Ryzen is on a great track – it’s one of the most well received CPU launches in years. And the AM4 has became the main go-to platform for most of gamers and content creators in 2021. However, even though the large X570 motherboards have been stealing the show, there’s been a steady increase in demand for the mini-ITX models capable of hosting the new Ryzen CPUs.
With a new wave of small graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD, we think that it’s time to check out the market’s most popular mini-ITX motherboards. We’ll be taking a closer look at their price, features, advantages, and disadvantages – join us and find a model that suits your needs!
Recommended reading: Best AM4 motherboards (ATX & mATX)
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Ultimate Pick | Ultimate Pick |
| View Latest Price | |
| View Latest Price | |||
Top Pick | Top Pick |
| View Latest Price | |
| View Latest Price | |||
| View Latest Price | |||
| View Latest Price |
Before You Buy an AM4 ITX Motherboard
Probably the most important thing that you need to know about AM4 ITX boards before buying is their limited expansion due to their size. Although ITX board are packed with features and are enough for the vast majority of users, some may encounter issues when planning to upgrade. For example, although your memory will run in dual channel, there will be only two slots on the board. So, if you plan to go to 32GB from 16GB, you’ll need to buy 2×16 kit and re-sell the old one instead just adding just 16GB to your existing 16GB is you had four memory slots.
One other down side is that your board will only have one PCI-e slot that will be populated with your graphics card. That leaves you with no expandable options for add-in cards like capture cards, etc. But luckily, most of those come in an USB variety nowdays.
What to Consider When Buying AM4 ITX Motherboards
One key thing you need to consider before buying is what is your use case for your SFF PC. That way you’ll be able to choose the best parts to suit your use scenario. For example, if you need more storage space, look for more SATA/m.2 slots. The same goes for USB’s. If you need plenty USB ports, you may want to go with an X570 board for their wider connectivity options.
Chipset
AM4 ITX motherboards come with a couple of different chipsets which offer a different set of features. If you are building a fresh system, we suggest going with X570, B550 or B450 if you don’t mind not having PCI-e Gen 4.
Compared to B550, X570 chipset offers better IO and usually better VRM’s for overclocking. However, we recommend most users go with a B550 board for its lower price which doesn’t sacrifice much on features.
B450 is an older chipset that AMD promised would get a BIOS update to support Ryzen 5000 series. If you decide to go with a B450 board, please check the manufacturer’s site first for Ryzen 5000 support. The main thing you will be missing with these boards is Gen 4 PCIe.
RAM Slots
Most of these boards if not all of them will come with just two RAM slots due to size limitations. The only thing you need to consider regarding your RAM slots is whether your motherboard supports the memory you plan to buy and will it work on its max frequencies.
Expansion Slots
As we mentioned earlier, Mini ITX motherboards come with a single 16X PCI-e slot. There may be a few mini DTX boards with an additional 1x PCI-e slot above the main 16X but those are extremely rare and won’t be supported with the vast majority of ITX PC cases.
The slots that you can get more than one is M.2. These slots are in the vast majority of modern boards just a shrunk down PCIe 4X, made for SSD’s. There are adapters that can extend these into full PCIe slots for add-in cards but we won’t go in depth about those.
SATA Ports
When buying an AM4 ITX motherboard you can expect to get in most cases 4 SATA ports. Some boards may come with more and some can come with less. We discovered that most of the boards come with 4 SATA 3 slots on average which is plenty for a SFF system.
Display Ports
The display ports on the IO side of the motherboard are meant for APU’s.
APU is a term that AMD uses for their processors that feature integrated graphics. These display ports (usually HDMI and Display Port) should only be used if your mini-ITX system doesn’t have a dedicated GPU.
Additional Features
Some useful features that are great but not a must are:
- Front panel USB-C connector
- CMOS reset switch
- BIOS update without a CPU (this one can save you a big headache if pairing an older board with a new CPU)
- Dual M.2 slots
- WIFI & Bluetooth
- More than 2 fan headers
Tips for Buying and Using AM4 ITX Motherboards
Before you buy a motherboard it’s important to take into consideration what are the rest of your components. For example, if you are planning to use only M.2 storage to reduce cable clutter, make sure that your motherboard has two M.2 slots. Also, if you are planning to run a 24/7 overclock ideally, you’d want to go with a motherboard with a stronger VRM solution.
