ATX build vs Micro ATX build?

[mdiiorgi]

What are the main differences between micro atx builds and ATX builds? Can you fit a micro atx board into an ATX mid tower case? Do micro atx motherboards fit into micro atx mini cases such as this one?

http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Black-Extreme-Chassis-CA-1D5-00S1WN-00/dp/B00PDDMN6S/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1455675693&sr=1-1&keywords=Thermaltake+Core+V21+MicroATX+Mini

Benefits of ATX vs Micro ATX? Also I will post a permalink to my build and I want to know if everything would fit (PCpartpicker says everything is compatible but want to double check) Just looking for some generalizations as I recently found out a micro atx build is a little cheaper. Thanks!

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NRqXTW

 

[Steven Jiang]

Most ATX cases will fit mATX motherboards since mATX boards are smaller than ATX boards. However, ATX boards will definitely not fit into mATX cases since mATX cases are specifically designed for mATX or mini-ITX boards.
However, if you do decide to but a mATX board to fit into a ATX chasis, do go and check the product page as some chasis may not have the correct mounting holes for a mATX board.

 

[cleanshot911]

The difference between micro ATX and ATX is mostly just size. Advantages to ATX include usually having better airflow, more room for water cooling radiators, room for bigger gpus and cpu heatsinks as well as longer psus, more room for HDDs and SSDs, they're usually a bit easier to build in and cable management generally turns out quite a bit better unless you put a lot of work into managing the cables in your mATX build. A microATX motherboard will certainly fit in most ATX cases, and likely all mATX cases since that's what it was designed for. Despite its size, mATX still has the space to do SLI and Crossfire for up to two gpus total, so you can still pack quite a punch in those little cases. The big difference as far as mobos go is that you don't have as much room for wifi cards, sound cards, M.2 SSDs and whatnot. If you want something that's portable but powerful mATX is the way to go. If you want something convenient to work with and upgrade, but a bit a of a burden to carry around, then ATX is the way to go.