Motherboard size standards: What is Mini-ITX? A Brief Breakdown of Motherboard Sizes

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Motherboard Form Factors Explained

When it comes to selecting the perfect components for your dream gaming PC, it can seem a little daunting. Especially when you have to consider the size of your hardware, not just the type of hardware you need.  

But fear not – that’s where our team of PC experts at Overclockers UK comes in! We’ve compiled this handy guide detailing everything you need to know about different motherboard form factors, so sit back, grab a cuppa, and keep on reading.

What is a motherboard?

As the foundation of your PC, the motherboard acts as a hub of connectivity for all your components.  

It is usually situated at the center of the PC with numerous wires and components connected. Motherboards are available in different form factors to suit all sizes of computer chassis.  

If you want a more in-depth look at what makes up a motherboard – take a look at the video from TechteamGB down below!  

What are the different form factors?

There are four primary motherboard form factors: 

• Mini-ITX  
• Micro-ATX  
• ATX 
• E-ATX 

Image credit: MSI

Mini-ITX:

The standard form factor available, Mini-ITX, is typically 17cm x 17cm, perfect for small, space-saving PCs. The motherboard features all the core components including DIMM slots for RAM, usually 1 x PCIe lane, and a plethora of USB connectivity ports. Regardless of their small form factor, these motherboards have everything you need as a foundation for a small, yet mighty gaming PC.  

With a Mini-ITX motherboard, you can create your own Mini-ITX PC. Utilising space-saving components will result in a lightweight and budget-friendly system that you can still pack with some incredible gaming hardware.  

Advantages

• Ideal for small cases  
• Often low cost  

Disadvantages

• Doesn’t support multi-GPUs  
• Not suited for extreme overclocking  
• Small RAM capacity  

Gigabyte Z690I Aorus Ultra DDR4 Mini-ITX Motherboard:

• Socket LGA 1700  
• Z690 chipset  
• 2 x DDR4 DIMM slots  
• Wi-Fi 6 support  

The case I would recommend would be the Kolink Rocket.

Kolink Rocket Mini-ITX Case:

Expertly crafted to fully utilise a Mini-ITX set-up, this chassis is small and compact, perfect for creating a space-saving PC. Whilst it may be small, this case can support AiO radiators of up to 240mm on the top panel and even triple-slot vertical GPU, thanks to the mount and PCIe 3.1 riser cable. Plus, the dual tempered glass side panels allow you to display your custom Mini-ITX set-up with pride.

• Designed for Mini-ITX motherboards 
• Dual tempered glass side panels  
• Aluminum front panel with hexagon cutouts 

Micro-ATX:

Similar to Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX motherboards are suitable for smaller builds and are ideal for any budget. Micro-ATX features all the core technology, such as DIMM slots for RAM, however, is more suited to a single GPU set-up. This is because the motherboards usually come with only one PCIe lane.  

What’s more, as they are slightly larger than Mini-ITX, these motherboards can’t fit into the small Mini-ITX chassis but can easily be installed into mid or full tower cases. Plus, due to the small size, take advantage of optimised airflow and cooling for a virtually silent operation.   

Advantages

• Can fit into most cases  
• Ideal for single GPU setups  
• Ideal for any budget  

Disadvantages

• Doesn’t support multi-GPUs  
• Not suited for extreme overclocking  

ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-Plus Micro-ATX Motherboard:

• AMD AM4 socket  
• B550 chipset  
• 4 x DDR4 DIMM slots  
• PCIe 4.0 support  

For Micro-ATX motherboards, the case I would recommend is the Kolink Citadel.

Kolink Citadel Micro-ATX Case:

Sleek, black, and featuring a tempered glass side panel, this chassis is perfect for gamers looking for an upgrade – without breaking their wallets. With support for up to Micro-ATX motherboards, this case is also compatible with a 240mm AiO radiator, GPUs of 35cm in length, and CPU cooling towers of 160mm tall. Plus, the included PSU shroud means you can truly create a custom, neat and dynamic Micro-ATX set-up that utilises all the latest gaming hardware.

