ATX or Micro ATX

[Jerry]

Other than physical size, what differences are there between an ATX and a
MicroATX motherboard. Are there any advantages/disadvanteges to either?
TIA
Jerry

 

[Dee]

Other than physical size, what differences are there between an ATX and a
MicroATX motherboard. Are there any advantages/disadvanteges to either?
TIA
Jerry

The microATX has fewer PCI slots and most, if not all, have the video on
board.

Advantages and disadvantages would depend on your desires/requirements.

You can build a physically smaller system with a microATX and could get
by without some of the plugin cards.

 

[Fitz]

Micro ATX boards have fewer PCI slots (usually 3 vs 5). They use the same
chipsets, and many have all the features available on a standard ATX board.
If you want on board graphics, it's easier to find on a microATX board.
I've built two computers based on the Biostar M7NCG board, which is micro.
It's the NForce 2 chipset with on board graphics (with an available AGP slot
for video card upgrade), sound, LAN, USB2, and headers for firewire. I built
them for my kids and did not have to add any additional PCI components. Both
have been running about a year with absolutely no problems.

Fitz

 

[yak]

Other than physical size, what differences are there between an ATX and a
MicroATX motherboard. Are there any advantages/disadvanteges to either?
TIA
Jerry

It's smaller so you give up slots and maybe a few usb ports and whatnot.
Other than that, you can get whatever chipset you want on both, both can
have onboard video as well as an agp slot, both have onboard sound if
you want...

Basically size is the only difference.

 

[Ben Myers]

The typical microATX board has either 4 PCI slots or (3 PCI slots and an AGP
slot). The typical ATX board adds another two slots. An older ATX or even mATX
board may have an ISA slot or two rather than some of the PCI slots. Depending
on the model, both types of boards may have either ob-board video or an AGP slot
or both. Either type of board may have up to 6 USB ports, if you count the
usual pair connected via a cable to the front of the case. Parallel, one or two
serial, and PS/2-style keyboard and mouse connectors are almost always present
on both types.

That's a quick thumbnail sketch... Ben Myers

 

[seabat]

Does the size of the case matter?? I know you can't squeeze an ATX
board into a micro case but will a micro ATX fit into a regular case??
I mean the screw holes and the I/O slots on the back??

 

[Ben Myers]

Oh, yeah. A micro ATX board will fit in a full ATX case. An ATX board will not
fit in a microATX case. Duh! They have the same mounting screw pattern. A
microATX board looks absolutely tiny in a full ATX case, but it does the job
when you need a system with a lot of drive bays... Ben Myers

 

[Papa]

Technically, no. But the full size units have a lot more room and are much
easier to work on or to add components to - and they are less likely to have
heating problems. Also, the full size units usually have more add-on slots
(PCI).

 

[Bill & Cin Miller]

Does the size of the case matter?? I know you can't squeeze an ATX
board into a micro case but will a micro ATX fit into a regular case??
I mean the screw holes and the I/O slots on the back??

Other than physical size, usually another difference between atx and
micro atx boards is the number of expansion slots. A micro atx board
will usually have 3 or less pci slots. Standard atx boards usually have
5 or more. And yes, a micro atx board will usually slip right into a
standard atx case with no problems.

 

[Papa]

Oops. I misread your question, incorrectly thinking you were talking about
cases - not motherboards. Sorry.