What is the Smallest ATX Case in 2023

Do you know What is the Smallest ATX Case? Let’s discuss! Motherboards come in a variety of sizes and formats, but today there are three formats that are usually the most preferred choice for desktop PCs: ATX, Micro ATX, and Mini ITX.

In this article, we will look at each of the motherboard formats mentioned above and compare their differences to help you decide which one is best for your needs.

Comparison between the  smallest full ATX case length and Width

The ATX is the largest of the three motherboards you can buy and measures 305 x 244 mm. In the Micro ATX format they are quite close in size but are square and come in at 244 × 244 mm, which makes them a bit smaller. Finally, the mini is the ITX motherboard, the smallest in the 170 × 170 mm group.

As far as size is concerned, the only thing you need to worry about is whether the chassis is big enough to hold the motherboard you are looking at. Conversely, if the chassis is very large, there is no problem, as modern people have a standard layout designed to accommodate any motherboard format. So what should you keep in mind when choosing the right motherboard format?

Gaming PC

If you’re building a desktop gaming computer, we recommend using the Micro ATX motherboard for most configurations and only consider the ATX if you really need these additional PCIe slots.

A micro ATX will almost always offer the best value for money: it will have a good number of PCI slots and enough space for all the RAM that a gaming PC will need and it will cost more than the ATX. Will be less

A mini ITX motherboard seems like a bad choice for a gaming PC. After all, they are expensive and have limited RAM and, most importantly, very little chance of installing just one PCIe slot.

what-is-the-smallest-atx-case-pic-one

RAM installation capability.

One important difference between the Mini ITX and the two ATX motherboards is the number of RAM slots. In practice, mini ITX motherboards have only two RAM slots, while micro ATX and ATX motherboards typically have four. However, some high-end ATX motherboards can have up to eight RAM slots.

That said, currently, Mini ITX motherboards can accommodate up to 32 GB of RAM if the 2.16 GB kit is installed. In contrast, most Micro ATX and ATX motherboards support at least 64 GB, although some Micro ATX models can go up to 128 GB, while some ATX offer up to 512 GB. You can also allow up to B installs.

In any case, 16 GB of RAM is enough to make most of the currently available games and software run smoothly, and 32 GB is often overkilled. That said, though, more RAM formations are more evidence of the future.

Which to choose?

Now that we have looked at the most important features and characteristics, let’s face the most important question: which one to choose? The answer largely depends on the type of PC you want to combine and how many PCIs and RAM slots you want to use.

PCIe slot.

Another notable difference between the three motherboard formats is the number of PCI Express (PCI) slots they offer. The ATX motherboard definitely has the advantage of offering at least three PCI slots, although some advanced models can boast up to five.

Micro ATX motherboards typically have only one PCIe slot but can go up to three, while Mini ITX models have only one PCIe slot. Of course, additional PCIe slots may come in handy if you are considering a multi-GPU configuration or installing an expansion card, such as a sound card, capture card, internal modem, etc.

Pricing of What is the smallest ATX case

And finally, the question of price. One might think that smaller ITX motherboards are the cheapest because of their size, but they are not. In fact, they are the most expensive, at least in terms of starting price. ATX and Micro ATX motherboards typically start at around $ 50 / $ 60, while mini ITX models start at around $ 100.

PC / Gaming Workstation

If you are thinking of a PC not only for gaming but also for some professional software, having more PCI slots and RAM slots offered by ATX motherboards is the best choice. The Mini ITX hypothesis should be rejected because small chassis does not usually cool efficiently, which can be a problem if you plan to make your computer work harder.

PC from home.

Lastly, if you want to do internet, multimedia, some office work or occasional games with a PC, the best solution is the cheapest. So the Micro ATX motherboard will be the way to go again, as it is usually the cheapest option available and has everything you need. Things change if you aim for a very compact PC. In that case, you have to choose a mini ITX at the cost of spending a little more.

Conclusion

I hope this guide on what is the smallest ATX case will help you to select the best one for yourself next time.

Cordelia Hill

Cordelia Hill

Articles: 144