• Designed for Micro-ATX motherboards 
• Tempered glass side panels  
• Removable dust filters  
• 2 x 120mm pre-installed fans  

ATX:

ATX motherboards typically measure 30.5cm x 24.4cm and can fit inside mid or full tower cases. The extra size means this type of motherboard comes with multiple PCIe lanes allowing for multi-GPU support.  

Suited for gamers and enthusiasts looking to take full advantage of the latest gaming hardware, ATX motherboards feature higher RAM capacity and are often better for extreme overclocking. 

Advantages

• Higher RAM capacity  
• Suited for multi-GPU support  
• Better for extreme overclocking  

Disadvantages

• More expensive  
• Won’t fit inside smaller cases  

ASUS ROG Strix Z590-A Gaming ATX Motherboard:

• Socket LGA 1200  
• Z590 chipset 
• aRGB headers  
• 4 x DDR4 DIMM slots  

To fully utilise the ATX motherboard standard, I would recommend the Lian Li Lancool 205 Case.

Lian Li Lancool 204 Mid Tower:

Available in both white and black, the Lian Li Lancool 205 features an aesthetically pleasing design along with support for custom build configurations. In classic Lian Li fashion, this case is packed with optimised cooling abilities, including up to four fans, along with integrated air inlets for superior airflow. Alternatively, if you wish to build your dream water-cooling set-up, the Lian Li Lancool 205 can even support a 280mm AiO radiator. This is ideal for creating an ATX build, especially when overclocked, as additional airflow and cooling are needed for extreme overclocking. 

• Support for Micro-ATX and ATX motherboards 
• Tempered glass side panel 
• Slide vents and magnetic dust filters  

E-ATX:

Designed to be an extension of the standard ATX form factor, E-ATX motherboards measure a whopping 30.48cm x 33.02cm!  

All the extra space allows for optimal airflow and cooling, perfect for overclocking enthusiasts looking to get the most out of their hardware. Plus, E-ATX motherboards typically feature support for multi-GPU set-ups and include a higher RAM capacity, which is attractive for competitive gamers and content creations alike.  

E-ATX motherboards are more expensive than standard ATX boards and are designed to fit in larger cases. To take advantage of an E-ATX motherboard, it’s recommended you have a full tower case. Certain mid-tower will have the space – such as the Lian Li O11D – but before you buy, we advise you to double-check that your case is compatible with an E-ATX board. 

Advantages

• Higher RAM capacity  
• Multi-GPU support  
• Suited for gamers & enthusiasts  

Disadvantages

• More expensive  
• Won’t fit inside small cases  

Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Xtreme E-ATX Motherboard:

• Intel 12^th gen compatible  
• Socket LGA 1700  
• Z690 chipset  
• DDR5 RAM support  
• PCIe Gen 5 compatible  

For an E-ATX build, I recommend the whopping Corsair Obsidian 1000D Super Tower Case. The reason is in the name… super tower.

Corsair Obsidian 1000D Super Tower:

Capable of holding two full PC set-ups, thanks to the dual-system layout, you can truly take advantage of the latest gaming hardware with this chassis. Featuring a dynamic and attractive obsidian design, the Corsair Obsidian 1000D will fit effortlessly into any aesthetic. Plus, with an integrated Corsair Commander Pro, take control of the built-in RGB lighting to tailor your system to suit your style.  

A triple-chamber design, along with ample cooling options means this PC will always remain cool and whisper-quiet, even during heavy-duty loads. With support for up to 13 fans and even four AiO radiators simultaneously, noise fans will become a thing of the past. What’s more, the rotatable GPU bracket means you can configure a standard or vertical GPU mounting for a truly unique-looking build. All of which, you can display with pride thanks to the smoked tempered glass side doors.  

• Support for E-ATX motherboards  
• Space for up to four radiators and 13 fan slots  
• Triple-chamber design 
• Includes a rotatable GPU bracket  

Get advice from the experts:

If you need some more advice and tips on selecting the perfect motherboard, get in touch with our team of friendly PC experts.   

Ask the Experts

With years of experience in the industry, Overclockers UK is widely known for building some of the finest custom gaming machines on the market. If you want more information on building the best PC why not contact our team of friendly experts on 01782 444455 and they will be happy to help.

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How to choose the form factor of Axiomtek motherboards?

