Yes, that's very true. G965 is a really awful OCer. Hell, ANY IGP is a terrible OCer when compared to the X1250.
As for the reason why no one makes non-IGP chipsets on mATX boards, I assume it's because mATX is supposed to be an "all-included" platform, to reduce overall costs when assembling computers. I don't know about you, but here in Portugal, the vast majority of low-end configs sold at stores are mATX ones (in mid-tower chassis, go figure), without external graphics. If you (read: the store) want to "go up a notch", you simply change the board for a low-end ATX board (keeping the same chassis), which can be slightly cheaper than the low-end mATX one, and put in a low-end video card. And, at that point, expansion slots algo have a say. You actually should only sell mATX to someone who doesn't and will not need to expand. If you already buy the computer with dedicated graphics, chances are sooner or later you'll want to expand, and finding yourself feeling "cramped" with only a mATX form factor...
That being said, if memory serves me right, ASRock actually pulled that stunt once. I believe they have a 865PE-based mATX board. I've never seen anything like it before or after, and I seriously doubt I'll see it in a near future. You see, there are all sorts of problems associated with mATX boards, which is why there are few models in the first place:
1) They are electrically cramped, you have to "stuff" the same amount of connections you have in ATX on 3/4 the size
2) As a consequence of 1), you have to take extra care about electrical interferences and heat generation, which means extra costs just to keep them running like the ATX counterparts
3) They're made for small system enclosures, which usually means poor airflow, so OC abilities are neglected in the first place
4) IGP chipsets are more expensive than regular ones, which drives the boards' costs even higher, so you have to cut corners somewhere else (guess where...)
Because of all that, making a non-IGP based mATX board makes no sense (economically, that is). It still would be far more expensive to create than a regular ATX board, and it would be a far worse performer when OC'ing... Even if you made a P5B-M Deluxe (mATX version of the P5B Deluxe), or a MQ6 (mATX version of the DQ6), or the respective IGP-based counterparts, which should be something like P5B-VM Deluxe and MGQ6 (not sure of this one, all Gigabyte boards with an "M" in their name are already IGP-based... lol), it would be terribly more expensive than the ATX board, and have a poorer performance.
Let's face it, mATX is not for serious OC (although, 360MHz is already serious for me, it's a 33%+ improvement in FSB speed!). You can try to refine the production methods, but ultimately physics, the IGP chipsets and the economy will bite you in the a
...
Ok, I'm oficially done now. Sorry for the "speech"... hehe
Cheers.
Miguel
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Originally Posted by ted3
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