- Make sure that the motherboard has enough I/O for your use case
- Fan connectors could be an easy oversight. Make sure the motherboard has enough of them or you can always add a fan controller if your case has enough space
- Check the VRM’s if you are planning to run a 24/7 overclock
Our Top Picks for 2022
These are our picks for best AM4 motherboards on the market today. Each one of these motherboards are well reviewed and you shouldn’t have any issues with going with each of them. Find what feature set fits your needs the most and that would be your best bet.
Pros:
- PCI-e Gen 4
- Great overclocking potential
- Premium board design
- Two M.2 Slots
- Q-flash plus memory for easy BIOS updates
Cons:
- Only two fan headers
- 3-Plug audio stack
The ASUS X570 range has everything for you. The Asus ROG (X570) Crosshair VIII Impact is something you won’t find in mini DTX. People rush toward ITX motherboards mainly because of their single PCI express slots or mATX, more extensive with two PCI express slots.
The mini DTX is of the same size as mATX, but they only have a single PCI slot. Hence, taking up something from both popular ones.
Features
- Compact Size of Mini DTX
One of the most significant advantages of ASUS X570 is its mini DTX size, which is slightly taller than mini ITX. These motherboards provide excellent efficiency to the computer system, and the benefit that even being a little taller can easily fit into any mini ITX case that supports two-slot graphic cards.
- Double Capacity DIMM Support
The thing which will amaze you is the capacity of this product. It features an advanced memory design that may support up to 32GB per slot, which means with two places, the accommodation will be double.
- ROG Exclusive SO-DIMM.2 Design
It has a bundled expansion card. Its benefit is it has a heatsink, which allows two M.2 drives to be connected via the SO-DIMM interface. It controls thermals for maximum performance.
- Supreme FX Audio
The excellent factor this processor offers is commendable. You can find in it a dedicated audio card housing S122O codec, Sonic Studio Virtual Audio Mixer, and DTS Sound Unbound.
- Impact Control Card IV
Onboard control card adds BIOS Flashback, Clr CMOS, Q-Code, and FlexKey functionality, simplifying firmware access, updates, and debugging.
Verdict
So, if you’re a Ryzen 3000 or 5000 PC builder and fancy more onboard storage availability, a 2.5Gbps controller, and all consists of all the pro features you could want, this is a great option.
Pros:
- Low price for great features.
- Two M.2 Slots.
- Q-flash plus memory for easy BIOS updates
Cons:
- Only two fan headers
- 3-Plug audio stack
This Motherboard is rich in features that will make you love it. It supports PCIe 4.0 and USB Type-C interfaces on, refined audio, high Ethernet speed, and the latest standard of WI-FI design. It’s a nicely rounded option.
Features
- Interiors
It consists of an IR VRM controller and the latest generation Infineon TDA21472 power stage 70A MOSFET, so it enables users to build a super powerful mini-ITX motherboard.
- Design
The advanced design of this superior Motherboard is constructed to deal with the thermal throttle. There is an improved thermal solution in the Motherboard with a heat sink with multiple cuts on it for the same reason it doesn’t get heated frequently.
- PCle 4.0
To provide superior bandwidth X570 AORUS series motherboards are created with an inbuilt PCle 4.0 slots. These slots are superior to the former ones, and the performance is never limited.
- Thermal Guard
This Motherboard also takes care of the thermal throttle in M.2 SSD devices. It provides a thermal solution with durability kept in mind, and it is designed to dissipate heat before it becomes an issue.
- LED Controls
Now the user can control LEDs that surround the Motherboard and can create a full vibe around them. This Motherboard is built with full RGB support and a redesigned RGB fusion 2.0 applications to customize LEDs around.
- BIOS Updates
This Motherboard also facilitates easy installation. You do not need to CPU, or memory, or graphics, or you need to enter the BIOS menu to flash BIOS. You only need to download and save a new BIOS file on the flash drive. After you’re done, you need to press a dedicated Q-flash plus button, and you’re done.
Verdict
If what you’re looking for is a performance wrapped inside a gnarly, RGB riddled package, then look no further. The GIGABYTE X570 I AORUS Pro Wi-Fi ticks all those boxes and then some.