March, 2022

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Contents

• ATX motherboards
• Micro-ATX motherboards
• Mini-ITX Motherboards
• Nano-ITX Motherboards
• Motherboards 3.5″
• Pico-ITX Motherboards
• Motherboards 1.8″
• Motherboards COM Express
• Qseven Motherboards
• SMARC Motherboards

Computers are constantly evolving, becoming more powerful and smaller. In order to unify the dimensions of a PC, various standards appear that limit the size of motherboards or in another way the form factor.

Using the example of AXIOMTEK motherboards, we will briefly review the evolution of the form factor of industrial motherboards and describe the features of their application. nine0007

Motherboard size comparison chart

nine0043 6.7 × 6.7

Form factor name	Dimensions in mm	Size in inches
ATX	305 × 244	12 x 9.6
Mini-ATX	284 × 208	11.2 × 8.2
Micro-ATX	244 × 244	9.6 × 9.6
Mini-ITX	170 × 170
Nano-ITX	120 × 120	4.7 × 4.7
3.5″	146 × 104	5.8 × 4
Pico-ITX	100 × 72	3. 9 x 2.7
1.8″	56 × 85	2.2 x 3.4
Com Express	120 x 95 95 x 95 84 x 55	4.7 x 3.7 3.7 x 3.7 3.3 x 2.2
Qseven	70 × 70	2.8 × 2.8
SMARC	82 x 80 82 x 50	3.2 x 3.2 3.2 x 2

ATX Motherboards

AXIOMTEK’s history of CPU boards begins with the release of the first ATX motherboard in 1998. 305mm x 244mm ATX motherboards provide the following benefits:0014

The combination of the advantages of the ATX format has made it possible for PCs based on ATX motherboards to occupy the widest segment of the industry — tower format desktop PCs. Solutions based on ATX boards are used as operator workstations, servers for critical applications, multimedia centers and other applications where high performance is required.

Micro-ATX motherboards

The high cost of ATX format motherboards and their dimensions were not always suitable for solving certain tasks. Especially if it was necessary to develop a more compact solution, but keeping performance in mind. This is how more compact Micro-ATX boards appeared. These boards feature:

• Keeping high performance in a smaller package
• Enough I/O ports

Redesigned form factor for more compact solutions.

Mini-ITX Motherboards

Mini-ITX boards became the next stage in the development of processor boards. The development of this form factor has significantly expanded the possibilities of using motherboards. This is due to the following factors:

• The ability to use both desktop and mobile processors, which made it possible to create a solution for tasks with different performance requirements
• Ability to use a fanless cooling system, which increased the fault tolerance of systems and reduced the level of noise produced
• Ability to connect a display via internal LVDS and eDP connectors
• Communication extension via riser card

Mini-ITX form factor introduces new types of PCs for various applications:

• Panel PCs with active cooling system
• Now it is possible to install expansion boards in panel PCs
  nine0014

• Ability to create fanless 1U servers
• Increased production of compact portable systems with more I/O ports and expansion slots

The increase in the number of different types of PCs has significantly expanded the scope of industrial computers:

• Industrial automation
• Food industry
• Oil and gas industry
• Field Survey
• Mobile complexes
• And many other areas

Nano-ITX motherboards

The next milestone in the development of processor boards was the advent of the Nano-ITX format. This form factor has dimensions of only 120×120 mm. When developing this form factor, it was decided to abandon the expansion slots. Also, according to many experts, the emergence of the Nano-ITX form factor was the starting point for creating embedded systems, because the compact size, fanless cooling and a wide range of I / O ports allowed developers to create various designs of their own systems, both low-profile and fully customized. . Another very important factor was the ability to work in an extended temperature range, which allowed these boards to be used in the most mission-critical applications such as outdoor video surveillance and security systems. nine0007

3.5-inch motherboards

Further development of processor board formats led to an even greater reduction in their dimensions. At the moment, one of the most popular formats is the 3.5-inch form factor. The compact dimensions of 146×104 mm, the ability to work in an extended temperature range, the presence of internal LVDS and eDP ports made it possible to use them in a variety of applications. So most embedded fanless PCs, all-in-ones, compact fanless panel computers are based on 3.5-inch boards. nine0007

3.5” boards are currently used in the following industries:

