Greatest Micro ATX Motherboards For 2022

When searching for a possible motherboard to energy a brand new PC construct, elements like construct high quality, aesthetics, and worth are sometimes on the high of the checklist for patrons. Most individuals simply look over the shape issue and dimension specs with out giving it a second thought. Nevertheless, when working with a small type issue (SFF) case, dimension all of the sudden turns into a high precedence.

Micro ATX, shortened to mATX, was designed for this precise objective. With a slight premium, these boards carry out shoulder-to-shoulder with normal ATX motherboards and even surpass them in sure regards.

It doesn’t matter if you happen to’re searching for a price range ready-to-use mATX motherboard or a premium high-end one, I’ve bought one thing for you on this checklist.

Greatest mATX Motherboards Overview

Award	Mannequin	Design	Worth
Greatest AMD mATX Motherboard	ASUS TUF Gaming B550M Plus		Verify Worth
Greatest Worth-Packed AMD mATX Motherboard	Gigabyte B550M DS3H		Verify Worth
Greatest for Full White PC Construct	ASRock B450M Metal Legend		Verify Worth
Greatest for Stealth Construct	MSI MAG B550M Mortar		Verify Worth
Greatest for Monochrome/Silver Construct	ASRock B550M Pro4		Verify Worth
Greatest Intel mATX Motherboard	ASUS ROG Strix Z690-G		Verify Worth
Greatest MSI mATX Motherboard	MSI MPG Z590M Gaming Edge WiFi		Verify Worth
Greatest ASUS mATX Motherboard	ASUS Prime Z690M Plus		Verify Worth
Greatest Funds-Pleasant Intel mATX Motherboard	ASUS TUF Gaming B560M Plus WiFi		Verify Worth

Explaining Micro ATX and what makes it totally different

When you aren’t certain what Micro ATX is, don’t worry- I’m right here to assist.

To grasp Micro ATX, you’ll first need to perceive ATX, which it’s primarily based on.

ATX is the usual motherboard type issue. Crucial distinction between ATX and Micro ATX is dimension, however you’ll additionally see another variations, too, particularly by way of growth.

Variations	ATX Normal	Micro ATX Normal
Dimension	305 x 244 mm	244 x 244 mm
PCI Specific Slots	Seven at max	4 at max
SATA Ports	~6 on common, some as excessive as 22	~6 on common
M.2 Slots	4-5 at max	3 at max
RAM Slots	4 on common, 8 with some boards	4 on common
Lighting Headers	With fashionable motherboards, 4-5 are widespread	With widespread motherboards, 3-4 are widespread

Basically, Micro ATX gives much less storage and graphics growth choices. Nevertheless, if you happen to aren’t working in depth RAID setups or multi-GPU configurations, you’re unlikely to truly encounter a difficulty right here.

Small Bundle, Massive Worth: High 5 Options to Prioritize

Though most mATX motherboards obtainable right this moment are enough for common use circumstances and gaming, if you’d like the very best quantity of worth, there are some options you could look out for.

Motherboard producers typically both subtract or downgrade these options sneakily to make up for the smaller type issue. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re conscious of those, you possibly can find yourself shopping for a motherboard that matches your necessities completely.

You may already be educated about common motherboard shopping for suggestions, however these are the options that you could particularly take note of when shopping for an mATX motherboard. So, let’s focus on them in-depth:

Ample RAM Capability

When searching for an mATX board, you’ll discover that a few of them solely function two DIMM slots whereas the mid to high-end ones provide 4 slots. What number of you really want, in fact, is determined by your use case.

Sometimes, in 2022, two DIMM slots most likely received’t reduce it for many customers, each for present use and future upgrades.

So, it’s essential to purchase a motherboard with 4 DIMM slots. Whether or not it’s DDR5 appropriate or has a excessive frequency are extra user-specific elements you can resolve for your self.

In fact, shopping for a motherboard with 4 DIMM slots doesn’t imply you could populate them suddenly; you possibly can simply use two in dual-channel mode initially after which improve afterward as you see match.

General, it’s higher to have two sitting empty reasonably than not having them within the first place and needing to purchase a brand new motherboard altogether.

