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Building a custom PC means making a ton of decisions, but picking the right motherboard size may be the biggest one of all. The board you choose sets the stage for how the entire system looks, how fast it runs, and how easily you can upgrade it later. Knowing the options and how they fit together is a must for both first-time builders and seasoned pros who want a powerful, compact machine.
Mastering Motherboard Sizes
Motherboards don’t come in one size fits all. The main options are ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITX, and E-ATX. Each size carries trade-offs in space and features. If you want a PC that doesn’t eat the whole desk but can still take a beefy CPU and a couple of solid features, Mini ITX and Micro ATX are the names you’ll see most often in builds under the “compact” label.
Mini ITX Boards
Mini ITX is the little champ of the motherboard world. Measuring a tidy 6.7 x 6.7 inches, it thinks small is sexy. Don’t think of it as a budget model, though. A good Mini ITX board has all the main bells and whistles, from tons of USB ports to onboard graphics and speedy RAM support. It’s the go-to choice for anyone who doesn’t want a lot of motherboard showing but still wants a kick-ass system that fits in a shoebox.
Micro ATX Motherboards
Micro ATX boards measure 9.6 x 9.6 inches, giving you a bit more room than Mini ITX layouts. That extra space means you can fit more expansion slots and ports, so they work well in a compact rig where you might want to add stuff later. Because they balance size and power so well, folks building gaming rigs and workstations both love Micro ATX.
Choosing the Right Size for Your Build
When picking a motherboard for your small custom PC, think about what you’ll do with the system, how much room you have, and whether you’ll upgrade later. If you mostly browse the web or play games that aren’t too demanding, a Mini ITX board can do the job. But for heavier apps or plans to keep swapping in new parts, a Micro ATX board is usually the wiser choice.
Future Trends in Compact PC Builds
Tech keeps moving forward, and tiny PC builds are on track to become even more popular. Companies are making smaller parts that are still super fast, letting us squeeze awesome computers into tiny desks and dorm rooms. Improved cooling gadgets that fit in tiny spaces, plus parts that sip power instead of gulping it, mean you can build fast little machines without burning hot air or your electricity bill. For anyone dreaming of a lit-up custom compact PC in the next few years, knowing which motherboard sizes fit your layout is more important than ever.