Depends on what machine I'm buying it for……
Next build for me will be full ATX, using the very long awaited X99 chipset.
Probably itx, matx a possibility though.
Micro ATX at the moment, tempted to go with mini ITX next time. The main reason to go smaller is to get an even smaller case, and that's what might put the stop on this plan. If I can't achieve quiet, efficient cooling in a tiny box, there'd be no point in going lower. If the fans have to go nuts on full speed just to keep temperatures down, it's not worth it for me. I expect everything will be different by the time I feel like changing my hardware.
mATX for PC and ITX for media centre.
Having seen my son's Micro ATX based PC shut down because there is not enough airflow to the primary graphics card (on a mesh sided case with a fan blowing straight at it), it will have to be ATX. That way I can add a second graphics card or more memory when I can afford it without worrying about the thickness of the graphics card heat sink or having to sell on a pair of RAM sticks to buy bigger.
mITX, or maybe even a NUC/ZBox. For personal use, I'd be hard pressed to *need* more than 1 PCIe slot for a GPU these days.
ATX. Maybe mATX if i needed something a little smaller but that would be as far as id go. mITX just wouldn't cut it for me.
Holythief
mITX just wouldn't cut it for me.
Why? What else are you running in your system besides that 1 GPU?
Always ATX or E-ATX I need the slots.
ATX. Last two builds were mATX and i want something different. No other reason.
I do like my SLI/Xfire setups tho. You can get some one-generation-old high end GPUs fairly cheap where I live, and while multi-GPU setups are far from perfect, it makes sense to me. Because of this, I'd go with nothing smaller than mATX. I really don't mind having a larger case, and the extra options that are afforded by ATX and E-ATX boards is well worth the extra space.
I understand the whole SFF thing, and there are some really cool little builds out there, with a LOT of horsepower under the hood. The cost of these builds is just out of my reach though. It seems there's a trade-off between performance and form factor, and I'd rather have the extra performance, given that I have the room for a mid or full-tower.
So, long story short, I'll most likely be going with an ATX board for my next build.
Planning on a cheap Celeron or AMD APU build in Micro ATX as i have everything needed save the motherboard and CPU.
I like Mini ITX apart from only two RAM slots on motherboards, as RAM is currently rather costly for 2 x 4GB or 2 x 8GB modules. Mini ITX is my choice for any future high end build.
ATX or E-ATX. I have a large case and prefer SLI systems, so I like a mobo that can offer me everything, and don't see the point in shrinking the package. Also I use a lot of storage and bigger boards tend to have more storage options off the bat.
SLI is nice, but not essential. After building a system for a friend using a Coolermaster Silencio 352 and being somewhat impressed by it, I'll be going for at least microATX or smaller on my next gaming rig for sure.
Currently have a mATX. Will go for mini ITX.
Large motherboards and cases aren't exactly cool.
Either Micro AtX or Mini ITX
Most likely E-ATX for my main gaming rig. Gotta upgrade it somehow to make use of that full tower. And 2 gpus just isn't enough.
Either ATX if I decide on a Phanteks Enthoo Luxe or mATX if I decide on a Fractal Node 804.
Haven't decided and it's going to be about another year so a third option may present itself.
Probably an ATX board that takes Skylake. I've already got a case that I'm happy with, and it fits ATX motherboards. A smaller case wouldn't be tall enough to sit the monitor on lol.
I can't decide if I'm going to build another desktop or just add that money to what I also need to spend on a laptop and get a good i7 portable workstation instead.
Main rigs - likley matx unless they bring out a socket 2011 mitx..
Server rig - likely mitx although depending on any new cases it may go matx too :)
mATX…. it's my preferred form factor as it allows me to install the components I want while still offering a reasonably sized case for transport as I often attend lan parties etc.
If I decided to build a dedicated home rig and have a secondary for transport, I'd make my dedicated a full ATX and possibly put together either a mATX or ITX machine for transport.
I'll be building a mATX or similar sized system in the future, when I can afford to spend money on a second, more portable machine. Until then I'll be sticking with ATX for my 550D case.
