Small Form, Seismic Power
Updated: Mar 16, 2023 2:50 pm
In a globalized world where more often than not bigger means better, technology swims against the current. Physicalities in computing are forever shrinking, whether it’s the process node of a GPU or the form factor of a motherboard, discrete gaming systems are becoming more and more prevalent.
Now Read: Best motherboard for gaming
Sure, it can be fun to build a huge super-powered gaming station with all the bells and whistles, but seeing how powerful you can make a build with an incredibly small footprint is far more of an interesting prospect.
To begin your adventure as a computer miniaturist, you’ll need to decide on a Mini ITX motherboard. So, to fast-track this exciting new project, we’ve reviewed five of the best Mini ITX boards in the business.
Best Mini ITX Motherboard: Top picks
01
ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I Gaming WIFI
Best Mini ITX Motherboard AM4
ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I Gaming WIFI
02
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi
Best Mini ITX Motherboard 13th genm Intel
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi
03
AS Rock X570 Phantom Gaming Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard
best Mid-range Mini ITX motherbaord
AS Rock X570 Phantom Gaming Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard
How We Choose
It really is the small things in life, isn’t it? They’re the things that keep you going, and we feel the same way about micro builds. They’re inconspicuous and nuanced, and they can pack a hell of a punch if you get them just right.
Here at WePC, we enjoy the standard ATX board as much as the next gamer, but nothing compares to the thrill of experimenting on more obscure builds with entirely different untapped potentials. It feels like you’re really discovering something, and over the years we’ve developed a thorough understanding of what makes the Mini ITX board tick.
Drawing from this experience we’ve selected five Mini ITX boards we know to be either highly versatile, great value for money, amazing for gaming, or all of the above. These are the motherboards whose power belies their dimensions.
Things to Consider
When comparing mini-ITX motherboards, it is essential to consider several factors. First and foremost, the motherboard’s chipset compatibility with the CPU should be checked. It is also crucial to assess the power delivery system and VRM heatsinks to ensure maximum performance and overclocking stability.
The motherboard’s storage options and support for DDR5 RAM should also be taken into account, as well as its audio codec and network capabilities, such as Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Additionally, the availability of a peripheral controller or I/O shield can make the use of USB ports much more convenient.
Overall, mini-ITX motherboards are known for their compact size and the challenge of packing in all the necessary components and features. Hence, it is important to consider all these factors when comparing different mini-ITX motherboards to make an informed decision.
AMD vs Intel
As we’re sure you’re already aware, AMD and Intel are in the midst of a brutal CPU war, but you can’t fight in the CPU arena unless you’re stepping up in the motherboard game as well. So, just as the CPU market is split between these stalwart companies, so is the motherboard market.
At the moment, each company is focusing on a different extremity of the form-factor spectrum. If you’re looking for something for a huge build that accommodates two CPUs simultaneously, Intel is the way to go. For smaller boards like the Mini ITX, it’s AMD all the way.
Socket
The socket of a motherboard is an array of connective pins that anchors your CPU in place. Each socket is only compatible with a finite number of CPUs. AMD has used the AM4 socket for a while now, but Intel releases a new socket with almost every new generation of CPU.
If you try to insert an incompatible CPU into your mobo socket, the chances are it simply won’t fit, but you also run the risk of damaging both bits of hardware, which would be a very expensive mistake to make.
Chipset
Chipsets, also known as data flow management systems, are the communicative part of your computer system. They connect all the disparate components, such as CPU, GPU, RAM, etc, allowing them to work together. They also determine the number of components a motherboard can support.
Just like your motherboard socket, chipsets are only compatible with certain CPUs; however, as AMD has used the AM4 socket for so long now, you have a fairly wide choice, the best of which is the X570.
Features
Motherboards will also come with or without certain features, so let’s take a quick look at your options.
Wifi
Integrated wifi connectivity is a highly sought-after feature for micro builds because it eliminates the need for cables and additional devices.
GB LAN
If your motherboard doesn’t have wifi connectivity, you’ll want it to have Gigabit LAN in its stead. GB LAN is essentially just a super-fast ethernet port that provides a 1GBps transfer speed to your router.
Power Design
The power design of a motherboard refers to the power phases of the VRM (voltage regulator module). The VRM is just an adapter that transforms the power drawn from the motherboard into a voltage suitable for powering your CPU.