Construct High quality

Sturdiness is a vital issue for long-term use in any motherboard. Nevertheless, it turns into much more essential with mATX because you’re going to be working in a cramped case with many parts shut collectively, so the probabilities of injury and scratching enhance.

Furthermore, many SFF builds are sometimes taken away from the protection of the desk and used as moveable, ready-to-go PCs at LAN events and gaming conventions the place they’re prone to be mishandled. So, sturdiness turns into a precedence.

Thus, it’s essential to go for a motherboard that has a tricky PCB, aluminum heatsinks, and M.2 covers.

SATA Connectors

It’s widespread information {that a} good SSD received’t provide you with an FPS enhance, however it can positively make your total expertise a lot smoother by reducing loading time and asset pop-ins. Many avid gamers have famous {that a} leap from a low-RPM HDD to an SSD is a next-level enchancment.

That is why SATA ports are essential: virtually each inside storage drive wants one. Particularly SATA 3, which is far sooner than SATA 2. Most mATX motherboards have not less than 4 of them, which is enough for the on a regular basis person.

Nevertheless, it’s all the time good to test nonetheless. So, with that in thoughts, make certain to go for a motherboard that has sufficient of them, for present use and future upgrades.

Heavy-Obligation VRMs and Heatsinks

When you’re planning on utilizing your mATX motherboard for overclocking, this data may come in useful. For the uninitiated, VRMs are liable for giving steady and clear voltage to the CPU as wanted, very like a gas injection system in a automobile engine.

So, the extra VRMs you’ve got in your motherboard, the extra steady your system ought to be. Alongside the identical traces, VRM heatsinks assist to dissipate all that warmth and create a correct situation for good overclocks and steady operations.

Each of those additionally contribute to an extended lifespan for the motherboard: extra energy phases equal much less load on the transistors, and heavy-duty heatsinks save the PCB from overheating and degrading over the long run.

Though having premium options like an onboard chipset fan and a temperature readout panel may be superior, they’re solely seen in high-end ATX motherboards and aren’t crucial for many customers. In actuality, simply having enough VRMs and heatsinks is greater than sufficient.

Ample I/O

All of us love our wealth of peripherals: our keyboards, mice, headphones, macro keypads, and Streamdecks. So, it’s unlucky when the motherboard doesn’t provide satisfactory inside and exterior ports to have the ability to energy and join with all of them.

Not solely that, a ton of time may be misplaced when it doesn’t have USB-C for fast switch.

So, it’s good to go for an mATX motherboard that serves all these wants and doesn’t restrict you in any manner. This can even prevent from cable administration complications sooner or later by not needing to purchase growth ports.

Though a motherboard doesn’t contribute on to the efficiency of the PC, because it serves as the first hub for all of the parts it’s important to have the specs and options you want. Not just for right this moment, but additionally for tomorrow.

So, now that what you could look out for in your mATX motherboard, let’s undergo our greatest picks checklist…

ASUS TUF Gaming B550M Plus(WiFi) – Greatest AMD mATX Motherboard

Most SFF builders use AMD as a result of usually, Ryzen CPUs are way more power environment friendly in comparison with their Intel counterparts. It is because energy effectivity equals much less warmth, and fewer warmth implies that a smaller cooler may suffice with out efficiency struggling. These are massive Plus indicators for anybody making an attempt to construct a PC in a cramped and restricted case.

With that in thoughts, the most effective mATX motherboards you should purchase in your Ryzen CPU is the ASUS TUF Gaming B550M Plus. It has an 8+2 energy supply system, making for a complete of 10 phases, together with sturdy aluminum VRM and chipset heatsinks.

In terms of staying related on-line, this motherboard has the options you’d want. It comes built-in with WiFi 6 out-of-the-box, so no have to fiddle with pesky PCIe WiFi growth playing cards anymore.

Plus, you additionally get a 2.5 LAN port with ASUS LANGuard. This isn’t solely helpful for internet shopping and downloading but additionally for aggressive FPS video games the place a single millisecond could make the distinction between profitable and dropping.

