When you're picking out a gaming motherboard that will serve as the backbone of your gaming PC, it's worth thinking about whether or not you need all the extras that come with a full-size ATX motherboard. Unless you're planning to load up on PCIe add-in cards or do some wild overclocking, you'll likely find that a Micro ATX motherboard has everything you need to complete your build while also costing a good deal less than an ATX board. The smaller size also affords you the opportunity to build a more compact gaming PC. This means you can go for a sleeper or a more portable design.
We've picked out a variety of Micro ATX motherboards, giving you options for AMD and Intel CPUs. You can even find boards with multiple PCIe x16 expansion slots ready for dual-GPU builds, models with PCIe 5.0, and some with truly stunning memory support. From budget builds to high-end rigs, you'll find a compact motherboard that can do the job here.
TL;DR – These are the Best Micro ATX Motherboards:
- Asus Prime Z690M-Plus D4
- Asus ROG Strix Z690-G Gaming WiFi 6E
- ASRock H670M Pro
- Asus Prime H610M-A D4-CSM
- ASRock X570M Pro4
- MSI MAG B550M Bazooka
- Asus Prime B550M-A AC
Asus Prime Z690M-Plus D4
Best Intel Micro ATX Motherboard
If you’re looking for the latest and greatest Intel motherboard that’s also not going to break the bank, the Asus Prime Z690M-Plus D4 is it. This hardware is ready for Windows 11 and offers the latest LGA1700 socket and PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen connectivity. With that full-speed PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, you can slide in a graphics card or other peripherals that benefit from this high bandwidth. And somehow, this mATX board still manages to squeeze on a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots for additional add-in cards.
The Asus Prime Z690M-Plus D4 provides some other convenient features as well. The DDR4 support means you can pack it with tons of RAM and clock it up to 5,333MHz. The three M.2 SSD slots running at PCIe 4.0 x4 also provide quick load times and boot-up speeds. And there are a bunch of options for connectivity, including a higher-speed USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C with 20Gbps transfer rates, a front panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, and Thunderbolt 4 support. To keep everything running smoothly, this motherboard packs several heatsinks and headers for fans. There are even dual mounting holes compatible with both Intel LGA1700 and LGA1200 cooling brackets.
Asus ROG Strix Z690-G Gaming WiFi 6E
Best High-End Intel Micro ATX Motherboard
Going small doesn’t mean you miss out on the premium features a full-sized motherboard can offer. The Asus ROG Strix Z690-G Gaming WiFi 6E is an investment, packing loads of high-end features and support for the latest 12th-Gen Intel Core processors. You can take advantage of the insane bandwidth thanks to the PCIe 5.0 support, while the additional PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and PCIe 3.0 x1 are perfect for sound, capture, or other expansion cards. Beyond that, three M.2 slots using PCIe 4.0 x 4 means you can slot in multiple high-capacity SSDs and get speedy load times. This rig even comes toting DDR5 memory slots, so you’ll be overclocking the RAM at a wild 6,000MHz, all while using less voltage.
The Asus ROG Strix Z690-G Gaming WiFi 6E brings some advanced connectivity to the table. Beyond a plethora of high-speed USB ports ranging from 5Gbps to 20Gbps, Asus has loaded in support for some blazing fast internet. You can go for a wired connection with 2.5Gb Ethernet or max out on Wi-Fi, as it supports Wi-Fi 6E — hence the name. With all this capability, Asus was sure to include advanced cooling opportunities, including heatsinks, 4-pin PWM fan headers, and an AIO pump header. And if this is part of your gaming PC build, you’ll appreciate the addressable RGB headers.
ASRock H670M Pro
Best Midrange Intel Micro ATX Motherboard
The H670 platform offers modern perks at a strong value, and the ASRock H670M Pro is a solid example of this. It costs only $120 but supports the latest 12th-Gen Intel Core processors with its LGA1700 socket. Once you’ve got a processor slotted in, you’ll experience faster and more efficient gaming. This motherboard doesn't tote the latest PCIe 5.0 slot, but the PCIe 4.0 x 16 slot provides plenty of bandwidth, so your graphics card should perform marvelously in there. ASRock also managed to squeeze in an extra PCIe x16-length slot and a PCIe x1 slot for more add-in cards.
The ASRock H670M Pro is packing tons more despite its small size. You get two speedy PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for SSDs, so your build will have loads of storage. And though you don’t get the DDR5 memory slots, the DDR4 support still gets you overclocking the RAM at an impressive 4,800MHz. Since this motherboard doesn't have Wi-Fi built-in, the Key E M.2 slot makes it simple to add. Plus, if you’ve got a case with glass or mesh panels, there’s built-in RGB illumination along with RGB headers and an addressable RGB header to bring some pizzazz to your setup.
Asus Prime H610M-A D4-CSM
Best Budget Intel Micro ATX Motherboard
If you’re building a PC on a budget, the last thing you want to do is get stuck buying a motherboard that costs more than your processor. The Asus Prime H610M-A D4-CSM is an affordable Intel build option that still comes loaded with the latest technology. It’s ready for 12th-Gen Intel Core processors, but if you want to keep prices down, the LGA1700 socket still supports Pentium Gold and Celeron. However, you’ll probably want to stick with a 12th Gen to get the best gaming experience and to take full advantage of all this mATX motherboard offers.