Pros:
- PCle 4.0
- WiFi 6
- Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet
- Easy Overlocking
- Eye-Catching Aesthetics
- Audio USB Type-C
Cons:
- 2 fan headers (besides the CPU one)
- Only 4 USB-A ports on the back
ASUS B550-I has everything you need. It’s a great option for anyone who doesnt plan a really heavy overclocking and doesn’t need both M.2 slots to be PCIe gen4.
Features
- PCle 4.0 Ready
This Motherboard already comes with a PCle 4.0 slot for the performance boost up. It features two M.2 slots where one supports PCle 4.0 for additional storage capacity and the fastest speed possible. Both M.2 slots support up to the type 2280 socket and NVM Express RAID for outstanding performance.
- Design
The powerful design of ASUS ROG Strix B550-I is made to ensure that it can control the latest AMD CPUs. Along with the durability and stability that it possesses, it can hold:
- PROCOOL II POWER CONNECTOR
- DIGI+ POWER CONTROL
- TEAMED POWER STAGES
- ALLOY CHOKE & CAPACITOR
- Cooling Capacity
Another advance feature that will facilitate you is the cooling innovation of ROG Strix B550. It has the most understandable cooling options available, accelerated via Fan Xpert 4 or UEFI BIOS.
- Noise Cancelling Microphone
It comes with noise-canceling software that supports USB and Bluetooth devices. It is this feature why gamers prefer to buy it. The noise-canceling software does provide not only an optimum gaming experience but also a peaceful gaming zone. It cancels out all extra noises around you and allows you to engulf the gaming arena in you altogether. Additionally, it doesn’t put a load on the CPU, so the gaming performance naturally boosts up.
- Networks
The proprietary ROG GameFirst VI utility in the ASUS ROG Strix B550-I Gaming provides the player fastest and smoothest gaming experience.
- ASUS OptiMem II
Integrated OptiMem II technology helps the memory to map the signal pathways across PCB layers to reduce vias, and it also adds shielding zones that significantly reduce crosstalk.
- S210 control chip
The benefit of the S210 control chip in ASUS ROG Strix B550-I is that it automatically detects the type of device connected with it. The port can be used with both type-C audio devices and standard USB devices.
Verdict
If you’re looking for a Strong motherboard that comes to your shelf equipped with useful features, excellent build quality, and affordable, look no further.
Pros:
- Capable 8-phase 60A power delivery
- Active cooling for chipset/M.2 socket
- Intel AX200 WiFi
Cons:
- No integrated RGB LEDs
The MSI MPG B550I Gaming Edge WiFi has an all-black body with grey accents around. The standout features include:
- PCIe GEN 4 Solution
It featires PCI express gen. 4 out of the box which doubles that bandwidth from previous generation. At this moment there shouldn’t be any performance penalty to GPU’s using gen. 3 but the main benefit of gen. 4 are doubling of PCIe Nvme SSD’s speeds.
- 2 Shield Frozer
This Motherboard is designed to prevent thermal throttling, for it has been equipped with a heatsink that extends across the Motherboard. With the M.2 Shield Frozer, you can sustain maximum M.2 SSD data transfer.
- Connectivity
It has an impressive wireless connectivity feature. The WiFi 6 has adopted the latest OFDMA & two-way MU-MIMO technologies, increasing its wireless capacity. Moreover, it also reduces network traffic around.
- LAN Ethernet
This Motherboard offers connectivity with a 2.5G LAN Ethernet. It is a feast for the gamers demanding high bandwidth and low latency network connectivity.
- Amazing Memory Performance
MSI is much stable if it comes to memory performance. It is reliable and compatible.
Verdict
It also comes equipped with a very such a pleasing design, and the build quality from MSI is excellent as usual. Equipped with a superior system and a build quality will last longer than its price tag suggests.
Pros:
- Feature-rich, despite its small size.
- Competitively priced
- Dual M.2 slots
- 2.5 Gb/s LAN
Cons:
- Not many fan headers
This Motherboard is for those who want to build a small gaming PC for it’s small but doesn’t lack in features. Even with the small size, the performance is excellent.