The RGB lighting, restricted to the one collection of LEDs within the decrease proper nook of the board, is minimal however tasteful. Furthermore, the matte black accent additionally makes this board appropriate for an all-black stealthy construct. General, the ASUS TUF Gaming B550M Plus is a unbelievable motherboard for any Ryzen SFF construct.

Professionals:

• Nice construct high quality
• Excessive-quality sound output from SupremeFX S1220A codec
• Loads of ports and RGB headers

Cons:

• Requires Home windows 10 Model 19041 or later for Bluetooth performance

Gigabyte B550M DS3H – Greatest Worth-Packed AMD mATX Motherboard

When you just like the TUF Gaming B550M Plus, however are searching for a extra budget-friendly and value-packed possibility, the Gigabyte B550M BS3H might be it. The compromises made to hit the $100 worth level aren’t deal breakers for many customers, and it has all of the bells and whistles you’d want for a beast SFF construct.

The 5+3 energy part design is enough for powering mid-range CPUs just like the 5600x with some room for overclocking too. The heatsinks on this motherboard are pretty primary, however ought to be adequate for common on a regular basis use. So, if you happen to get this board, make certain to make use of a PC case with loads of constructive airflow to keep away from any points.

Aside from that, it’s a fairly first rate board total: you get a PCIe 4.0 Prepared x16 slot, twin NVMe M.2 slots, six complete USB 3.2 ports, 1G Ethernet, and lots of different helpful options.

All in all, if you happen to can overlook the mediocre cooling capability, no RGB lighting, and lack of WiFi connectivity, and simply desire a good mATX B550 chipset motherboard that works, the Gigabyte B550M BS3H ought to be a very good choose!

Professionals:

• Immersive encompass sound expertise with Realtek 7.1 Codec
• Appropriate for knowledgeable atmosphere
• Cheap price-to-value ratio

Cons:

• Lacks WiFi connectivity

ASRock B450M Metal Legend – Greatest for Full White PC Construct

SFF PC builds are all the time distinctive and enticing, nevertheless, white and silver ones stand out much more. When you’re constructing a PC alongside these traces with a Ryzen CPU, I extremely suggest you select the ASRock B450M Metal Legend as your motherboard. Right here’s why.

The 6 part energy design, whereas not spectacular, ought to be adequate for mid-range Ryzen CPUs just like the 5600x. The heatsink design can also be first rate, however be cautious of overclocking on this motherboard if potential.

Being an ASRock product, it additionally comes with its suite of software program functions like Polychrome and the App Store. When you personal different ASRock parts in your setup too, this motherboard might be a helpful addition.

The construct high quality hasn’t been uncared for right here both. The high-density glass material PCB with a 2oz copper plate is hard and sturdy. When it comes to electrical sturdiness, it additionally gives full spike safety for all USB ports, together with the audio and ethernet port.

Whereas each different motherboard on this checklist gives as much as 128GB of RAM capability, the ASRock B450M Metal Legend is caught at 64GB with speeds restricted as much as 3200MHz. When you’re not a content material creator or developer and don’t want that stage of RAM, extra energy to you. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re knowledgeable then this generally is a enormous limiting issue.

In terms of design, the sapphire black PCB with a white design makes this motherboard an ideal choose for a white-themed PC.

General, if you happen to’re trying from a purely value-based viewpoint, different motherboards just like the MSI MAG B550M Mortar and the Gigabyte B550M DS3H are higher picks. When you’re out there for an inexpensive mATX B550 chipset motherboard particularly in white, then the ASRock B450M Metal Legend is the best way to go.

Professionals:

• Robust and sturdy design
• Comes with ASRock Polychrome, Dwell Updates, and App Store
• Electrical spike safety for USB, audio, and LAN ports

Cons:

• RAM capability restricted as much as 64GB DDR4 at 3200MHz

MSI MAG B550M Mortar – Greatest for Stealth Construct

Ask any fanatic SFF PC builder, and so they’ll let you know that one of many largest challenges of builds like that is cooling; furthermore, making an attempt to overclock with out damaging parts completely. This isn’t solely due to the smaller area, but additionally the technical limitations that include that. Heatsinks naturally have to be massive with a view to dissipate warmth effectively. 

