Micro ATX Motherboards

When buying a micro ATX motherboard, your most critical consideration should be whether the motherboard will do everything you need it to do. Each form factor of motherboard has its own niche within the computer market, resulting in varying choices for motherboards depending on how you will be using the computer.

When choosing between micro ATX motherboards, also make sure it will be compatible with any parts that you already have and want to reuse.

Above, we highlighted some of the top micro ATX motherboards available on the market today. Take a look! If you're unsure which one is for you, we provide some helpful buying tips below.

Micro ATX Motherboard - Buying Tips

Most motherboards now integrate items that traditionally were available only via separately purchased expansion cards, including stereo sound, a LAN connection, USB or Firewire ports or VGA connections.

We suggest that you purchase a micro ATX motherboard, also known as an MATX motherboard, that already incorporates the features that you know you'll want; this eliminates the hassle (time, cost) of adding these features with an expansion card at a later date.

Computer systems all use memory, storage devices, and power supplies, but among the many differences between various motherboards is the type and quantity of connections for these components.

Most motherboards have between 2 and 4 hard drive slots; if you will require four hard drives, of course, make sure you choose a motherboard that can support this.

Another example of the choices you’ll need to make when looking at Micro ATX motherboards is in the type of memory supported. Most systems today use DDR memory, but DDR-2 memory is gaining in popularity, and has been introduced on some motherboards, including the MATX format. This is just one example of competing technologies available on motherboards; in many cases you will need to choose between competing technologies when purchasing your motherboard.

As with most electronic parts, be sure you’re getting a high quality Micro ATX motherboard. Generally the manufacturer of the motherboard is not the manufacturer of the chipset. The core circuitry, or chipset, of an MATX motherboard is generally produced by another manufacturer.

For example, Intel does produce motherboards with their own chipsets, but buying a motherboard brand such as Gigabyte, Biostar, and ASUS means getting a board with either a VIA, Nvidia, SIS, or Intel brand chipset.

If you already know what type of CPU you want, this will limit your motherboard choices. Some will only be compatible with an Intel CPU; others only with an AMD CPU.

Associated Sites: Micro ATX Cases