Features
- Great Performance
The GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AX is a mini-ITX motherboard for those who care for a small size but do not want to compromise on performance or other tech specs. With the compact size that it has, it delivers excellent performance with the latest CPU, graphic card, and fast connectivity. To fully support the 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors, B550 motherboards are equipped with ultimate power solution. There is no compromise at all.
- Thermal Connectivity
Most motherboards’ problem is unnecessary heating up, which reduces the performance efficiency and smoothness of gameplay. Keeping in mind the same, this Motherboard has been constructed with a thermal solution to keep it cool during heavy workload.
- Memory
The memory has been taken care of correctly. A protective and enhanced memory system is installed to boost up the performance scale. A faster read and write memory is demanded to improve efficiency, so the GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AX offers plenty of M.2 storage to ensure unthrottled read and write.
- PCle Ports
Gigabyte motherboards are equipped with PCle ports for easy upgrades.
Verdict
You’re looking to build a small form factor PC with a minimal footprint. Then you must go with this one. The GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AX gaming is the perfect starting point if this is your main list.
Highlights:
- Beautiful red & black design
- A lot packed in a tiny package
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi
- PCI-e x4 M.2 slot
Just like the bigger ATX B450 model, the MSI B450I PLUS AC motherboard is also a part of the company’s Gaming Range and therefore shares the similar features and the similar available connections. Besides the form factor, the primary difference between these two boards is the inclusion of the Dual-Band Wi-Fi module provided by Intel. Is it worth your money?
The limitations of Mini-ITX motherboards are shown here through the presence of a single PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot (full-length), along with the storage options provided by four SATA ports. All of these ports come with straight-angled connectors, which can be found below the model’s 24-pin power input. There’s also a single M.2 slot (supports SATA drives up to M.2 2280 or PCI-Express 3.0 x4), while the 8-pin ATX 12V input provides power to the processor.
When it comes to aesthetics, this Mini-ITX motherboard sports a black PCB with heatsinks that wear the MSI Gaming’s well-known black and red color scheme. Regarding memory support, the B450I GAMING PLUS AC features two slots that can house 32GB of DDR4-3466. Both the ECC DDR4 and non-ECC memory is supported, although it’s worth noting that ECC memory will operate in non-ECC mode.
Taking a look at the unit’s rear panel reveals the total of six USB type-A ports. There are two USB 2.0 ports and four USB 3.1 (5GBps) ports – unfortunately, the B450I GAMING PLUS AC lacks any kind of type-C connectivity. As we have mentioned in the intro, there’s an Intel 3168 802.11ac Wi-Fi adapter that allows installation of the included antennas, as well as the LAN port, HDMI and DisplayPort, and three 3.5mm audio jacks.
If you’re searching for a quality mini-ITX board that will house your brand new Ryzen CPU, this model is a pretty solid choice. The fact that it’s wallet-friendly turns it into an excellent option for the PC enthusiasts with lower budgets.
FAQs About Your New AM4 ITX Motherboards
Owning an uncommon form factor motherboard like mini-ITX comes with it pros and cons. Here are some of the most common questions that people have about these motherboards and our answers.
Why Are AM4 ITX Motherboards so Expensive?
The main reason these boards are more expensive that regular size motherboards is their size. You’d think the smaller the board the cheaper it should get, this is not the case. These motherboards need to pack the same features like the larger ones but in a much smaller form factor which isn’t easy. Also, these are usually a boutique pc build motherboards and this also plays a factor.
Are AM4 ITX Motherboards Good for Gaming?
The short and easy answer is YES! To elaborate, ITX motherboards can be even better for gaming that their counterparts due to memory slots being physically closer to the CPU which can reduce latency.
What is the Maximum RAM That AM4 ITX Motherboards Support?
You should always check the manufacturers site to be sure. In our experience, most board support 64GB of RAM.
Conclusion
The idea of having a small-sized, space-saving and powerful computer is quite appealing to a lot of users – not everyone needs a behemoth with four graphics cards. In such cases, purchasing a mini-ITX motherboard is imperative, especially if you want to have a rig that’s semi-portable and that can possibly fit into your backpack (if you choose the right PC case).
The above mentioned considerations should help you get an efficient model that will serve you for the years to come – we hope we’ve been helpful and we wish you good luck!