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What Is A microATX Motherboard? The Budget Motherboard!
ByAnna Bonilla- Read Time5 mins
What Is A microATX Motherboard?
The microATX is a motherboard form factor specification with a smaller size and lower power consumption than the standard ATX form factor. This motherboard specification was released in December 1997.
The microATX board is smaller than the regular ATX board and has less surface area (9.6 x 9.6 inches vs. 12 x 9.6 inches), but it still has all of the necessary components to support most current CPU sockets and expansion slots.
Specifications Of A microATX Motherboard
A microATX motherboard is a small version of an ATX motherboard. The size of this type of PC motherboard is 221mm x 244mm, which is significantly smaller than the full-size ATX motherboards at 305mm x 244mm. This makes microATX boards more compact and easier to install into PC cases with limited space for expansion cards.
The microATX motherboards support DDR4 memory sticks with speeds up to 3200MHz and dual channel capability, as well as non-ECC versions if you need them for compatibility reasons. In terms of storage options, most modern microATX motherboards have anywhere between four SATA III ports depending on the model. However, some cheaper models may only have two or three ports available due to cost constraints, while high-end models will often feature eight or more SATA III ports so they can support multiple hard drives without issue.
The following are standard specifications for a microATX motherboard:
Advantages Of A microATX Motherboard
A microATX motherboard is smaller and more affordable than an ATX motherboard, which can make it a better option for those on a budget. They’re also more compact and easier to install, making them ideal for small form factor computers. As you might have guessed from the name, these boards are designed for use with small cases or other compact enclosures that may not be able to fit larger motherboards within their space constraints.
Because of their size, microATX motherboards typically offer fewer expansion slot options than their full-sized counterparts (only one PCIe x16 slot in most cases), but they still provide enough room to add all of your required components—and then some, for example, you can typically fit two graphics cards into a microATX case without having any problems.
Another plus side is that they’re more power efficient than ATX boards since they don’t require as much cooling hardware due to the thermal dissipation properties inherent in smaller computer chassis designs (smaller = less surface area = less hot air). MicroATX motherboards also tend to feature higher quality components overall because companies often use them as testing platforms during development phases before committing themselves fully by purchasing large volumes at once from manufacturers.
Disadvantages Of A microATX Motherboard
One of the most significant disadvantages of a microATX motherboard is that it’s harder to find a case that fits it (I mean, a case that’s really meant for a microATX). The smaller size means you’re likely going to be limited in your options when it comes to cases or compatible parts for your build, even if you do find one that’s available for you—and not all cases can accommodate these smaller boards.
Another disadvantage is lower power supply requirements: most ATX power supplies will work with microATX motherboards (although some might not have sufficient wattage). This means that if you want more power than what your power supply offers, then upgrading will be necessary; otherwise, your system may not run correctly or not run at all.
The lower memory capacity on these boards can also cause problems with some users because there aren’t as many slots available as with the standard-sized ones. This makes upgrading memory more difficult and expensive over time because each new piece takes up one slot, which might already be occupied by another component such as an expansion card or storage device like hard drives/SSDs, etc.
Average Price For A microATX Motherboard
It’s easy to see how microATX motherboards are more affordable than their full ATX counterparts. The average price of a microATX motherboard is $160. They’re not just cheaper than standard ATX motherboards, though; microATX is also the least expensive in its category. For example, a mini-ITX motherboard will cost about $50 more than a microATX board, and an ATX motherboard will be $150 more expensive.
So if you want to save money on your next PC build or upgrade without sacrificing too much performance or features, consider going with a microATX motherboard instead of one of the other types we’ve mentioned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wrap Up
If you are looking to build a computer, microATX motherboards are going to be an excellent option for you. They have many features that will make your experience enjoyable and easy without buying expensive equipment or software. MicroATX motherboards are also very versatile because they can fit into almost any case size.
The microATX board is an excellent option for those who want to build their own computer. It allows users to install the same components onto their computer case. This means you can get more from your PC without worrying about compatibility issues due to space constraints!
