Micro ATX motherboards are becoming more and more important and common in the modern day and age. Gone are the days when people just wanted massive computers. People are now opting for smaller powerhouses that they can tuck in one corner and never worry about the space, or anything else that might come in the way.
When you go into the market to buy a good motherboard, you are welcomed by a whole host of motherboards available in the market and you can have a great experience with all of them.
If you are wondering why you need a micro ATX motherboard, the answer behind that is rather simple. You are looking to build a matx computer that is small and compact enough to fit in tight spaces.
However, at the same time, you are looking to buy something that delivers the performance you have been looking for.
This is where these motherboards come into play because they do offer great performance to you, so you really do not have to worry about anything making your experience mediocre.
Best Micro ATX Motherboard 2020 Roundup
With so many mATX motherboards available in the market, it can be difficult to talk about their benefits. That is why we have mentioned some of the main ones below.
Benefits of mATX Motherboards
If you are wondering whether there are any benefits of mATX motherboards, then the right way is to actually look at the different use cases that you can get from these motherboards.
In reality, you actually get a number of advantages that you can make use of when it comes to these motherboards.
Still, for those who are not sure whether they should buy these motherboards, we are going to be looking at these benefits so you can have a proper understanding of these motherboards.
With that said, let’s not digress and have a look at the benefits.
They Are Great for Smaller Builds
If you are looking to build a computer that is small and compact, then there is no denying that building a PC that comes with an mATX motherboard is a great idea.
These motherboards are small, but the best part about them is that they will not give you any reduced performance, either. Which simply means that you could have a computer that is relatively small in size, but performs the same as the larger sized computers.
However, the thing that you have to be careful about whenever you are building a smaller computer is that the heat generation can be an issue and you really have to be careful about that.
Still as Powerful
Another benefit that most people should know is that even if they are reduced in size quite a bit, they are still as powerful. I recently built a PC for my friend comprising of an RTX 2080Ti, an Intel Core i9 9900K, and every other powerful component that you could imagine, and the best part is that all of it was housed in a Corsair Crystal 280x – an RGB micro ATX chassis.
Needless to say, you can get the same power in a much smaller sized package.
Easy Availability
Last but not least, another really prominent feature of investing in micro ATX motherboards is that they are easily available. I know that the same applies to the regular sized ATX motherboards, but the thing here is that in the past, the mATX motherboards were rarities.
However, things have changed now. Whether you are building a high-end gaming PC or something that is only good for streaming content, you are going to have a great overall experience.
The aforementioned benefits should be more than enough to convince anyone to go for a micro ATX motherboard.
Sure, it might be an overwhelming experience for you in the start, but the good news is that once you do your research, you will have no issues finding the best possible motherboard in your given budget.
With so many options available in the market, our roundup is going to help you choose the best micro ATX motherboard for your next build.
Best Micro ATX Motherboards 2020 Roundup
So, let’s not delay any further and start looking at the top picks that we have in store for you.
MSI Z390M MPG
Best Intel High-End mATX Motherboard 2020
When it comes to quality components, MSI has never been the one to shy away from the top of the line components. Simply because they are known for providing some of the best components available in the market.
Their motherboards, especially, have been gaining a lot of traction and for all the right reasons. Today, we look at the MSI Z390M MPG; an mATX motherboard that packs a serious punch.
Starting with the good things, the motherboard provides the great overclocking potential for the two DIMM slots that you get. The overall performance of the motherboard remains stable and tough as nails. You can actually go for either Crossfire, SLI, or an x8 storage device as well.
One of the best things about this motherboard, however, is that all the features work simultaneously, which means that you do not have to worry about the idea of shared resources, because that will not be happening here.
Last but not the least, you actually get the Intel 1.73 gigabits per second Wi-Fi module as well, which is great.
With all the good things there in the package, there are a few downsides that we want to mention.
For starters, the VRM cooling is not enough for really high overclocking, and if you are thinking about coupling thicker graphics cards, you might have some clearance issues.
Overall, the MSI Z390M MPG is one of the best motherboards money can buy, especially when you are looking at the mATX repertoire. It will complement your build perfectly and without any issues.
Pros
- A long list of amazing features.
- Top of the line performance.
- Looks the part.
- Comes with super fast Wi-Fi.
Cons
- The VRM cooling is not sufficient for the high-end 9900K processor.