When you’ve seen the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk earlier than, you’ll discover that the Mortar is like its youthful brother. Aside from the shorter type issue, the primary distinction is within the energy phases. The Tomahawk has a ten+2+1 design whereas the Mortar has 8+2+1, making for a complete of 11 phases. For an mATX motherboard, that is spectacular.

Let’s discuss cooling now. It has an prolonged heatsink, thermal pads, and the PCB comes with 2oz thickened copper too. Plus, the pre-installed I/O defend contributes to sturdiness as effectively.

When it comes to design, it stays fairly minimal. The shortage of RGB could be a Plus for you if you happen to’re trying to construct a stealthy and no-RGB PC and aren’t concerned with shiny and stand-out designs.

General, if you happen to’re searching for a strong mATX motherboard in your Ryzen CPU and plan on doing a little overclocking, the MSI MAG B550M Mortar might be the suitable choose with out burning a gap in your pocket. It has nice VRMs and cooling capability together with sturdy construct high quality. So, you actually can’t go fallacious with this motherboard!

Professionals:

• USB-C port for quick knowledge switch
• Appropriate for knowledgeable atmosphere
• 2.5G LAN nice for FPS video games

Cons:

• No WiFi and Bluetooth assist

ASRock B550M Pro4 – Greatest for Monochrome/Silver Construct

In distinction to the ASRock B450M Metal Legend, if you happen to’d like a extra comforting silver tone to your PC that’s straightforward on the eyes but additionally offers satisfactory options, I extremely suggest you go together with the ASRock B550M Pro4 as your motherboard. Not just for its design, but additionally for the VRM, construct high quality, and I/O.

It has an eight-phase energy design, which isn’t as spectacular as a few of the different choices on this checklist, however nonetheless fairly good. When you want fast switch speeds in your tasks, the one USB-C 10G ports together with the Hyper M.2 PCIe Gen4x4 slot will come in useful.

Sturdiness performs a component too, and the high-density glass material PCB of the ASRock B550M Pro4 will assure long-term use. Plus, the complete M.2 heatsink and full spike safety will assist out as effectively.

When it comes to design, the sapphire black PCB with silver accents on high, particularly the heatsink and the M.2 covers, makes this motherboard a very good match for any silver PC construct. Every thing thought-about, the ASRock B550M Pro4 is a superb possibility for you’re searching for a silver mATX motherboard in your Ryzen construct!

Professionals:

• Cheap worth
• Respectable construct high quality
• Excellent for silver PC construct

Cons:

• Unsuitable for overclocking

ASUS ROG Strix Z690-G – Greatest Intel mATX Motherboard

Let’s transfer over to Intel motherboards now. With the brand new twelfth Gen Alder Lake CPUs together with DDR5 compatibility, Z690 motherboards are essentially the most superior and cutting-edge motherboards on the market.

As you might know, ASUS primarily focuses on high-end and helpful parts of their lineup. The ROG Strix Z690-G isn’t any totally different in that regard. At virtually $350, it’s positively a premium product, but it surely gives options to equal that worth as effectively.

It has a 14+1 energy stage design with a ProCool II energy connector, together with high-end alloy chokes and capacitors. To dissipate all the warmth generated, it has a VRM heatsink, a fan-less PCH heatsink, double-sided M.2 heatsink, and hybrid fan headers. To regulate all of your case followers intuitively, it additionally has the Fan Xpert 4 utility.

When it comes to I/O, it helps HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 output; triple M.2 slots; USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Sort-C; and front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Sort-C connectors. So, you could fear you probably have a ton of peripherals and likewise want quick storage switch speeds.

The ROG Strix Z690-G can also be constructed to final. A troublesome PCB and loads of aluminum make it laborious to wreck. Even the RAM sticks have been saved in thoughts: it has SafeDIMM, which is a metallic divider for elevated assist and safety.

General, the ROG Strix Z690-G is a unbelievable motherboard. When you’re searching for a fantastic Z690 chipset however need it in a smaller type issue with out sacrificing on options, positively hold this one in thoughts!

