Question Ordered mATX by mistake, any good reason not to keep it and swap it for ATX ?

[silverz]

I've ordered the ASUS TUF GAMING B760M-PLUS DDR5 mATX mobo but I wasn't paying attention when ordering it this afternoon, and only after it's been shipped out I noticed it was mATX.

Should I return it and pay 10% more for the ATX version or just keep what I've ordered?

What if any downsides are there with mATX? I don't need any more than 1 pcie slot, it still has 4 ram slots and enough usb and m2 for my needs. The ATX version has WiFi which the mATX doesn't but I use a wired connection and would probably never need WiFi.

Am I missing something out here or are the only differences the board size, less pcie, a couple less m2 and no WiFi?

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

are the only differences the board size, less pcie, a couple less m2 and no WiFi?

usually lower quality VRM cooling and overall component cooling due to tighter grouping.
maybe also less CPU cooler options & RAM clearance due to this.
less available fan ports, etc,..

may not properly fit in an ATX sized case with available ports not meeting up with available slots.

usually less SATA & USB options available.
less future expansion options with less PCIe & M.2.

 

[silverz]

So assuming I don't care about future expansion and it will fit my case properly I mainly only need to worry about the cooling of the components being closer?

I won't be overclocking as it's not possible anyway on b760 and the case will have plenty of cooling - should I just stick with what I've bought and trust that the manufacturers design of the board will be adequate to provide stability?
One of the selling points of the Asus tuf range after all is their enlarged vrm heatsinks and overall stability and they also have m2 heatsinks on the board even though they are closer to other parts than on the ATX board.

So far I'm thinking just keep the mATX board and live with what appear to be minor compromises.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

I mainly only need to worry about the cooling of the components being closer?

not just that areas are grouped tighter together but that they will also have less adequate cooling overall.

So far I'm thinking just keep the mATX board and live

then what else do you want to know?

if you find any issues with installation and component seating then you can still return the board later anyway.

 

[silverz]

Thanks. Mainly just wanted to make sure there's not some major difference that I had overlooked that I'd regret at a later date or not find out about until it's too late

 

[Moonstick2]

I used to use full ATX back when I needed a soundcard, a TV card, a USB expansion card and so on. The last ten or fifteen years I've only used mATX and never had a problem with it. About the only thing that would make me hesitate these days (bearing in mind I've a mATX only case) is wider GPU cards blocking out too many slots. With your mATX there Asus have wisely not bothered putting a slot next to the PCIe 5.0x16 - after all it's motherboard aimed at gamers who'll usually have wide GPUs - but a 2.5+ slot graphics card might still take out one of the two expansion slots.

Otherwise if it's got all the features you need, don't worry about it.