If a motherboard has two power phases in total, they will be sharing the load, working 50% of the time each. The better quality or more power phases the VRM has, the lesser the burden is on each one, meaning that they don’t build as much heat, and the CPU voltages are more stable, allowing you to feed more power into the CPU for overclocking.
PCI-e 4
PCI-e 4 basically refers to the bandwidth between your connected hardware. This means that more information can be passed between them at once, making the system more responsive. You can plug PCI-e 3 components into a PCI-e 4 port, but the system will only run at a PCI-e 3 rate.
Memory Speeds
Best Mini ITX Motherboard: Review
Here we will give a more in-depth review of the best Mini ITX motherboards on the market today.
Best Mini ITX Motherboard (AM5)
ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I Gaming WIFI
x16 and onboard M.2 slot are PCIe Gen 5-ready
Pros
- Fast DDR5 memory compatibility
- Beefy heatsinks for VRM cooling
- Top notch power delivery system
The X670E motherboard platform, designed for the new Ryzen 7000 line of CPUs with AMD Socket AM5 LGA 1718, targets the ultra-enthusiast market that is willing to pay any price for superior performance and compatibility.
ASUS ROG STRIX line is recognized for its extravagance, and the X670E-I exemplifies that with its miniature form factor containing all the latest technology. This small motherboard has a 10+2 power delivery system with stacked heatsinks to dissipate heat.
In addition, the motherboard features PCIe Gen 5 in the form of an x16 slot and an M.2 slot with dual USB4 Type-C ports running at speeds up to 40Gbps. The high-quality audio chip and WiFi 6E complement the overall package. This DDR5 motherboard can support RAM up to 6400 MHz (and higher with adjustments).
To top it off, the motherboard includes a ROG STRIX HIVE I/O peripheral that simplifies the management of USB and audio devices, making it much easier than dealing with a cramped-up SFF case.
Best Mini ITX Motherboard Intel (13th gen)
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi
1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and 1x M.2 slot
Pros
- Blisteringly fast 7200 Mhz RAM support
- The newest and best technology for Intel 12th and 13th Gen
- Amazing VRM cooling and power delivery
Cons
- Hard to come by
- very pricey
Similar to AMD, Intel has also launched a new generation of CPUs, resulting in a new series of Z790 (LGA 1700) motherboards. Although Intel’s 13th Gen CPUs are compatible with Z690 motherboards, for optimal performance, the Z790 chipset is the way to go.
In the mini-ITX category, the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi is a top contender, just like all other ROG Strix products, as it includes all the bells and whistles when it comes to features. The motherboard has a 10+1 power delivery, thick VRM heatsinks, and I/O covers to ensure maximum performance and overclocking stability.
Furthermore, the motherboard has PCIe 5.0 in the form of 1x M.2, and 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, and also comes with an extra 4.0 M.2 for additional storage options. This motherboard can support DDR5 RAM at a stunning 7200 Mhz with a maximum capacity of 64GB.
The audio codec is a Realtek ALC4050 and it supports 2.5Gb Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6E. The Z790-I also includes a Hive peripheral controller, allowing for easy access to USB ports.
Overall, it’s impressive how many features can be packed into a mini-ITX motherboard, which is why the Z790-I from ASUS is considered the best on the market.
Best Mini ITX Motherboard AMD (AM4)
Asus ROG (X570) Crosshair VIII Impact AM4 Motherboard
Support pcie 4.0, 10 teamed up power stages, 4800+ ghz DDR4
Pros
- X570 Chipset – This is the fastest AMD chipset around and it supports PCI-e 4
- 10-Stage VRM – exquisite power design lets you push high-end CPUs to their limit.
- Wifi 6 – Fastest wireless internet connectivity on the planet.
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 – Super low-latency peripheral connections.
Cons
- Overpowered – The Crosshair VIII is simply too much for most builds.
This motherboard may be small, but it’s by no means for the faint-hearted. Running on AMD’s finest, the X570 chipset with PCI-e 4 support, the dialogue between components is inconceivable fast, ensuring the smoothest, most responsive gaming experience possible.
In addition, The VRM is composed of ten, count ‘em…TEN power stages, making CPU voltage stable enough to overclock like you’ve never overclocked before. Both the VRM and the chipset are supported by an integrated heatsink which in turn is supplemented by an aluminum backplate, making this the perfect stage for a Zen 3 Ryzen CPU to strut its stuff.
