Micro ATX vs ATX

[lmeneses]

So, my new build is on a tight budget (of around $700), and the lower the cost, the better. However, if getting less expensive parts by about $40 limits its future proof, then I can wait. I've been researching, and it seems the only restrictions on the mATX is limited overclocking and the size obviously. Is the price difference worth these restrictions? 

[GDRRiley]

Ok to be real now the only downside to mATX comes if your on the high end platform which with a 700$ you won't be.

 

mATX is fine, and for most people is a bigger board then they need. 

[Crunchy Dragon]

There's no real difference between some mATX boards and their ATX counterparts. It's just the exact same specs, just a different form factor. Take the B350-Pro4 and the B350M-Pro4. Identical except for form factor.

 

Personally, I like fullsize ATX when I can get it. The only reason I personally would get anything smaller is if I was being constrained by the case.

[bleedblue]

I don't think it matters that much. The main difference is mostly how many slots and ports the board has.

[Fasauceome]

2 minutes ago, lmeneses said:

future proof

No such thing. Unless you're an oracle you can't predict the future.

mATX is a good way to save some money, and it doesn't necessarily mean less performance, mostly because board makers will just chop the bottom off an ATX motherboard to make it cheaper. It isn't like ITX, which is more expensive than ATX because it has to be optimized extremely well. 

[Crunchy Dragon]

3 minutes ago, fasauceome said:

No such thing. Unless you're an oracle you can't predict the future.

Personally, I don't fully agree.

 

Nothing can be "future proof" in the tech world, but something can definitely be made to last multiple years before an upgrade.

[Fasauceome]

Just now, Crunchy Dragon said:

Personally, I don't fully agree.

 

Nothing can be "future proof" in the tech world, but something can definitely be made to last multiple years before an upgrade.

"Longevity" is a more appropriate term. I would still be using my 4790k if I didn't get my 8086k, and probably for another couple years. I sort of feel like "future proof" means the user is anticipating features that will come out and buying accordingly, despite the flaws with that approach.

[Crunchy Dragon]

Just now, fasauceome said:

"Longevity" is a more appropriate term. I would still be using my 4790k if I didn't get my 8086k, and probably for another couple years. I sort of feel like "future proof" means the user is anticipating features that will come out and buying accordingly, despite the flaws with that approach.

Longevity is definitely a better term. That's what I had in mind when I bought my Ryzen 1600, I plan on running that for as long as I can.

 

As far as your definition of future proof, that's basically just buying the new stuff as it comes out, not much else to it.

[lmeneses]

@Crunchy Dragon @fasauceome@bleedblue @GDRRiley Ok, I have seen that the asrock b450m pro4 is a good mATX, but do you guys recommend any different ones? 

[GDRRiley]

Just now, lmeneses said:

@Crunchy Dragon @fasauceome@bleedblue @GDRRiley Ok, I have seen that the asrock b450m pro4 is a good mATX, but do you guys recommend any different ones? 

what socket, what CPU?

If you want a full build go make a new post with all the info.

[Cereal5]

There's no difference really. A good board is a good board. An mATX board will usually have one M.2 slot, as opposed to anywhere from 1-3 or even 4 on a full size ATX board, and it will always have less PCIe slots, But most people only use one for a GPU, and occasionally another for a wifi card or something similar, so no big deal there. That's pretty much it.

[Crunchy Dragon]

50 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

what socket, what CPU?

If you want a full build go make a new post with all the info.

B450 is AM4, so some kind of Ryzen.

[GDRRiley]

1 minute ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

B450 is AM4, so some kind of Ryzen.

yeah but that was 1 example, it sounded like based on OP he wanted a full build. 

[lmeneses]

1 hour ago, GDRRiley said:

what socket, what CPU?

If you want a full build go make a new post with all the info.

@Crunchy Dragon oh shoot, my bad https://pcpartpicker.com/list/tdGkbX i meant to post it in the original 

[GDRRiley]

1 minute ago, lmeneses said:

@Crunchy Dragon oh shoot, my bad https://pcpartpicker.com/list/tdGkbX i meant to post it in the original 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KQ9KNQ get an SSD.

[lmeneses]

3 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KQ9KNQ get an SSD.

Yea, I have everything else (maybe even the ram but idk yet) besides the core components. Do you believe that if the only thing I would upgrade or add too is the ram, that a micro atx is fine even in the long term? Also, I have heard that micro atxs do not have enough like heat spreaders or something, so they tend to overheat when ocing; do you know if this is true cause I have found contradicting sources

[GDRRiley]

1 minute ago, lmeneses said:

Yea, I have everything else (maybe even the ram but idk yet) besides the core components. Do you believe that if the only thing I would upgrade or add too is the ram, that a micro atx is fine even in the long term? Also, I have heard that micro atxs do not have enough like heat spreaders or something, so they tend to overheat when ocing; do you know if this is true cause I have found contradicting sources

the overheating is normally on a board by board basis. 

I'm running a moderate overclock on my mATX board for almost 3 years now and its been fine. 

[lmeneses]

5 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

the overheating is normally on a board by board basis. 

I'm running a moderate overclock on my mATX board for almost 3 years now and its been fine. 

Oooh, so the matx board you recommended, the asrock b450m pro4, is a good board?

[GDRRiley]

26 minutes ago, lmeneses said:

Oooh, so the matx board you recommended, the asrock b450m pro4, is a good board?

yeah it is.