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High Performance Micro ATX Mobo for Core 2?

Forum Overclocking : Motherboards - High Performance Micro ATX Mobo for Core 2?

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Vip68   01-18-2007 at 12:59:29 AM

I'm looking to upgrade to Core 2 but I will be using a SFF case so I need a mATX motherboard. What would be a good board for me?

Looking for:
- Overclocking Potential
- Good Onboard Audio


Thanks.

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Oldguy   01-18-2007 at 01:53:24 AM
- 0 +

I asked the same thing a couple of weeks ago with the added problem of needing a pci slot as well as pcie. The only things I found were rather generic 965 chipsets that could maybe OC some designed primarily for Home theater setups. Don't think we are going to find any "enthusiast" grade MB's for SFF, but I will follow you thread very carefully because I have the same need. Good luck!

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Bobsama   01-18-2007 at 02:12:24 PM
- 0 +

It isnt recommended to overclock on a mATX board or in a mATX case. In mATX, everything tends to run quite a bit warmer; at stock your CPU is already a few degrees above. If you don't mind a noise-monster, you can start adding in fans if there are enough spots in it.

Still, your best OC's with a mATX board for C2D might be a 333mhz FSB (1333 FSB).

Why are you going to be using a small-form-factor case? I would recommend a smaller Mid-Tower; you can find some that are a bit smaller then normal. Good luck; I doubt you'll get much beyond 333mhz FSB.

Reply to Bobsama
piratepast40   01-18-2007 at 02:54:19 PM
- 0 +

AnandTech has some good reviews of mATX boards and chipsets including overclocking results. You may want to start looking at different models and brands and then google those for reviews. There are only a few chipsets so the choices are narrowed down pretty good for you.

Reply to piratepast40
Vip68   01-18-2007 at 05:22:43 PM
- 0 +

Well, I've seen very capable SFF systems like Shuttle or The FNW Fragbox with SLI configurations. I personally prefer my next rig to be a SFF since I dont want it to "lord over" the whole room.

I'm just curious on what Intel has to offer for the micro ATX platform. If I were to go with AMD, I would choose something like the ABIT NF-M2 (Micro ATX, HD Audio, 4 ddr2 slots and decent overclocking according to the reviews from newegg)

I just sold my S939 desktop rig and I'm looking to upgrade to a SFF. I've no idea what Intel has to offer since my last Intel CPU was a Pentium 133.

I'm planning to pair this board with the ff:

Thermaltake Lanbox
WD Raptor X 150G - system
Seagate 7200.10 300G - data storage
Corsair 1G (2x512mb) DDR2 800 CL4 - (2G still to expensive for budget)
Geforce 8600 or R600 counterpart - When it comes out later this year

The only missing pieces to this rig is the CPU and Mobo so I'm in a bit of a dilemma here. Right now, I know Core 2 is the best processor to get. Yet, I can't find any decent mATX boards. On the AMD camp, an X2 3800+ 65w would do paired with the Abit board for some overclocking. Then hopefully, this will allow me to upgrade to K8L when it comes out.

So... its still a tossup... AMD or Intel? I just got a lot more confused now... :roll:

Quote :

It isnt recommended to overclock on a mATX board or in a mATX case. In mATX, everything tends to run quite a bit warmer; at stock your CPU is already a few degrees above. If you don't mind a noise-monster, you can start adding in fans if there are enough spots in it.

Still, your best OC's with a mATX board for C2D might be a 333mhz FSB (1333 FSB).

Why are you going to be using a small-form-factor case? I would recommend a smaller Mid-Tower; you can find some that are a bit smaller then normal. Good luck; I doubt you'll get much beyond 333mhz FSB.

Reply to Vip68
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