As well as supporting RAM speeds up to 2400MHz, the Crosshair VIII features wifi 6, so if you’ve got a wifi 6 router, you’re set to enjoy upload and download speeds of 9.6GBps, 250% faster than wifi 5.
It’s not technically a Mini ITX board, but an ITX variation known as Mini DTX that’s only one inch longer, but don’t worry if you’ve already bought a case because it fits in all Mini ITX enclosures.
Best Mini ITX Motherboard Intel 1200
Asus ROG Strix (Z490) Gaming LGA 1200 Motherboard
Pros
- Z490 Chipset – This is the most overclock-friendly Intel chipset.
- 4800MHz Memory Speed – Load up two 32GB DDR4 4800 sticks for the ultimate memory setup.
- Wifi 6 – 9.6GBps Bandwidth
- Power Design – The 8+2 stage VRM with an integrated thermal solution is prime for some OC magic.
Cons
- PCI-e 3 – Lacks PCI-e 4 support, but the effects on gaming will be totally negligible.
- Overpowered – You need expensive hardware to make the most of this board.
Even though AMD runs the micro board market, this Strix is giving them a run for their money. It’s an LGA 1200 board, which means it’s only compatible with 10th Intel CPUs, so you have to be prepared to spend some money on the build, but holy cow is this thing powerful.
To make up for the fact that Mini ITX boards only ever have two RAM slots, it supports memory speeds up to 4800MHz, 1800Mhz more than you’ll need for optimal gaming performance.
It also steps up to the AMD board’s connectivity with wifi 6 support, making it a great match for a high-powered, hyperthreaded Intel CPU capable of shouldering parallelizing workflows, like the i9 10900K. Should you prefer or need to wire directly to your router, it has 2.5GBps LAN for uber-fast ethernet connections.
The Strix’s thermals are on point too. Featuring an 8+2 power stage VRM design with its own integrated Superflo cooling fan and heatsink, it ensures voltage stability as you push your CPU to its limits.
Best mid-range Mini ITX Motherboard
AS Rock X570 Phantom Gaming Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard
Pros
- 10 Phase Power – A powerful VRM unlocks awesome OC potential.
- Thunderbolt 3 – Connect peripherals with 4 times the bandwidth of USB.
- X570 Chipset – Two 16X PCI-e 4 expansion slots.
- AMD CrossFireX – Link up a dual GPU system for silky gameplay.
- Memory Speed – Supports DDR4 4066.
Cons
- Heatsink Height – Limits your CPU cooler options.
- Lesser Wifi – It’s not wifi 6, but unless you have a full wifi 6 chain, you don’t need it.
The Phantom has far more than AMD’s flagship X570 chipset to boast about. It’s the first motherboard on our list to feature Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. Even though we’re onto Thunderbolt 4 now, 3 is still almost four times faster than anything USB brings to the equation.
Of course, it’s an AM4 socket, compatible with any of 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 Ryzen CPUs, so there are plenty to choose from. The 10-phase power design is magnificent, and while it doesn’t have its own fan, it’s perfect for overclocking powerful Ryzen CPUs.
In addition, it’s an AMD CrossFireX design, which means despite the size of this board, you can double up and link graphics cards for an even more visceral and enthralling gaming experience.
The height of the heatsink does limit your options in terms of CPU coolers, which is a little irritating as space is valuable enough in MINI ITX cases anyway, but there’s still enough clearance to fit a low-profile fan in nicely.
Best Budget Mini ITX Motherboard
Gigabyte X570 AM4 Aorus Pro
AMD 3rd Generation Ryzen, AMD 2nd Gerenration Ryzen
Pros
- X570 – PCI-e 4 expansion slots.
- Power Design – Incredible 12+2 phase VRM for overclocking.
- Wifi 6 – Peak network interaction speeds.
- 128GB RAM Support – This amount of RAM makes for a powerful system.
Cons
- ATX Form Factor – Won’t fit in Mini ITX case.
- POST Duration – You’ll be waiting a good 20 seconds.
- Fan Headers – There are only 2, so thermal solutions are limited.
While the Aorus Pro isn’t a Mini ITX board, it will suit those trying to kit out a small mid-tower. It boasts that shiny X570 AMD chipset with PCI-e 4 expansion slots for peak intersystem communication, and the infamous AM4 socket can accommodate any 2nd or 3rd gen Ryzen CPU.