At the moment I love my machine, but all the watercooling stuff has meant that the system weighs 20kg, so it is not easy to move around.
The smallest I can get away with. Hoping for a mini ITX build next time.
ITX - I only use GPUs in the expansion slots and prefer to upgrade rather than SLI, and manufacturers are becoming more innovative with the VRMs.
aidanjt
Why? What else are you running in your system besides that 1 GPU?
I generally go the route of sli/crossfire (at least right now) as i dont usually have too much money at any one given time, so i would buy a cheap mid range card and then double up later.
Also i like the idea of having expandability if/when i should need it.
Holythief
Also i like the idea of having expandability if/when i should need it.
I like the idea too. But in practice, I only ever have 1 GPU in my machine, and just replace it outright with a current generation card, and sell off the old one, rather than hoping to find the same model I already have, and have a machine which throws out more heat, has more compatibility problems with software, etc.. And more often than not, when I have a new need, my current technology wouldn't properly support it, even on ATX. Even a simple little thing like running my old SSD in my new machine has incompatibilities that's caused reliability problems.
Future proofing is a fool's errand. You can never know what way the industry will turn, and what actual future needs you'll have, and what will be required to satisfy them. Chances are extremely high that you'll just have to upgrade mostly everything again (and DDR4 is just around the corner, new RAM and CPU socket time! Fun!).
I just replaced my MB about 3 weeks ago and went the mini ITX route. I was just sick and tired of the space needed for my old ATX Cosmos S computer which died a couple months ago. So I went for a BF Prodigy and MSI Z97 Gaming motherboard this time around.
Atx or larger depending on what it will be doing. None of this little PC stuff lol.
Probably mATX as my HTPC is the next to be upgraded.
For my main PC whatever board fits the specs I need, my case will fit any and currently has an ATX board.
If I were to rebuild my HTPC, it would be mITX, but for my main PC, I think I'd go mATX. I've always gone ATX in the past, but I'm not into SLI or Crossfire, & really just need a single PCIe slot extra for my TV card these days.
I think I'd go for mATX next time.
I have a ATX board now, but it's a bit overkill on size (only using 3 of the PCIe slots) But i wouldn't go mini-ITX because i do want the option for extra PCIe cards if needed :)
Probably ATX, if only for the reason that anything smaller would look ridiculous in my large case.
I will probably downsize to Matx on my next build - need the extra expansion slot for my Asus essence stx
It will almost certainly my first mini.
As I have no plans to upgrade, it'll probably be quite a while before I do. So I've no idea now what I'll pick then. It entirely depends what I want the machine for, my needs at the time.
mITX is what I'm going for.
I like small cases - my last desktop PC was a Shuttle XPC case and they are very small! Plus my gaming is done via a single 24" HD monitor - I don't need SLI/Crossfire so a single GPU is enough.
Cooling shouldn't be a problem for me since I've gotten a Corsair 250D case along with a 200mm fan and a H100i for the CPU, and there's a large side vent for the GPU. Granted the 250D is a bit bigger than a Shuttle XPC but then huge GPU cards wasn't around (we're talking AGP slots here!)
Micro ATX probably because I want to build a pc inside a small form factor case
Probably ATX, more space between the GPU's
There some really good small form factor cases that have come out recently and these are so tempting now, I particularly like cases such as the Corsair 350D and some of the Micro-ATX cube cases so it would be worth thinking about a Micro-ATX build with that in mind.
Mine's going to ba a Matx board because I just love the look you get from a tiny board in a massive case (such as the 900d). It looks like a giant ate a dog :p
Probably looking at ATX again but I'm aiming for E-ATX
I don't think that if I'd willingly settle for a rig without a dedicated sound card for an all purpose desktop, so a single PCI-E won't do. To be honest, either I have the space, for a desktop or I don't. Right now, I don't, hence I am using a laptop, but if I did have the space, then I'd opt for a nice big desktop with plenty of space for expansion.