- Coupling thicker graphics cards could result in clearance issues.
MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC LGA1151 (Intel 8th and 9th Gen) M.2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 DDR4 HDMI DP Wi-Fi SLI CFX Micro ATX Z390 Gaming Motherboard
- Supports 9th i9 9900k, i7 9700k, i5 9600k and 8th Generation Intel Core/ Pentium gold/ Celeron Processors for LGA 1151 socket
- Supports dual channel DDR4 Memory, up to 4500(OC) MHz; Operating System: Support for Windows 10 64 bit
- 2x Turbo M; 2, Intel Optane Memory Ready, Turbo USB 3; 1 Gen2
Check Price
Check Price on Amazon
ASRock Z370M Pro4
Best Intel Midrange mATX Motherboard 2020
ASRock has never been shy when it comes to delivering some of the best hardware available in the market.
Most importantly, they have been consistent with their products, and the best part is that they can offer great performance in affordable price brackets.
Today, we look at the ASRock Z370M Pro4, a mid-range micro ATX motherboard that still has some nice tricks up its sleeves. How good is it? Let’s find out.
Kicking things off with all things that are good; the motherboard is one of the best-looking motherboards; especially for those who are looking for the muted color scheme with understated looks. This is something that speaks gamer without the bright, shining lights.
Another great thing about this motherboard is that it does not cost a lot of money and can still offer you a decent overclocking potential. For the price, the most surprising factor for me is that there is only one share resource present on the motherboard and that is between the SATA and the M.2.
There are a few hiccups that come in the way of this otherwise great motherboard. For starters, the voltage regulator module or VRM is not cooled enough for the more power-hungry processors like the Core i7 series, which means that there is not a lot of overclocking headroom for such processors.
Additionally, we are missing the USB 3.1 gen 2, a port that happens to be a lot more important in the modern day PCs. Last but not least, the second x16 slot only comes with four chipset lanes, which is a letdown.
Overall, the ASRock Z370M Pro4 is actually a good value for a Z370 chipset in the micro ATX form factor which gives out a decent performance and user experience.
Pros
- With muted colors, it is a great motherboard in terms of looks.
- Provides overclocking on a budget.
- There is only one shared resource.
Cons
- Insufficient VRM cooling for higher-end motherboards.
- No USB 3.1 Gen 2.
ASRock Motherboard Motherboards Z370 PRO4
- Supports 8th Generation Intel Core Processors (Socket 1151)
- Supports DDR4 4266+(OC). AMD Quad CrossFireX
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16, 3 PCIe 3.0 x1, 1 PCI, 1 M.2 Socket (Key E)
Check Price
Check Price on Amazon
Asus ROG Strix B360-G
The great thing about Asus is that they have always put the consumers first whenever it comes to their products.
For starters, you do not have to have a really high budget if you want to enjoy good quality components. The same is the case with the Asus ROG Strix B360-G, a decent micro ATX motherboard that does come with a lot of good features.
For starters, the overall performance of this motherboard is pretty solid, and there are no issues as far as the stability is concerned. The layout is pretty decent for the fact that you are buying a micro ATX motherboard.
One of the best parts about this motherboard is the audio codec. It actually is a higher end one so, you can have a great listening experience as well as a gaming experience, too.
As far as the downside are concerned, my only complaint with this motherboard is that it is just slightly expensive for a motherboard that does not have any overclocking potential mainly because it is a B360 platform.
Overall, the Asus ROG Strix B360-G is actually a pretty good motherboard that offers some decent features and will complement your micro ATX build if you are not looking to overclock it.
Pros
- Comes with a great audio codec.
- The overall layout is good.
- Has a nice set of features.
- The overall performance is good.
Cons
- Slightly expensive for a B360 chipset.
ASUS ROG LGA1151 (300 Series) DDR4 HDMI DVI M.2 Micro-ATX Motherboard (Strix B360-G Gaming)
- Designed exclusively for 8th generation Intel Core processors to maximize connectivity and speed with dual NVMe M.2, USB 3.1 Gen2 and Intel Optane Memory compatibility
- ASUS OptiMem improves memory stability and performance by improving trace isolation between PCB layers to maintain signal integrity even at higher frequencies
- Gamer’s Guardian hardware-level safeguards provide component longevity and reliability
Check Price
Check Price on Amazon
GIGABYTE B360M D3H
We are finally heading towards Gigabyte, another great company when it comes to the components that they have been making. Whether you are on a tight budget, or you are in a mood to splurge, there are so many options available that you can make use of, as well.