Featuring the most advanced power design of any board on our list, taking advantage of the 12+2 phase VRM for some aggressive overclocking is a must, especially considering the VRM is supplemented by a fin array and direct touch heat pipes.
If you’re looking for something to complement a wifi 6 router, the Pro has the goods. It also boasts a Gigabit LAN ethernet port, which is a bonus, and it can support an insane 128GB RAM too.
It only has 2 fan headers in total, which is a little disappointing for a board that’s clearly designed to push CPU performance, and the POST keeps you hanging for around 20 seconds, but if you can deal with those small issues, it’s an epic board.
Best Mini ITX motherboard for gaming
The best Mini ITX motherboard for gaming depends on the CPU you currently have installed in your system. So here are the choices we have picked for the best Mini ITX motherboard for gaming:
Best Mini ITX motherboard for gaming (AMD)
ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I Gaming WIFI
Power stages:
10 + 2 power solution
PCIe Gen 5:
x16 and onboard M.2 slot are PCIe Gen 5-ready
Memory speed:
DDR5 at 6400 MT/s+
Best Mini ITX motherboard for gaming (Intel)
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi
Power stages:
10 + 1 power solution
PCIe Gen 5:
1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and 1x M.2 slot
Memory speed:
DDR5 at 7200 Mhz
Obviously, the best is going to be, well, the best. It’s important to note that the 700 series Intel motherboards are compatible with 12th gen Intel CPUs too, as they belong to the same LGA 1700 socket. This is not true for the AM5 motherboards. If you would like a motherboard compatible with a 5000 series Ryzen CPU or lower, you’ll have to pick up an AM5 motherboard.
Best Mini ITX motherboard: FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding the best mITX motherboards.
What is a Mini ITX motherboard?
A mini-ITX motherboard is a type of motherboard that measures 6.7 inches by 6.7 inches (17 cm by 17 cm). It is the smallest form factor for a desktop motherboard, which makes it an excellent choice for compact, space-saving PC builds.
Despite its small size, a mini-ITX motherboard typically has all the necessary components for a functional PC, including a CPU socket, RAM slots, expansion slots (such as PCIe slots), storage options (such as M.2 and SATA ports), and I/O ports (such as USB and Ethernet ports). Some mini-ITX motherboards also come with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as high-quality audio codecs.
Due to their small size, mini-ITX motherboards are often used for building small form factor (SFF) PCs, home theater PCs, and gaming consoles. However, the compact size of a mini-ITX motherboard can also pose some challenges when it comes to cooling and cable management.
Do I need a Mini ITX motherboard?
Whether you need a mini-ITX motherboard or not depends on your specific needs and use case.
If you are building a small form factor (SFF) PC or a compact gaming console, then a mini-ITX motherboard may be the best option as it will allow you to build a smaller PC without sacrificing performance. Mini-ITX motherboards are also ideal for use in home theater PCs (HTPCs) as they take up less space and are often quieter than larger motherboards.
However, if you require a large number of expansion slots or ports, such as multiple PCIe slots, SATA ports, or USB ports, then a larger form factor motherboard may be a better choice. Additionally, larger motherboards may provide better cooling and airflow, which can be important for high-performance systems that generate a lot of heat.
Final word
Looking over these Mini ITX boards makes you wonder how ATX ever became the standard form factor. You can fit so much power and versatility into the ITX footprint that it’s a shame they aren’t a more celebrated design.
The best Mini ITX board around at the minute is definitely the Asus X570 Crosshair. So densely packed with features and potential is this miniature marvel, that you’ll never want for ATX ever again, but this kind of performance comes at a steep price.
Even though Intel isn’t renowned for small-scale builds, the Z490 Strix shows us that they’re still in the game. In fact, at nearly half the price of our Asus AMD champion, it offers far more performance per dollar; however, the AS Rock Phantom ensures you can also enjoy AMD’s premium chipset for a realistic fee.
If you’re not interested in PCI-e 4 everything, we highly recommend the Aorus B550. There’s very little difference between B550 and X570 chipsets besides the price tag. Failing that, if you’re not completely sold on the Mini ITX format, we advise you to check out the Aorus X570. It’s a force to be reckoned with!
