A Micro-ATX motherboard, as the name suggests, is a smaller motherboard which means you can save space and energy while still getting a high performance output. There are Micro-ATX motherboards available from a variety of great brands with their own pros and cons so to make the process simpler for you, here are some of the best options around.
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Best Micro ATX Motherboards on Amazon
How to pick the best Micro-ATX motherboard for you
- Consider number of RAM slots – Depending on what you use your computer for, you may be okay with the two RAM slots that most M-ATX motherboards have on offer. But if you need it and/or your budget allows for it, four RAM slots is a great way to go.
- Consider (number of) expansion slots – Generally, Micro-ATX motherboards have two expansion slots which will be fine for most. What you also have to take into account when it comes to expansion slots is what kind of slots the motherboard has. PCI-Express is the best kind, especially if you’re going to use your PC for gaming
- Consider SATA connectors – Once again, depending on your use, you might be okay with just two SATA connectors. This will suffice for average home or office use. Most will have four anyway. As long as you have at least one SATA 3 connector, you should be fine.
- Consider design – This only really matters if the side of your PC case is clear and your Micro-ATX motherboard is going to constantly be in view. If that is the case though, getting a motherboard that looks great is important. Some even have lights.
1. MSI MPG Z590M
High Speed
First up is MSI’s MPG Z590M. It’s a gaming motherboard and while that might seem overkill if you’re just getting a motherboard for a home or work PC, gaming motherboards have great specs and if your budget allows for it, you might want to go for it. It’s compatible with Intel Celeron and Pentium, has a memory speed of 5333 MHz and has four memory slots available. The MPG Z590M also has a 12+1+1 duet rail power system and 8+4 pin connectors. Multiple people have reported that when they received the motherboard, some screws were missing.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Supports Intel Gen 10
- High speed
Cons:
- Screws can be missing
2. Gigabyte B550M AORUS PRO-P
Good Memory Capacity
Gigabyte’s B550M AORUS PRO-P is a popular choice because it supports AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen and Ryzen 3rd Gen with Radeon graphics processors. The RAM technology is DDR4 and the memory capacity is 128GB, which will be fine for most. There are four memory lots available if you need the expansion and the graphics card interface is PCI-E. There are also a bunch of USB ports. As great as all of this hardware is, it’s worth noting that the AORUS software leaves a little to be desired. It can sometimes fail to detect RGB RAM.
Pros:
- Good memory capacity
- Supports RGB LED strips
Cons:
- BIOS may need to be updated
- AORUS software could be better
3. ASUS Prime B450M-A II
Best Audio
Next up is ASUS’ Prime B450M-A II, which is compatible with the Ryzen 5000 and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen computers. It boasts DDR4 RAM and a memory speed of 2400 MHZ, which is great for the average person, but if you’re going to be gaming, you might want something like 3,200 MHz. This M-ATX motherboard really shines in its audio capabilities. It offers premium audio capacitors, audio shielding and dedicated audio PCB layers. This is a great budget motherboard.
Pros:
- Great audio
- Good memory speed for simple use
Cons:
- Instructions can be unclear
4. ASRock B450M PRO4 AM4
Also Consider
This motherboard is from ASRock, a respected brand in the space. Their B450M PRO4 is a great budget boy or starter Micro-ATX motherboard. The memory storage capacity is only 64GB which might be sufficient for the average user. The memory speed is 2400 MHz and the graphics card interface is PCI-Express. All in all, if you have a Ryzen chip and don’t want to break the bank, this is a good buy. Be wary of the fact that this won’t do anything advanced and you should get something more high-tech if you want to keep your options open for the future.
Pros:
- Sufficient memor storage and speed
- Great budget buy
Cons:
- Will struggle to do anything advanced
5. MACHINIST X99
Budget Buy
Last but not least is the MACHINIST X99 Micro-ATX motherboard which is made particularly for gaming on a budget. It has DDR4 RAM technology and the maximum size of the RAM is 64GB. The memory speed is 2133 MHz. It’ll support gaming fine, but of course if you have the capability, you could definitely go with a premium option. The memory storage capacity is just 16GB.
Pros:
- Basic gaming capabilities
- Good memory speed
Cons:
- Low memory storage capacity
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