Keeping that in mind, we are looking at the GIGABYTE B360M D3H, one of their affordable options that give you a good value for money.
To start off, the good thing about this offering is that it is cost effective. You are not obligated to spend a lot of money simply because you are trying to build a decent gaming P or a PC in general.
It does not come with the fancy RGB lighting and all but at the price you are paying, you do get a fairly decent looking motherboard.
The real star of the show here are the four RAM slots. Considering how most micro ATX motherboard comes with 2 slots, this is great if you are looking to build a PC that has more RAM because your workflow requires it.
On the flipside, there are a few concerns; mainly the fact that there is not a lot of features that you are going to get with this motherboard.
At its core, it is one of the basic motherboards offers available in the market, too. However, since it is priced so low, it actually makes a lot of sense.
Overall, the GIGABYTE B360M D3H is actually a decent offering that justifies its price. It does not cost a lot of money but for the price you are paying, it actually gives you the performance you would normally get.
Pros
- Good value for money.
- Provides fairly decent features.
- 4 RAM slots.
Cons
- Only serves for the most basic use.
GIGABYTE B360M D3H GSM LGA1151/Intel B360/DDR4/Quad CrossFireX/SATA3&USB3.1/M.2/A&GbE/MicroATX Motherboard
- B360M
- D3H GSM
- LGA1151
Check Price
Check Price on Amazon
GIGABYTE GA-AB350M-Gaming 3
Best mATX Motherboard For AMD Ryzen 2020
The last motherboard on our list is again from Gigabyte, however, this time around, we are not looking an Intel offering. We have diverted our attention towards Gigabyte, and we are going to look at how good the offering is.
Considering how AMD has become a lot more important in the previous years, it only makes sense that you check out this motherboard. Let’s have a look and see what the GIGABYTE GA-AB350M-Gaming 3 has to offer.
For starters, I really like the fact that despite being a B350 motherboard, the overall performance is actually comparable to the X370 chipset, and yes, it does include overclocking too. UEFI control is one of the best and most refined.
If you are someone who likes to tweak their UEFI, you will have a decent experience doing so.
The RGB lighting system works really well, and most importantly, if you are someone who likes to adjust their fan curve based on their personal preferences, then this motherboard will let them have a great experience that they have been looking for.
With so many good things aside, the motherboard does raise some concerns for us. For starters, there is a severe lack of USB ports at the back of the motherboard. Additionally, you do not get support for Nvidia’s NVLink or SLI, which is odd considering how you do have the slots available.
Another thing that bothered me about this motherboard is that there is no USB Type C connector at the back. It would make sense to exclude it in the front, but it is something that is must to have at the back.
Overall, the GIGABYTE GA-AB350M-Gaming 3 is a fairly decent motherboard that does not try to punch above its paygrade. There is nothing wrong with that either as the overall value it provides is actually fairly decent and you still get a good amount of features that you can get from this motherboard.
Needless to say, if you are looking to build a fairly decent AMD-based gaming PC but you cannot spend a lot of money, then this is definitely something that you should go for.
Pros
- Affordable.
- Comes with features that rival the X370 chipset.
- Can easily be overclocked.
- Great UEFI options.
- The RGB lighting, as well as the fan curve control, is great.
Cons
- There are not enough USB ports at the back.
- You do not get any support for NVidia SLI or NVLink.
- You do not get USB Type C connector at the back.
GIGABYTE GA-AB350M-Gaming 3 (AMD Ryzen AM4/ B350/ SMART FAN 5/ HDMI/ M.2/ SATA/ USB 3.1 Type-A/ Micro ATX/ DDR4/ Motherboard)
- Supports New Generation AMD Ryzen Processors
- Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
- Fast 2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 with USB Type-A
Check Price
Check Price on Amazon
Conclusion
The thing about choosing a good micro ATX motherboard is that if you are not familiar with how the market works or the options available in the market, you can easily get confused and end up buying a motherboard that is not good enough.
Still, this roundup is here to help you pick the best possible motherboard you can without running into any issues.
All the motherboards we have listed are widely available and will work without any issues, as well. Just make sure that you check the support for components, and you would be good to go.