With the Asus Prime H610M-A D4-CSM, you get a PCIe 4.0 expansion slot with loads of bandwidth ready to house your graphics card, while an additional PCIe 3.0 x 1 slot is ready for an add-in card. Unfortunately, you only get those two slots and no PCIe 5.0 support, but at this price, it's understandable. And even if you skip a dedicated graphics card, aiming for a smaller, more affordable build, you can still run multiple displays, as the motherboard features an HDMI port and a DisplayPort connection on the rear. Beyond add-in cards, two dedicated M.2 slots running on PCIe 3.0 provide a home for your SSDs, while DDR4 memory support up to 64GB means you can build a decently powerful rig. It also doesn’t come packing Wi-Fi, but you can easily add it with the M.2 Slot in Key E.
ASRock X570M Pro4
Best AMD Micro ATX Motherboard
Whether you’re trying to gear out a Ryzen 3000 series or Ryzen 5000 series system, the ASRock X570M Pro4 lets you take full advantage of the latest and greatest AMD chips as well as the PCIe 4.0 capabilities they provide. It has a 10-phase power delivery to give your processor stable power, and the support for RAM speeds beyond 4,466MHz mean you can feed your processor with high-speed memory. Add-in cards get a boost, too. You’ll find a pair of PCIe x16 slots that let you run one at full PCIe 4.0 x16 bandwidth and the second at x4 bandwidth. There’s a PCIe 4.0 x1 slot as well.
The ASRock X570M Pro4 offers plenty in the way of adding peripherals. For flashy lighting, you get two RGB headers and an addressable RGB header, while a powerful heatsink alongside headers and connectors for fans or coolers ensures your rig stays safe from overheating. There are even multiple 10Gbps USB ports on the rear I/O to plugin more. ASRock tops it off with a pair of PCIe 4.0 x4 capable M.2 slots for the fastest storage support. You can’t ask for much more on a Micro ATX board.
MSI MAG B550M Bazooka
Best Mid-Range AMD Micro ATX Motherboard
If you want support for the latest AMD processors on a slightly more affordable motherboard, grab the MSI MAG B550M Bazooka. Sure, you lose out on a few PCI lanes, but mATX motherboards often focus less on offering a bunch of expansion lanes. You still get one PCIe 4.0 x 16 slot that provides loads of bandwidth for your graphics card, and you can slot in other add-ins on the two PCIe 3.0 x 1 lanes. It also supports four sticks of RAM and will even let you run them at over 4,000MHz. You also get one high-bandwidth PCIe 4.0 slot for a speedy SSD. So, this motherboard really offers a solid foundation for your Ryzen rig.
There’s plenty more MSI MAG B550M Bazooka can offer your build. A few headers are included to support RGB lighting, while a PWM heatsink and enhanced circuit design ensure your system continues to run smoothly even during extreme conditions. For other peripherals, you get several high-speed USB 3.2 ports and USB 2.0 ports, plus a DisplayPort and HDMI for monitors.
Asus Prime B550M-A AC
Best Budget AMD Micro ATX Motherboard
Are you looking to pair the latest Ryzen 5000 processor with a motherboard on the cheap? Enter the Asus Prime B550M-A AC. You can snag it for a little over $100, but it won't leave you lacking much. The B550 chipset ensures you get the support of PCIe 4.0 on the x16 slot for a capable add-in card, while you can slot cards that require less bandwidth in the PCIe 3.0 slots like a Wi-Fi adapter or an extra-fast networking card. You also get an M.2 slot with PCIe 4.0 x4 speeds for a fast SSD, and the two other M.2 PCIe 3.0 slots should be plenty speedy as well. Plus, you can give your processor some high-speed memory with the support of RAM speeds well above 4,000MHz.
Surprisingly, the Asus Prime B550M-A AC also has you covered for even more connections. You'll find no shortage of USB ports on the back or headers to front-panel ports, and the HDMI port is also convenient. As far as RGB lighting goes, there isn’t any built-in, but you get headers to take advantage of it. A heatsink and fan connectors also ensure that your whole system runs smoothly.
What to Look For in a Micro ATX Motherboard
Micro ATX motherboards might be great for saving you a bit of space and are often cheaper than full-sized ATX motherboards, but you should know you're making a few sacrifices. Chiefly these smaller boards often come with fewer PCIe slots—or even just one on certain models. So, you should think about how many graphics cards, sound cards, capture cards, and other PCIe cards you want to install when deciding which mATX motherboard is right for you. Also, be sure you're grabbing a board with at least one PCIe 4.0 x 16 slot, so you can take advantage of that high bandwidth. Some of the Intel boards even come toting support for PCIe 5.0.
The smaller printed circuit board you get with mATX motherboards also means you're probably going to have fewer M.2 slots for NVMe and SATA SSDs. The good news is most boards of this size have a least two M.2 slots, but don't expect there to be four or five like on some of the most premium ATX parts.
Other important factors to consider are the same as what you'd look for on traditional motherboards. You want CPU sockets that support the latest processors. For Intel boards, you should look for LGA1700 sockets. While on AMD boards, you should seek out AM4. Also, be sure to look for speedy memory support. You want a board that can support your RAM.
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.