Big Value, Small Package?
EVGA offers the entire gamut of desktop motherboard form factors, from the oversized HPTX to the undersized mini-ITX, and most of the arguments I’ve seen between forum members have divided enthusiasts between those two camps. Though many discussions give the impression that it takes a non-enthusiast to understand the concept of right-sizing, we have seen a few manufacturers succeed in the microATX gaming realm. That’s where EVGA’s X99 Micro takes us.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to say exactly how much the “free stuff” of a larger motherboard is worth. More connectors certainly cost more money, as will a larger circuit board, yet the full-ATX ASRock X99 Extreme4 costs less than the X99 Micro.
On the other hand, microATX is a smaller portion of the enthusiast market. That means it doesn’t get as much cost benefit from large-scale production. Fewer products need to pay for the same development and tooling costs.
Without another Micro ATX X99 motherboard to compare, I’m left in a value quandary. On the other hand, I can say with relative certainty that the X99 Micro is a solid board. While I might not have enough microATX comparison data to give it a value award, my pleasant overclocking experience certainly qualifies this well-performing product for Tom’s Hardware’s stamp of approval.
