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With the LGA1151 socket, this micro-ATX motherboard supports Intel “Coffee Lake” processors meaning Intel 8th gen CPU is on. There are 4 DIMM slots for DDR4 RAMs but it can hold a max of 32 gigs of memory which is fine for running regular games like CSGO, Forza etc. A Top-notch Micro-ATX Case with an Amazing Storage Potential Fractal Design Node 804 is an exceptional piece of hardware that delivers great thermal performance and offers amazing storage capacities for this case size. If you want to build a small, but capable file server or a serious gaming rig, there is no better chassis than this one.
When choosing the right components and parts for your PC, you will find a wide range of options out there. This especially gets confusing when choosing the motherboard of your computer since it acts as the central hub for the rest of the components.
Even if you are looking for a mid-range motherboard, going with the one of the best micro ATX motherboards present in this article can be a great option because of these reasons:
- Chipset and Socket: The chipset and socket of your computer’s motherboard more or less tell you about its compatibility. As for the options present in this article, all of them are AM4 sockets along with the B450 chipset. Thanks to this, you can use almost any Ryzen processor with these motherboards.
- Memory Slots: Since having enough RAM is important for a high-performance computing experience; you might end up installing more RAM. But, this is only possible when your computer’s motherboard has 4 memory slots, which is true for all the options present here in this article.
- Warranty: You would expect a brand new computer to stay new for a long time without having any issues or lags. Because of this, all micro ATX motherboards present in this article come with a 3-year long warranty making them quite reliable.
Apart from these important factors, there is still more to check with micro ATX motherboards. Thus, all of these details have been mentioned in this article. You can also find a detailed Buying Guide related to the best micro ATX motherboards. This will allow you to get the right one by following this article until the end.
4 Best Micro ATX Motherboards 2020
Micro ATX Motherboards | Chipset and Socket | Memory Slots | Warranty | Buy Now |
---|---|---|---|---|
Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming Motherboard | B450, AM4 | 4 slots | 3 year long | |
MSI Performance Gaming AMD Motherboard | B450, AM4 | 4 slots | 3 year long | |
Gigabyte B450M DS3H Motherboard | B450, AM4 | 4 slots | 3 year long | |
ASRock B450M PRO4 AM4 AMD Motherboard | B450, AM4 | 4 slots | 3 year long |
4 Best Micro ATX Motherboards 2020 Reviews
1. Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming Motherboard (ATX)
Out of the various motherboard brands, Asus is considered one of the best ones when it comes to performance, which you can also get a small and compact unit from Asus.
The Asus micro ATX motherboard is present in the 1st position in this article as it is the most powerful option in this article. Apart from being a B450 motherboard with an AM4 socket, this micro ATX motherboard is highly compatible with most AMD Ryzen CPUs.
With this premium motherboard from Asus, you get a 3-year long warranty for your peace of mind. One of the best things about this motherboard is that it comes with dual NVME slots, USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, USB Type C ports, and even an HDMI port making it a great for easily connecting external devices.
Best Features:
- Uses the B450 chipset with AM4 socket
- Offers 4 memory slots
- Comes with a 3-year long warranty
Pros:
- Excellent power deliver
- Offers a wide range of ports
- Includes onboard RGB lights
Cons:
- A bit on the expensive side
2. MSI Performance Gaming AMD Motherboard
You can also consider MSI before getting a motherboard for your computer since most of its offerings are as popular as other high-end brands like Asus.
MSI’s micro ATX motherboard is present in the 2nd position in this article as it can be another high-performance model. Just like the previous one, it is also a B450 motherboard along with the AM4 socket making it viable for various AMD Ryzen processors.
The 4 memory ports of this motherboard can support up to 4133 MHz RAM, making it one of the fastest out there. You also get ample storage space with 6 SATA ports, NVME M.2 slots, USB 3.2 Gen ports, and even an HDMI port for easily connecting to external devices.
Best Features:
- Uses the B450 chipset with AM4 socket
- Offers 4 memory slots
- Comes with a 3-year long warranty
Pros:
- Great performance for the price
- High memory speed rating
- Includes multiple storage options
Cons:
- Lacks USB Type C connectivity
3. Gigabyte B450M DS3H Motherboard
If you are on a budget, then you should also consider Gigabyte because of the various value for money options like their micro ATX motherboard option in this article.
Being one of the most affordable options out there, this one also uses the B450 chipset and AMD AM4 socket for Ryzen CPUs. Many AMD Ryzen CPUs will work with this motherboard despite its average power delivery system.
Speaking of the power delivery, you get various internal connectors like NVME SSD, SATA ports, and various other things. This is also true for the USB 3.0 ports, HDMI port, PS/2 port, DVI-D, and many others.
Best Features:
- Uses the B450 chipset with AM4 socket
- Offers 4 memory slots
- Comes with a 3-year long warranty
Pros:
- Decent number of input and output ports
- Affordable micro ATX motherboard
- Includes 4 memory slots
Cons:
- Average power delivery
4. ASRock B450M PRO4 AM4 AMD Motherboard
At the last option in this article, we have Asrock, which can be another great option if you want a micro ATX motherboard without breaking the bank.