Professionals:

• AI Overclocking, cooling, networking, and noise cancellation software program extras
• Q-Code and CMOS button makes it enticing for learners
• M.2 Q-Latch for fast and straightforward tool-less SSD set up

Cons:

• Lacks onboard chipset fan

MSI MPG Z590M Gaming Edge WiFi – Greatest MSI mATX Motherboard

Though the Z690 chipset is getting all the eye proper now, if you happen to’re utilizing a tenth or eleventh Gen CPU then a very good Z590 motherboard will probably be greater than enough for you. Since they’re an older technology, they’re priced comparatively low however nonetheless present strong function units with regards to VRMs, storage switch, and thermals.

In fact, there are a lot of Z590 motherboards on the market, however the perfect mATX one is the MSI MPG Z590M Gaming Edge WiFi. It has a mighty 12+1+1 duet rail energy system and eight+4 pin CPU energy connectors for steady and clear utilization.

To maintain issues from getting overheated, it has an enlarged heatsink with an in-build warmth pipe. Moreover, there are additionally thermal pads and aluminum Frozr Shields for the M.2 drives. This may all make sure that the motherboard stays cool even in excessive eventualities and works easily.

All in all, the MSI MPG Z590M Gaming Edge WiFi is a superb mATX Z590 motherboard. When you’re searching for a high-end answer in your tenth or eleventh Gen Intel-based SFF construct then this one ought to positively be taken as a severe possibility.

Professionals:

• Spectacular VRM and thermals
• DDR4 enhance know-how for sooner processing and better FPS
• MSI Mystic Mild for intuitive RGB lighting management

Cons:

• Doesn’t assist twelfth Gen Alder Lake CPUs

ASUS Prime Z690M Plus – Greatest ASUS mATX Motherboard

As you’ve most likely observed by now, Z690 motherboards are typically fairly costly. Nevertheless, that doesn’t have to be the case, and the ASUS Prime Z690M Plus makes that time. For round $200, it gives the LGA 1700 socket to energy your twelfth Gen Alder Lake CPU and lots of different advantages on high as effectively.

In terms of energy, it has a ten+1 DrMOS design together with alloy chokes and sturdy capacitors for steady and clear energy supply. For cooling, it has a powerful mixture of VRM, PCH, and M.2 heatsinks. When you’re going to be utilizing a ton of followers then you definately’ll be pleased about the hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 4 utility included with the board.

As with most Z690 motherboards, it consists of PCIe 5.0, an Intel 1G Ethernet port, two USB Sort-C ports, and likewise Thunderbolt 4 header assist. So, you’ll get quick switch speeds amongst your SSDs and likewise ports for all of your peripherals.

When you’re searching for an inexpensive entry-level Z690 motherboard, the ASUS Prime Z690M Plus might be a very good possibility. Whereas it doesn’t look pretty much as good as a few of its opponents from different manufacturers, it nonetheless will get the job completed. Consider it like buying the bottom mannequin of a automobile: you get all that you really want and don’t have to pay for any options you received’t absolutely make the most of anyway.

Professionals:

• Nice worth for cash
• Realtek 7.1 encompass sound codec for further realism
• DDR4 RAM velocity as much as 5333MHz

Cons:

• WiFi module bought individually​

ASUS TUF Gaming B560M Plus WiFi – Greatest Funds-Pleasant Intel mATX Motherboard

Intel motherboards often are typically costlier than their AMD counterparts, particularly if you happen to’re trying on the higher-end ones. Nevertheless, the ASUS TUF Gaming B560M Plus WiFi stands out because it offers an superior quantity of worth for the worth.

To begin with, it has 8+1 energy levels, a 6-layer PCB, and sturdy capacitors for extra steady and dependable energy supply. These stats won’t sound very fascinating, however bear in mind, this motherboard solely works with tenth and eleventh Gen CPUs. When you’re working with a twelfth Gen one then you definately’d reasonably go together with Z690 with higher VRMs anyway.

One other level: this motherboard additionally means that you can overclock your reminiscence with non-Ok CPUs, for instance, the i5-11400. As listed within the specs sheet, it will probably go as much as 5000MHz, which is fast and will deliver a noticeable enchancment to your common FPS in video games.