• Industrial Automation
• Transport and logistics
• Oil and gas industry
• Robotics
• Medicine
• Energy
• And in some defense decisions

Pico-ITX Motherboards

Another popular form factor is the Pico-ITX or 2.5 inch format. The 100mm x 72mm Pico-ITX SBCs give system designers and OEMs the ability to create ultra-compact solutions that deliver superior computing performance at exceptionally low power consumption. Pico-ITX single board computers meet customer requirements with their compact size, fanless operation, low power consumption, I/O versatility, and operating temperatures from -40 to +85C. nine0007

Pico-ITX boards form the basis of most ultra-compact embedded computers.

1.8″ motherboards

The downsizing trend doesn’t stop there, and manufacturers continue to compete in miniaturization. So in 2021, a 1.8-inch board appeared. In similar dimensions, alternatives were available only in the «consumer market», for example, the Raspberry Pi. The main difference between this single-board computer and its domestic counterpart is the x86 architecture, which makes it possible to use this board in various APCS solutions as a microcomputer or controller for edge computing. nine0007

Special attention should be paid to systems on a module or SoC. These types of modules include COM Express, Q7 and Smarc format modules.

Com Express motherboards

COM Express type 6

The most popular format of COM Express modules at the moment is type 6. Modules are produced in two popular form factors — compact 95×925 mm and basic 5 This form factor uses the entire line of processors from Intel Atom to Intel Xeon. Having a single base, it is possible to select modules with the necessary computing capabilities to solve a particular problem and at the same time not change the design of the final device, which significantly reduces the cost of ownership of the device and provides ample opportunities for future upgrades. nine0007

COM Express type 10

The next format that is gaining popularity is COM Express type 10. These modules are produced in only one form factor — mini 84×55 mm, which in size does not exceed the size of a credit card. The board is based on the most energy efficient ATOM/Celeron and Pentium processors. Compact size, extended temperature range and energy efficiency make these modules suitable for a wide range of automation tasks. nine0007

COM Express Type 7

With the update of the COM Express standard to version 3.0, it became possible to release the COM Express server line of Type 7 modules that equip Intel Pentium / Xeon embedded-class server processors under the code designation Broadwell DE. They are mainly produced in the basic 120×95 mm format. Type 7 provides up to 4 10 GbE interfaces and up to 32 PCIe lanes, making COM Express 3.0 suitable for high-bandwidth data center, server, and video applications. nine0007

The COM Express form factor is also used in many railroad and industrial applications.

If there are no special performance requirements or you need to develop a compact, mobile or low power solution, then you can use Q7 or Smarc modules for this.

Qseven Motherboards

The Qseven module is a computer on a very small 70x70mm module. The area of ​​the Qseven module is smaller than that of COM Express, and the maximum power consumption does not exceed 12 W, which makes it possible to use these solutions for creating mobile applications such as walkie-talkies, tablets and laptops. nine0007

SMARC Motherboards

Smart Mobility ARChitecture’s SMARC is a small form factor universal computer module specification. The module is targeted at applications that require high performance at low power consumption and low costs. As a rule, modules of this type use ARM processors, which are used in tablet computers and smartphones. The specification allows the use of alternative SoCs and processors with low power consumption, such as x86 tablet-oriented devices and RISC processors. The range of power consumption of such a module is within 6 watts. nine0007

Back to the list of materials

• MANO561-H-S

• MANO561-H-B

• CEM561-i5-1245

• CEM561-Cel-7305

• CEM561-i3-1215

nine0013

CEM561-i7-1265

• IMB540-S

• MANO560-H-S-S

Motherboard Form Factors

A computer is a collection of interacting hardware components, each performing a different function. So, hard drives are used to read and write data, the processor processes the program code, and RAM temporarily stores the data processed by the processor. But there is one component in all computers, which, as it were, controls all the others, connecting them into a single whole. It’s called the motherboard. Physically, it is literally a board on which all components are fixed. nine0007

1. 1 How to find the motherboard form factor
2. 2 Motherboard form factor sizes
3. 3 ATX motherboard form factor
4. 4 MicroATX form factor motherboard
5. 5 Motherboard form factor table

