermax PSU's. Draw back is maybe you cannot upgrade so easisly as you could an ATX motherbaord and case. I see more and more "high end " motherboards to be feature rich while Micro ATX motherboards are diminishing and have fewer options, but M ATX is not for "enthusiasts" anyway.

 

[mudboy]

Actually, I am an enthusiast and I prefer the MicroATX format. Is it a challenge to build a fast, quiet, powerful system with full ATX? No, not really. Is it a challenge to do the same with MicroATX? Yeah, at least a bit more. I don't give up ONE THING by using MicroATX (but then, I don't have or need a full-SCSI dual processor rig), and what I do get is more space.

Mark my words, MicroATX and other small form factors are becoming more and more relevant, and mush as cooling, overclocking, and case modding have been the recent fads, the next fad is small, powerful PC's.

Pete

 

[Acts837]

ditto Pete!

I first wanted the best, stable, fastest components. Then I wanted to make 'em quiet (can't beat that Barracuda IV).
Now I want to make it small.

 

[Killrose]

MicroATX usually have no overclocking features, and a few less Pci slots, which go unused in a typical system anyway's. Other than the fact that you have to make sure you buy one with an AGP slot, there are'nt really any drawbacks.