Not everyone requires a fully fledged, state of the art type ATX motherboard featuring PCIe for multiple GPUs and enabling mind blowing overclocking speeds. More times than not, a Micro ATX motherboard is perfectly capable of being a great backbone for your build, especially if you are on a budget. You will find or already have found out that Micro ATX boards are equally capable of accommodating enough memory, dual-GPU and handling high-powered processors. Therefore, being a little less cheaper and compact is not the only advantage here. You can also choose to have your Micro ATX board in ATX PC cases without any issue because they do support smaller boards. Choosing the best Micro ATX motherboard can be daunting however, we have tried to narrow your choices as much as possible.
In this list, we include motherboards that can host 2 GPUs, have incredible memory support, best for Intel as well as AMD and of course choices for budgeteers. So it should not be that hard for you to zero in on a choice that matches both your requirements and budget.
ASUS Prime Z690M-Plus D4- Best High End Micro ATX Motherboard for Intel
- LGA1700 socket | Z690 chipset
- 128 GB memory support @ 5,333MHz
- 10+1 DrMOS power delivery
- 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1
- 3 x M.2 slot
The newest and the best for Micro ATX Intel builds. No trouble in handling 12th gen Intel processors because of the VRM with 10+1 DrMOS delivering the power and efficiency that the latest Intel processors demand. Cooling is well optimized because of the two massive VRM heatsinks and thermal pads that transfer heat well. As you can imagine, the boot times can be lightning speed with the three M.2 SSD slots running at PCIe 4.0 x4 and of course the PCIe 5.0 for graphics cards demanding more bandwidth.
The memory support too is pretty impressive with 4 slots and overclocking capacity of 5,333MHz. To top it all off, connectivity is not left out and we have USB Type-C, 3.2 Gen2x2 both at the back and front panel and Thunderbolt 4 support. No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth though. RGB headers are available for aesthetic lovers though.
MSI MAG B550M Mortar-Best High End Micro ATX Motherboard for AMD
- AM4 socket | AMD B550 chipset
- Dual channel DDR4 memory up to 128 GB @ 4400 MHz
- 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 slots (x16); 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (x4); 2x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots
- 2x M.2
- 2.5G LAN & Wi-Fi 6
- USB Type-C in rear and front panel
The best Micro ATX motherboard for AMD builds without a second thought. As you can see from the specs, it can facilitate the basement for an absolute powerhouse. Supports AMD Ryzen 5000, 3000, and 4000 G- Series desktop processors and offers equal memory support to utilize the maximum out of these processors. It also features an extended heatsink that covers the chokes, 7W/mK rated thermal pads, 2oz thickened copper PCB material, and M.2 Shield Frozr to regulate the rig temperature at extreme workload conditions. Additionally, there is a HDMI 2.1 port and a DisplayPort paired with the AMD Crossfire technology for multi GPUs.
Realtek ALC1200 Codec for the best audio experiences during competitive gaming. Connectivity is well covered with the 13 USB ports that includes USB 3.0 Gen 2, USB 3.2 Gen 1 type A etc. Oh, it also has a 2.5Gbps LAN controller apart from the Wi-Fi. The only downside is the price of course. We would have liked to see Thunderbolt connectivity embedded too for that amount. Also there are no RGB headers in this board. For most Ryzen 7 3700 X and 5 3600 users, this board was a perfect match with other high end components such as Radeon RX 5700 XT.
Asus Prime H610M-A D4-CSM-for Budget Intel Builds
- LGA1700 socket | H610 chipset
- 4 x DDR4 3,200MHz up to 64GB memory support
- 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x1
- 1 x M.2 slot PCIe 3.0 x 4, 1 x M.2 slot PCIe 3.0 x 2
- Rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A and front USB 3.2 Gen 1 header
We cannot think of a better choice for a budget Intel small form factor build. Supporting the latest 12th gen processors with ample memory support, PCIe for your graphics card and additional PCIe for more. No PCIe 5.0 of course. It supports multiple displays because of the embedded HDMI port and a DisplayPort. Offers 1Gb Ethernet on board and the Wi-Fi module sold separately.
Connectivity is well taken care of with the 11 USB ports(6 rear and 5 front), no Type-C or Thunderbolt. Realtek 7.1 Surround Sound up to 24-Bit/192 kHz playback for a quality audio experience while gaming. Good power delivery and enough cooling support to keep the temperatures down. Overall the users are pleased with their purchase except some complain that Asus default settings automatically installing Armoury Crate software was annoying.