Definitely ATX - I've got a case that'll take EATX so a uATX or worse still, Mini-ITX, would look very silly. Plus I like the expansion capabilities of a normal ATX, and I'm a tight-fist so I don't like the idea of paying over the odds for a small motherboard.
I also need RS-232 for a peripheral I've got - so that means either a board that has that header or enough slots to fit an expansion card.
crossy
I also need RS-232 for a peripheral I've got - so that means either a board that has that header or enough slots to fit an expansion card.
Or use a USB port?
I would go ATX since they tend to have better power circuitry than smaller boards, which relates to the fact that I'd be going for a higher end CPU too. If I was going for a lower end (and lower power) CPU, then a smaller baord would be fine, since it'd all be for different purposes anyway.
casper410sugar
Next build for me will be full ATX, using the very long awaited X99 chipset.
Me too….lol
My Current build is a microATX.
My missus wasnt too happy with a full tower case so had to go this route so will be sticking with micro for the forseeable future.
The thing is most developers are making micro boards with high specs so its not really problem as it used to be
Depends on what PC I will upgrade next. Currently the one I'm more itching to upgrade is the HTPC, and that's a microATX case. Still, I probably won't upgrade anything soon, given the amount of use my PC's get, which is very little.
Depends on the purpose/requirements of the machine :p
Quite a boring answer but likely a laptop as I'm just not using my PC much at the moment due to marriage and a 10 week old baby. When I do get time to play (which isn't much now) I usually just end up using the laptop. I have experimented with steam streaming so I can play better settings on my laptop but its just too much of a faf to be honest. Can't help but feel I'll just end up going for a proper gaming laptop next time (with all the performance improvements and price drops I should be able to get something quite capable for £500 when the current equipment dies). I'll miss the build but life changes…
aidanjt
Or use a USB port?
You mean via an USB-RS232 convertor? Strange thing is that while the manufacturer is very specific about it not working, there is one or two notes around the net that it does.
Item in question, by the way, is a Plus Deck 2c cassette tape drive, like
this one.
I've got a large library of (bought) cassette tapes that I'm trying to bring into the digital age, (and preserve them before the tape stretches beyond any hope of use). Maybe I should just cut my losses and get a new device - one that does USB. But those tend to be dumb boxes, whereas the PlusDeck can be completely computer controlled (apart from putting the tapes in obviously).
Sorry that this is off topic.
Probably ATX as always. I won't be changing cases anytime soon so may as well stay with the biggest size it can take.
Standard ATX next year at some point.
At least ATX. I had no idea that Extended ATX was even a thing. Looks pretty awesome.
Shame this wasn't a poll, would have made it easier to see what everyone is feeling.
Another thing, a few people have mentioned having a case bigger than the motherboard. eg Micro case, mini ITX board. Are people doing this appearance, easier cooling with a bigger case, already have the case and don't want to buy another case or something else?
I want a mini ITX case but would be willing to go to a mATX just to get better/ easier cooling.
I will buy a ATX board… Allways have and dont see the need to go smaller (or bigger)…
I just wish there was a board with NO audio, No ethernet, no nothing… in the back I/O could be lots of USB ports, just a couple headers to front USB and that would be it. I have a PCIe Wifi, a PCIe nic, a PCIe SB X-Fi… It would be better to have money spent on quality components for the board, than on crappy onboard wifi/audio/ethernet/firewire that i will never use…
But thats just me… :/
Maybe extended ATX, but, more likely to be ATX
Prob mATX, I need the space around my desk :(
m-ATX (or ATX) for me next build, unless an m-ITX Haswell-E board makes an appearance. Did the water cooled m-ITX last time in a Prodigy, and I'm at the point where the additional cores/cache is a necessity that will preclude me from stepping down to consumer level chips.
Your move, mobo manufactuerers…
Don't really see any reason to switch from standard ATX. Not bothered about shrinking my PC really.
im guessing i won't be updating for a while as im on z87 but i guess atx or matx i love the idea of itx but i always seem to have to much to fit into one of those awesome mini cases.