Despite being the cheapest option in this article, it still uses the B450 chipset and AMD socket AM4, which is the same as more expensive options out there. Even the power delivery of this motherboard is quite decent, making it viable for many higher-end AMD Ryzen CPUs as well.
Looking at the insides, you will find an NVME SSD slot, 4 RAM slots, and various SATA ports. If that is not enough, then you will be glad to know the ports on the back include USB Type C, HDMI, USB 3.0 ports, and other basic ports such as audio, PS/2, VGA.
Best Features:
- Uses the B450 chipset with AM4 socket
- Offers 4 memory slots
- Comes with a 3-year long warranty
Pros:
- Viable entry-level micro ATX motherboard
- Uses high-speed USB Type C ports
- Comes with various internal ports
Cons:
- Does not have any RGB
Buying Guide For The Best Micro ATX Motherboards
If you are on a budget but still want a decent computer, then going with a micro ATX motherboard can be a great pick. Even though they are quite cheaper than standard ATX motherboards, you get most of the functionality of a full-size ATX motherboard. Such motherboards can also be viable if you simply want to make a compact computer.
You can get one of the best micro ATX motherboards present here in this article. To help you out in picking up the right one, all of them have been mentioned, along with their major features and options. And now, we are here with a detailed buying guide for the best micro ATX motherboards so that you can get the right one after following these factors one by one:
1. Socket and Chipset
The first and most important thing to check before getting a micro ATX motherboard is its socket and chipset. These essentially tell you about the processor that you can use with a given motherboard. As for the micro ATX motherboards present in this article, all of them use the AM4 CPU socket.
This socket is combined along with the decently powerful and feature-rich B450 motherboard chipset. Thanks to this, you can use almost any AMD Ryzen CPU ranging from the 1000 series to the brand new 5000 series with a BIOS update. Although, with these mid-tier motherboards, it is not recommended to use a high-end processor for obvious budget and power delivery restrictions.
2. PCIE Slots
Since AMD Ryzen CPUs do not have an internal graphics card, you are surely going to install a dedicated one on your computer. There are also other things like sound cards and network cards that can be installed on your computer’s motherboard.
All of these things are installed in the PCIE slots offered by the motherboard, which makes them quite important. Most micro ATX motherboards will offer two full-size PCIE slots along with a small one, which should be quite decent in most cases.
3. Memory Support
Even if you have a powerful CPU, you cannot get the most out of it unless you have enough memory on your computer. Hence, checking the memory support offered by your computer is quite important.
You will find micro ATX motherboard models with either 2 or 4 memory slots where having more slots is always better. Other than this, you should also check the maximum memory capacity of your micro ATX motherboard. Similarly, the maximum memory speed supported is also quite important to check.
4. Storage Support
You should also check the storage options offered by your micro ATX motherboard to ensure that you have enough storage speeds along with high storage speeds. For bulk storage and moderate speeds, you are either going to use an HDD or a SATA SSD.
Thus, almost all motherboards come with 4 or 6 SATA slots, where having more slots is always better. Modern micro ATX motherboards also offer either 1 or 2 NVME slots, which can be used to install much faster NVME SSD for excellent storage access speeds.
5. Ports
Apart from connecting all of the internal components of your computer, the motherboard is also used to connect external devices like peripherals and storage devices. All of these are connected to the rear ports offered by your motherboard. While choosing the right motherboard, you should go with the one that offers multiple high-speed ports.
Apart from basic audio ports, PS/2 port, USB 2.0 ports, VGA port, DVI-D port, ethernet port, you should also look out for high-speed USB 3.0 ports, USB Type C port, HDMI port, and others. Any motherboard that offers multiple high-speed ports is going to be highly practical and handy in the long run.
6. Warranty
The motherboard of your computer is one of the most important components of your computer. Thus, if you want your computer to keep working without any issues, then your computer’s motherboard should also last for a long time. Thankfully, almost all motherboards come with a 3-year long warranty for peace of mind as it should be more than enough for most buyers.
Conclusion
Out of the various motherboard form factors available in the market, micro ATX motherboards are considered to be the most popular ones. These offer almost as good performance as larger ATX boards while having a smaller size and a lower price tag. Thus, these are great for buyers on a budget as well as for small form factor computers. Hence, we have mentioned the best micro ATX motherboards above in this article.
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All of them have been mentioned, along with major features and options. You can even find a comprehensive buying guide related to these micro ATX motherboards. And based on these factors, here is one of our most favorite micro ATX motherboard recommendations:
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Even though it is the cheapest option present in this article, the Asrock B450M motherboard offers very similar performance as more expensive options out there. This B450M motherboard comes with 4 RAM slots, NVME SSD slot, USB 3.1 Gen 2, USB Type C, HDMI, and decent power delivery for most medium to high-end AM4 processors.
Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any!