GIGABYTE B450 AORUS M- Best Budget Micro ATX Board for AMD
- AM4 chipset| B450 chipset
- Dual Channel DDR4 64GB @ 3600 MHz
- NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 with Thermal Guard
- Maximum cooling
- Great audio
Without a doubt, the best choice for budget AMD builds. Just under $85, it supports up to AMD Ryzen 5000 series. Quite a good choice for users having a Ryzen 5 3600. Plenty of memory support with good overclocking potential, HDMI, DVI D ports for multiple displays, supports PCIe 4.0 with the new BIOS update as well. The motherboard is special in a few meaningful ways. They have given quite some thought for hardware cooling especially as Ryzen CPUs are known for being utilized in intense workloads.
The Smart Fan 5 allows users to interchange their fan headers to reflect different thermal sensors at different locations on the motherboard. Also with it, more hybrid fan headers that support both PWM and Voltage mode fans have been included. The heatsink too is well optimized for cooling. A good motherboard even if you choose to go with water cooling because of the hybrid fan headers offered which are capable of automatic detection of the type of cooling device.
The M.2 Thermal Guard is well designed to dissipate the heat during long operations. The hybrid The Digi+ VRM delivers real-time control over voltage droop. Plenty of connectivity with the USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A ports. Gaming LAN only, no Wi-Fi. You can be assured that the foundation of your rig is safe with this motherboard.
ASUS Prime B660M-A D4- A Good Midrange Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
- LGA 1700 socket | B660 chipset
- 12th Gen, Pentium Gold and Celeron Processor support
- VRM heatsink, M.2 heatsink, PCH heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 2+
- 4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4 @ 5333 MHz
- 1 x PCIe 4.0/3.0 x16 slot
- 2 x M.2 slots and 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
Priced at 139, the ASUS Prime B660 delivers exceptional performance packed with durability and safety measures as well. Additionally it has the DisplayPort and HDMI port enabling multi display, a total of 16 USB ports including USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Type-C, Realtek 7.1 audio, 1G Ethernet and RGB headers for aesthetics. Perhaps the most attractive feature is the comprehensive cooling controls that are configurable via Fan Xpert 2+ software or via the UEFI BIOS paired with the M.2 and VRM heatsinks.
Almost similar to the Smart Fan 5 feature of the Gigabyte. The 2 M.2 slots support data-transfer speeds of up to 64 Gbps via PCIe 4.0. The ProCool 8 pin connector is more than capable of delivering uninterrupted power to a 12th gen CPU. The BIOS is quite easy to navigate and use for beginners and veterans alike. No Wi-Fi or Thunderbolt support.
ASUS TUF Gaming B550M- for Midrange AMD Builds
- AM4 socket | B550 chipset
- 4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4 @ 4866(O.C)
- PCIe 4.0, PCIe 3.0 x16
- 2 x M.2 slot(s) and 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
- DIGI+ VRM hybrid
You can see that this motherboard is pretty much the AMD version of the ASUS Prime B660. The specs are pretty much the same except for maybe the overclocking potential. Additionally, the board supports dual display with the DIsplayPort and the HDMI 2.1(4K@60HZ), Supports AMD 2-Way CrossFireX, 2.5Gb Ethernet, Realtek ALC S1200A 7.1 audio, total of 14 USB ports that include Type-C. Not to mention the RGB headers and the ASUS exclusive software, AURA Sync. Comprehensive cooling confirmed by the VRM heatsinks, PCH fanless heatsink, M.2 heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 2+ utility.
Enhanced power delivery with the 8+2 DrMOS power stages. As for user reviews, it is a happy customer base overall. Plenty have found this board a nice base for the Ryzen 5 3600, 5800X etc. A common experience was the slight confusion with the BIOS. Use the right BIOS for the right board. You can’t use other TUF versions such as TUF Gaming B550 – PLUS or the TUF Gaming B550M – PLUS Wifi or any other BIOS. It has to be an exact BIOS match and on a 8GB or under USB formatted with FAT32. You will need to flash the board to a new bios to support Ryzen 5000 series CPUs. Users had done it with an older Ryzen chip installed.
Summary
Well there you go. We included the typical variations of motherboards for users with different budgets and requirements. You may have noticed that the high end motherboard we recommended for Intel does not have Wi-Fi. However if you are looking for a board with the latest Wi-Fi support and is premium, check the ASUS ROG Strix Z490. It definitely qualifies as one of the best Micro ATX motherboard with Wi-Fi. If you are currently on a 9th or 8th gen Intel CPU, check the GIGABYTE B365M DS3H. Definitely the best 1151 Micro ATX motherboard. For older Ryzen CPUs, you can check our posts on X470 and B450 motherboards.