6001 small motherboard form factor

6. 7 Legacy and modern motherboard form factors
7. 8 Which motherboard form factor is better

Motherboard form factor — a standard that determines the dimensions of a PC motherboard, where it is attached to the case; the location of the bus interfaces, input / output ports, the CPU socket and slots for RAM, as well as the type of connector for connecting the power supply. In the latest versions of the form factor, the requirements for the computer cooling system are also determined. When choosing components for a PC, you must remember that the computer case must support the form factor of the motherboard. nine0007

How to find out the form factor of the motherboard

To determine the form factor of the motherboard (shape and size), at least you need to know its model. It is not difficult to determine it, for this you need to run the command

 wmic baseboard get product,Manufacturer,version,serialnumber 

on the command line and see the value Product (model) and Manufacturer (manufacturer). With this data, you can easily find information about the motherboard on the manufacturer’s website or at least in an online store on the specifications page. nine0007

You can also use a program such as AIDA64. To get the data, in the left column you need to expand the menu System board → System board and examine the contents of the block “ Physical information . .. ” located on the right side. Among other data, the form factor should also be indicated there. Unfortunately, some PCs do not have this block. You can find out the form factor of the motherboard using the described methods both on desktop PCs and laptops.

Motherboard form factor sizes

Motherboard sizes vary depending on the intended use of the device. There are boards that are the size of a playing card and there are boards that are over 40 cm long, such as the VTX motherboard standard used in servers and high-end computers that support hard drive arrays. The size of the form factor determines the expandability of the system. The larger the board, the more slots for different devices can be placed on it. So, MicroATX motherboards often have no more than two slots for RAM, which limits the upgrade. nine0007

ATX motherboard form factor

Designed back in 1995 by Intel, the ATX motherboard form factor is one of the most widely used today. It is used on desktop computers of various configurations. The physical dimensions of this type of motherboard are 305 x 244 mm, which is quite enough to install all the necessary components, while they are distinguished by an affordable price. Most often, they have 5-6 PCIe slots, and in extended versions (Extended ATX) up to 7 PCIe slots. Of the design features, it should be noted that this form factor of the motherboard is compatible only with ATX standard cases, however, the latter does not create problems due to their wide distribution. nine0007

MicroATX Form Factor Motherboard

This device is also the brainchild of Intel, released in 1997. This form factor is positioned as a stripped-down version of ATX, which has a smaller complete base. The physical dimensions of this type of board is 244 x 244 mm, and the number of available slots usually does not exceed 4, there are also MicroATX with only two PCI Express slots. MicroATX are common in the same way as ATX, but are used mainly in computers of the «office» type, although it should be noted that the chipset in them can be installed the same as in ATX. nine0044

system

. Aside from requiring a 58x65mm CoreExpress carrier board, the most compact motherboards today include the 100x72mm Pico-ITX, created by VIA Technologies in 2007 and launched in 2009VIA Technologies Mobile-ITX is only 60 x 60 mm.

But the absolute record belongs to the ROCK PI S square motherboard with a side of only 38 mm, used in a miniature computer from enthusiastic developers Radxa. True, one cannot fail to note the functional limitations of the PC ROCK PI S, even the advanced version of which lacks a graphics processor, but is equipped with 256 MB of RAM, 8 GB of flash memory, a Wi-Fi module, a microSD card reader, two USB 2. 0 ports and eight connectors for different devices. nine0007

Outdated and modern motherboard form factors

In the summary table of motherboard form factors, we left out one important detail — their relevance. Some of them are outdated, others, on the contrary, are only at the implementation stage. Sizes such as XT, AT, Baby-AT and LPX are no longer in use. Due to the developer’s refusal to develop the project, such a relatively young size as BTX with its derivatives (MicroBTX, PicoBTX, etc.) has lost its relevance. NLX can also be considered irrelevant form factors, giving way to MicroATX and FlexATX. nine0007

The most popular and widespread today are the form factors of motherboards mATX (MicroATX), EATX (extended ATX) and, in fact, ATX itself. Other form factors, although they have been around for several years, are just being introduced. These include SSI CEB, Mini-STX, NLX, Nano- and Pico-ITX, WTX and FlexATX. There are also motherboards that cannot be attributed to any of the existing form factors.