Mini-ITX
Mini-ITX
you're aiming to upgrade from an ATX to a mini-ITX setup while reducing the case size. currently, your 7700x am5 board works fine, but when searching for mini-ITX motherboards, only certain options appeared—like the ASRock X670E PG Lightning at around $230. you're considering the A620I model and wondering if it offers a good balance of price and performance. yes, A620i boards are popular for gaming due to their solid build and decent power delivery, though they may not match the latest mini-ITX offerings in every aspect. motherboard model still matters for gaming, as it affects cooling, connectivity, and overall system stability.
There aren't really any solid AM5 mITX options available. My setup uses the B650 Aorus Ultra with an R5 7600, and it's proving to be a poor choice. I've tried adding my 7950x3D to that board multiple times, but it doesn't really pay off. Switching from mITX to ATX has become more appealing lately due to the size of modern GPUs.
For a system needing nationwide reliability, I upgraded from an R5 7600 to an i5 13500 and an MSI mITX board. The original sits solely in an iGPU case and powers my living room TV. If forced to pick again, this model would be ideal. It has a solid build with no visible fans and represents the latest in the AM5 mITX series.
To address this, Ryzen 7000 models perform excellently under 105W. The impact of ECO mode is negligible, even with high-end components like cinebench. A 7700x won't be throttled by low-power boards, though you'll miss out on many features at lower configurations like the A620. B650 mITX boards offer a balanced choice, pairing well with mid-range CPUs such as 7600/7700 or 7800x3D. The latest APUs are solid but offer limited practical use.
You have two choices: choose the ASRock B650I or opt for an Intel M-series chip and switch to Intel. I'll consider your thoughts. Thanks for asking!
The Asrock model meets my expectations for mITX. At one point, the Gigabyte Aorus Ultra was considered the top choice. I’d keep going with the 7700x unless you’re open to changing it. Moving to Intel here doesn’t seem worthwhile unless you intend to add another system or sell the 7700x along with the board.
Which size are you seeking? There are indeed very compact matx cases since multiple itx designs can simply fit within the board dimensions.