General, with 9 rear USB ports, in-built WiFi 6, two display-outs, and a number of RGB and fan headers, it’s only a mind-blowing quantity of worth packed right into a 9.6 x 9.6-inch package deal. Not solely that, but it surely additionally has many beginner-friendly options like tool-less M.2 latches and a pre-installed I/O defend.

So, keep watch over this one if you happen to’re searching for a value-packed possibility in your tenth or eleventh Gen Intel CPU.

Professionals:

• Help reminiscence overclocking for non-Ok CPUs
• Ample connectivity choices
• Loads of I/O ports

Cons:

• Mediocre audio codec

Are Micro ATX Motherboards Able to CPU Overclocking?

Many newbie PC builders typically assume that because of the smaller type issue of Micro ATX motherboards, they’re incapable of CPU overclocking. That could be true in some circumstances. Nevertheless, if you happen to select one with good VRMs and heavy-duty heatsinks, overclocking ought to be a breeze.

As I’ve defined earlier than, they’re important not just for efficient overclocking but additionally for steady long-term utilization. Conserving these elements in thoughts, the motherboards from the above checklist which might be appropriate for CPU overclocking are the TUF Gaming B550M Plus, the MSI MAG B550M Mortar, and the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-G.

When you go for one in all these or one that’s compliant with the above-mentioned suggestions, then it almost certainly received’t be a bottleneck when overclocking. In fact, you’ll additionally have to have a strong sufficient CPU cooler and a PC case with constructive airflow. However, apart from that, you have to be good to go!

Can I take advantage of a Micro ATX motherboard in an ATX case?

Sure, completely. That is truly a reasonably widespread utilization situation for case modders and lovers working customized loop liquid cooling setups. Whereas your motherboard will probably be proportionally small in comparison with the remainder of the case, you shouldn’t expertise any points mounting or utilizing the motherboard in a Mid Tower or Full Tower ATX case.

This usually isn’t advisable, although, since you’re dropping out on one of many largest advantages of Micro ATX: its smaller dimension. Until you’ve got an excellent purpose to make use of the bigger case, all you’re doing is including further weight and heft to your PC construct for no actual profit in return.

Are Micro ATX motherboards more durable to construct with?

The smaller the PC construct is, the more durable it will likely be to construct in. Cable administration and clearance turn out to be a lot more durable to take care of if you shrink down a motherboard, since every little thing is positioned nearer collectively.

In terms of constructing issue, the size is fairly linear. From best to hardest, it goes:

• Prolonged ATX / ATX Full Tower construct (Best)
• Normal ATX / ATX Full Tower or ATX Mid Tower construct
• Micro ATX / ATX Full Tower or ATX Mid Tower construct
• Micro ATX / Micro ATX Tower construct
• Mini ITX / Micro ATX Tower construct
• Mini ITX / Mini ITX Tower/HTPC construct (Hardest)

Micro ATX shouldn’t be that a lot more durable to construct with until you’re utilizing muli-GPU or quad-channel RAM configurations.

Will Micro ATX motherboards be worse for gaming than ATX?

In no way. Motherboard dimension has no influence in anyway on gaming efficiency, and motherboards themselves often don’t both.

Elements of a motherboard that will influence gaming efficiency just about simply boil right down to the chipset- does it allow overclocking? Does it assist quick RAM? If each of those are true, your motherboard shouldn’t be a bottleneck.

Can I match a Micro ATX motherboard in an ITX case?

Not often, no. Even the place you possibly can, it’s usually not advisable. If you would like an ITX construct, simply get an ITX board to begin with.

Dial M for Micro

ATX motherboards are usually the usual in PCs nowadays, so when you could enterprise out of your consolation zone and search for an mATX motherboard, it will probably really feel fairly intimidating. Happily, excluding the scale distinction, mATX motherboards aren’t a lot totally different from the usual ATX motherboards you’ve grown used to.

On the finish of the day, it simply comes right down to what options you’re searching for: twin M.2 slots, 2.5G ethernet, or DDR5 RAM compatibility. I hope my article knowledgeable you higher and guided you ahead in getting the suitable Micro ATX motherboard in your thrilling new PC construct!