B350 Micro-ATX Builds

Dirk Diggler · 23 Feb 2017 at 16:47

Is anyone planning a micro ATX Zen build? I like the look of the Gigabyte Gaming 3, mainly because it'll suit my Parvum case colour and it's under £100!

I'd be looking to do a budget gaming build, so would Ryzen 5 fit the bill or even Ryzen 3? I know pretty much nothing about the architecture so would be interested in what people have planned.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Gigabyte GA-AB350M-Gaming 3 AMD B350 (Socket AM4) DDR4 Micro ATX Motherboard= £91.99

Total: £102.49
(includes shipping: £10.50)

orbitalwalsh · 23 Feb 2017 at 16:59

The 1600x looks to be a good core, as rumored speed of 3.7 GHz boost is actually 4Ghz

Dirk Diggler · 23 Feb 2017 at 17:13

orbitalwalsh said:
The 1600x looks to be a good core, as rumored speed of 3.7 GHz boost is actually 4Ghz

With 6/12 on the R5 1600x could that be expected to trade blows with a X99 set up? That's what made me think maybe the R3 1200x could be a better choice for an i5 equivalent, or maybe the R5 1400x as an i7 equivalent?

Or am I way off the mark?

daman2k · 24 Feb 2017 at 05:10

I am and I originally pre ordered that mobo, but I think the MSI Mortar B350 is prob the better mATX board so far.

orbitalwalsh · 24 Feb 2017 at 09:56

daman2k said:
I am and I originally pre ordered that mobo, but I think the MSI Mortar B350 is prob the better mATX board so far.

2 advantage I can see the Gaming 3 over the Mortar is 6x Sata 3 vs 4 . External USB 3.1 ports are Generation 2 and not 1 but the MSI board does have more external ports

hope this helps

Dirk Diggler · 24 Feb 2017 at 10:21

I'd be interested in the overclocking ability of each chip and how well the micro boards support that compared to the full sized boards. Obviously I'm going to have to wait and do some homework on that.

orbitalwalsh · 24 Feb 2017 at 10:31

String said:
I'd be interested in the overclocking ability of each chip and how well the micro boards support that compared to the full sized boards. Obviously I'm going to have to wait and do some homework on that.

yeah, seems mATX version havent been given the full spec treatment which is a shame, specially with the rise of small form factor

Dirk Diggler · 24 Feb 2017 at 11:18

orbitalwalsh said:
yeah, seems mATX version havent been given the full spec treatment which is a shame, specially with the rise of small form factor

I'm not looking to squeeze every ounce out of the chip, I think a target of 4.4Ghz would be realistic? However, if the full sized boards take the chip much further or the micro boards struggle to push much past stock clocks then it may just rule this build out for me.

Interesting permutations of what's possible, and all part of the fun.

daman2k · 24 Feb 2017 at 13:29

orbitalwalsh said:
2 advantage I can see the Gaming 3 over the Mortar is 6x Sata 3 vs 4 . External USB 3.1 ports are Generation 2 and not 1 but the MSI board does have more external ports

hope this helps

It's hard to decide really.
I wont be connecting more than 2 drives so that's a non issue for me.

But yeap, defo helps, I am hoping something else pops up before release

orbitalwalsh · 24 Feb 2017 at 15:49

daman2k said:
It's hard to decide really.
I wont be connecting more than 2 drives so that's a non issue for me.

But yeap, defo helps, I am hoping something else pops up before release

Ryzen launch has made it hard for buyers due to NDA. Normally brand loyalty plays a huge part along with features but its such a brand new thing from amd , its back to the start line got everyone , all equal

Pete @r... · 24 Feb 2017 at 16:21

I wanted a x370 m-atx board to go with my pre ordered ryzen 1700, with an aio cooler, but looks like there are none. So if I go msi b350m mortar is it worth having an aio or just use the supplied wraith spire.

Dirk Diggler · 24 Feb 2017 at 16:55

Pete @r... said:
I wanted a x370 m-atx board to go with my pre ordered ryzen 1700, with an aio cooler, but looks like there are none. So if I go msi b350m mortar is it worth having an aio or just use the supplied wraith spire.

Hard to say as we don't know how far they'll clock or how hot they'll get.

daman2k · 24 Feb 2017 at 18:06

Is this wraith cooler actually gonna be good for anything but the smallest overclocks?

Hotwired · 24 Feb 2017 at 18:19

daman2k said:
Is this wraith cooler actually gonna be good for anything but the smallest overclocks?

Wraith Spire isn't the larger square heatpipe one. It appears to be exactly the same kind of size and design as stock coolers since forever.

http://fudzilla.com/news/processors/42926-amd-ryzen-boxed-coolers-detailed

daman2k · 24 Feb 2017 at 19:04

That's what I thought, I doubt im going to use it.

nashathedog · 25 Feb 2017 at 14:21

String said:
Is anyone planning a micro ATX Zen build? I like the look of the Gigabyte Gaming 3, mainly because it'll suit my Parvum case colour and it's under £100!

I'd be looking to do a budget gaming build, so would Ryzen 5 fit the bill or even Ryzen 3? I know pretty much nothing about the architecture so would be interested in what people have planned.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Gigabyte GA-AB350M-Gaming 3 AMD B350 (Socket AM4) DDR4 Micro ATX Motherboard= £91.99

Total: £102.49
(includes shipping: £10.50)

Yes, I hope to do an ITX build but, I want to use Vega, an X370 motherboard and an 1800X so I may have to go matx, I'll know for sure in a few months once Vega and all the boards are on the market.

Munkyman · 25 Feb 2017 at 17:33

I'm planning to upgrade my current Z97 matx to Zen but I want to wait to see if any X370 matx boards become available. I do like to do a bit of overclocking so would prefer the extra headroom that the X370 should allow. More than likely going for the 1700X for it.

daman2k · 2 Mar 2017 at 17:50

I've gone for the B350m Pro 4 as I think the extra VRM could be useful in overclocking.

Dirk Diggler · 2 Mar 2017 at 18:10

daman2k said:
I've gone for the B350m Pro 4 as I think the extra VRM could be useful in overclocking.

When will you have the build done? Please come back and let us know your thoughts.

daman2k · 2 Mar 2017 at 18:32

Changed my mind and gone back for the b350 mortar ordered from here, it might have less phases but I prefer the board.
Time will tell if it's a mistake.

Edit - Change my mind yet again, I think the reason I can't decide is basically none of the current mATX boards are great.
So I ordered a gigabyte x370 gaming 5 and a new case.