[SOLVED] Is MicroATX worse for performance?

nyxanna

Distinguished
Apr 16, 2011
281
2
18,815
I am going to build a new system and am trying to figure out if using MicroATX will be as good as bigger motherboards.

I will be using a RTX 280 Ti and i9-9900K so of course I don't want to buy MicroATX if it is going to affect the computer performance.
This is the MicroATX board I was going to buy
https://amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07J66ZXH1/

Will I get worse frame rates and performance? Do you recommend I should get some bigger motherboard?
I will try to overclock but I am not an overclock enthusiast.
 
Solution
I am going to build a new system and am trying to figure out if using MicroATX will be as good as bigger motherboards.

I will be using a RTX 280 Ti and i9-9900K so of course I don't want to buy MicroATX if it is going to affect the computer performance.
This is the MicroATX board I was going to buy
https://amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07J66ZXH1/

Will I get worse frame rates and performance? Do you recommend I should get some bigger motherboard?
I will try to overclock but I am not an overclock enthusiast.

The way I look at it you have to consider the value for money aspect of it.

In order to reap value, in terms of performance per dollar spent, from of that expensive 9900k/2080ti combo you really have to overclock it into...
Performance is largely determined by the components you choose to attach to the motherboard, not the motherboard's form factor.

A larger board will usually have more expansion slots though, so just be sure the board you choose will meet your requirements in that respect. Carefully read the full specs on the manufacturer's product page.
 
I am going to build a new system and am trying to figure out if using MicroATX will be as good as bigger motherboards.

I will be using a RTX 280 Ti and i9-9900K so of course I don't want to buy MicroATX if it is going to affect the computer performance.
This is the MicroATX board I was going to buy
https://amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07J66ZXH1/

Will I get worse frame rates and performance? Do you recommend I should get some bigger motherboard?
I will try to overclock but I am not an overclock enthusiast.

The way I look at it you have to consider the value for money aspect of it.

In order to reap value, in terms of performance per dollar spent, from of that expensive 9900k/2080ti combo you really have to overclock it into 5Ghz region. But even short of that point power consumption starts becoming extreme so it puts out a lot of heat. You'll need not just basic liquid cooling but a capable closed loop system with a big water block and high-flow pump. Also a fairly nice sized radiator...360mm at least.

Yes, this is going to be a tad more expensive than whatever tower cooler's on sale at the moment but when contemplating a $1400 GPU we mustn't be quibbling with these things.

That kind of setup really needs a big case with space to fit all of this, that means ATX. So it invalidates any benefit of mATX, which should be a smaller desktop footprint, since you can't use an mATX sized case. Might as well go with a full-size ATX board and not worry the issue.

An alternative is just get a Ryzen 3600 or 3700x, put that on any B450 mATX board with it's package cooler and get 99.9% of the FPS of the 9900k at the gaming resolution (4k) where you need to game to make the 2080ti earn it's value.

At lower resolution, say 1080p, you'll still get 95% or better FPS of a 9900K ( it depends a lot on title.) But I really have to ask why the heck buy a 2080ti to game at that resolution.
 
Last edited:
Solution