PC Motherboard format question

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

I am in the planning stages of building an HTPC for my basement. I have been reading a lot online about the different parts needed for the system. One question I have regards the size of the motherboard that I will be using supports both full ATX and micro ATX. Given this information, is there one reason to choose a particular form factor over the other? I know that it may sound strange to get the case first, but in this case I had a chance to pick up a used one at a super price: http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=81. I got the older model that only supports USB 2.0 on the front and does not have the remote. Also, it is black instead of silver and I got it for $50.

[emwearz]

ATX, mATX and uATX just refer to the size of the mobo / case. Really just a throw away term to describe the size of a mobo / the case it fits. You can put mATX mobo's in most ATX cases as they have the mounting holes for them.

A lot of mATX/uATX mobo's are not suitable for high end gaming / overclocking because they can't get power to the CPU / the unlocked models are full ATX. Again because of size, there are generally issues with aftermarket heatsinks, larger GPU's, lack of SLI/Crossfire, etc.

Because components are closer, they generally run hotter and again are not really designed for gaming.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

Thanks for the input. I understand the concepts involving the form factors, but I was just wondering if there was any reason why I should choose a mATX card for my ATX case. Looks like I may just go ahead with the full ATX board since the specs are basically the same with just a couple more expansion slots, which I will probably never use, but will be there if I decide to.

[Fragems]

Basically it is all about size. Personally I would only use Micro ATX for a media center build or for a small portable rig. The smaller size means more cluster and more heat depending on the build.

[emwearz]

Thanks for the input. I understand the concepts involving the form factors, but I was just wondering if there was any reason why I should choose a mATX card for my ATX case. Looks like I may just go ahead with the full ATX board since the specs are basically the same with just a couple more expansion slots, which I will probably never use, but will be there if I decide to.

Not really. I would use full ATX if your case can take it. More room, lower temps. Get a 4 dimm slot Mobo, option to up the ram in the future, etc.

[Teh Lurv]

A lot of mATX/uATX mobo's are not suitable for high end gaming / overclocking because they can't get power to the CPU / the unlocked models are full ATX. Again because of size, there are generally issues with aftermarket heatsinks, larger GPU's, lack of SLI/Crossfire, etc.

Because components are closer, they generally run hotter and again are not really designed for gaming.

All the above is not true. There are mATX mobos that overclock/handle SLI/Crossfire just fine. I'm using an mATX mobo in my current rig that has a 160mm tower heatsink hooked onto it and can overclock like a champ.

That said, I wouldn't recommend an mATX mobo at this point, simply because the enthusiast interest has coalesced around the ITX and ATX formats. The only enthusiast niche for mATX mobos are the people who want to bring small SLI rigs to LAN parties. There are choices out there, but you're not going to get the selection like in the ITX or ATX formats.

[emwearz]

are not suitable for high end gaming / overclocking because they can't get power to the CPU / the unlocked models are full ATX. Again because of size, there are generally issues with aftermarket heatsinks, larger GPU's, lack of SLI/Crossfire, etc.

Because components are closer, they generally run hotter and again are not really designed for gaming.

All the above is not true. There are mATX mobos that overclock/handle SLI/Crossfire just fine. I'm using an mATX mobo in my current rig that has a 160mm tower heatsink hooked onto it and can overclock like a champ.

That said, I wouldn't recommend an mATX mobo at this point, simply because the enthusiast interest has coalesced around the ITX and ATX formats. The only enthusiast niche for mATX mobos are the people who want to bring small SLI rigs to LAN parties. There are choices out there, but you're not going to get the selection like in the ITX or ATX formats.

If you read you will see I said "A lot of mATX/uATX mobo's", not all.