Motherboard VRM Tier List v2 (currently AMD only)

[Jurrunio]

28 minutes ago, RYZEN55600X said:

So, Gigabyte B450M S2H is good enough for ryzen 5 5600x (stock pbo) ? 

for long time use should I go with expacive motherboard ? I don't need 4ram slot,sata port,4usb port enough,1 16x pcie gen3 enough,i will never overclock  .

so Gigabyte B450M S2H is good enough?

 

 B450 Aorus Pro is better then B450M S2H (VRM) ? both are similar ?

S2H is good enough, Aorus Pro is slightly worse than S2H.

[RYZEN55600X]

17 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

S2H is good enough, Aorus Pro is slightly worse than S2H.

"Aorus Pro is slightly worse than S2H" why?

 

[Jurrunio]

15 minutes ago, RYZEN55600X said:

"Aorus Pro is slightly worse than S2H" why?

 

They threw thermodynamics aside when designing the VRM heatsink, it's no good in dissipating heat

[Dr_badwolf]

On 2/17/2020 at 4:23 AM, Jurrunio said:

there's a chance that the board needs a BIOS update before working with 3rd gen, which means needing an older CPU.

Zen 2 will work fine on that board. 

[Dr_badwolf]

6 hours ago, Jurrunio said:

They threw thermodynamics aside when designing the VRM heatsink, it's no good in dissipating heat

... huh?!

[Jurrunio]

1 hour ago, Dr_badwolf said:

... huh?!

here

 

[Dr_badwolf]

Ya, I know all this - Those thermals don't actually matter tho.
Im sure you know why...

[Dr_badwolf]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage_regulator_module

 

[Jurrunio]

1 hour ago, Dr_badwolf said:

Ya, I know all this - Those thermals don't actually matter tho.
Im sure you know why...

I don't know why they wouldnt matter. I'm sure you know there are some easily degradable components nearby that wouldnt appreciate something so hot.

[Dr_badwolf]

On 11/6/2021 at 1:43 AM, Jurrunio said:

I don't know why they wouldnt matter. I'm sure you know there are some easily degradable components nearby that wouldnt appreciate something so hot.

Heat matters more in nano components because things like silicon rely on precise conductivity.
The way that physics work: Is that energy has a limit for occupancy - Silicon at the nanoscopic level is more picky that macro-components.
The result is a far greater tolerance than what you instinctively believe - because we all stare at CPU thermals.
However, your GPU limits is nowhere near what you want your CPU to be.
(for example)

[Satan_Prometheus]

8 minutes ago, Dr_badwolf said:

Heat matters more in nano components because things like silicon rely on precise conductivity.
The way that physics work: Is that energy has a limit for occupancy - Silicon at the nanoscopic level is more picky that macro-components.
The result is a far greater tolerance than what you instinctively believe - because we all stare at CPU thermals.
However, your GPU limits is nowhere near what you want your CPU to be.
(for example)

The components that make up a VRM do actually have maximum temperature tolerances, that's why they are literally rated by their manufacturers for a having a certain lifespan at a certain temperature. It's also why boards will throttle down the CPU clock speed when the VRM temperatures get too high.

[MultiGamerClub]

I can't find the "ASUS TUF GAMING B550-PRO" motherboard here, where would it be on this list?

[Jurrunio]

4 minutes ago, MultiGamerClub said:

I can't find the "ASUS TUF GAMING B550-PRO" motherboard here, where would it be on this list?

Tier A blue, it's the VRM of the B550 Strix boards onto TUF colors.

[GoGix]

Thanks for the list. Regarding the re-release of the B450 mobo by Asus, it seems that this list only mentions the TUF B450M Pro S.

 

Then what about the quality of other B450M such as TUF B450M Pro II or TUF B450M Plus II?

 

If you look from the Overclock.net site, the VRM Pro S (Tier A) is the same as the TUF B450M Pro II

 

[Jurrunio]

3 hours ago, GoGix said:

Thanks for the list. Regarding the re-release of the B450 mobo by Asus, it seems that this list only mentions the TUF B450M Pro S.

 

Then what about the quality of other B450M such as TUF B450M Pro II or TUF B450M Plus II?

 

If you look from the Overclock.net site, the VRM Pro S (Tier A) is the same as the TUF B450M Pro II

 

TUF Pro II's VRM does look like the one on the Pro S and B550 TUF boards, probably tier A too

 

but TUF Plus II and other II boards are just like their older versions at lower tiers. You can see how the inductors are different than the TUF Pro II and others in a different layout.

[BiotechBen]

I've seen my ASRock B450 PRO4 keep my 2600x at 3.9 all core firing media encoding, sucking back 112W at 1.4V without even breaking a sweat on the VRM temps in a case with basically no airflow on stock wraith spire downdraft cooler(Dell Dimension XPS D300, one slim Silverstone fan modded into bottom, one 92mm exhaust). I hit a silicon limitation before power delivery limitation. 

[Jurrunio]

3 minutes ago, BiotechBen said:

basically no airflow on stock wraith spire downdraft cooler(Dell Dimension XPS D300, one slim Silverstone fan modded into bottom, one 92mm exhaust)

Then you do have airflow, otherwise your CPU would thermal throttle first

[BiotechBen]

1 minute ago, Jurrunio said:

Then you do have airflow, otherwise your CPU would thermal throttle first

There is just enough airflow for thermal throttle on cpu not to occur with every fan at 100%. It is a stifled airflow situation.

[somekevinguy]

I have ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming and I want to upgrade to a zen 3 cpu. I can get a 5800x for only $45 more than a 5600x right now. If I'm reading the list right the 5800x wouldn't be a good idea on my motherboard? Can you please confirm? Do i need to just stick with the 5600x?

[Satan_Prometheus]

23 minutes ago, somekevinguy said:

I have ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming and I want to upgrade to a zen 3 cpu. I can get a 5800x for only $45 more than a 5600x right now. If I'm reading the list right the 5800x wouldn't be a good idea on my motherboard? Can you please confirm? Do i need to just stick with the 5600x?

At stock I think it would probably be fine so long as there is decent airflow over the VRM. I don't have a perfect 1:1 benchmark for this, but here's what I'm seeing.

 

The 5800X looks like it pulls a little bit less power than the 2700X to the CPU:

 

https://www.techspot.com/review/2134-amd-ryzen-5800x/

 

Look at the system power in the blender open data test. I know this is full system power, but everything else is the same so the CPU is what's likely accounting for the power differences.

 

Then, you can see here that in an ATX case with proper airflow over the VRM, the B450-F is capable of handling an R7 2700 at 4.2Ghz/1.4 volts (which should be roughly equivalent to a stock 2700X, or perhaps even a little higher):

 

 

So I would think that in the worst case scenario, this is basically how the B450-F would also handle the 5800X if you have good airflow over the VRM.

 

Now, I realize that I'm doing a lot of "well, this is kinda similar to that" and you may not be confident in my assessment, and in any case, the 5600X is a much easier CPU to manage than the 5800X due to it running significantly cooler. If all you're looking for is a boost to gaming performance and you want a CPU that you don't want to have to worry about, the 5600X is a good call.

 

But I do think the 5800X would work.

 

[somekevinguy]

7 minutes ago, Satan_Prometheus said:

At stock I think it would probably be fine so long as there is decent airflow over the VRM. I don't have a perfect 1:1 benchmark for this, but here's what I'm seeing.

 

The 5800X looks like it pulls a little bit less power than the 2700X to the CPU:

 

https://www.techspot.com/review/2134-amd-ryzen-5800x/

 

Look at the system power in the blender open data test. I know this is full system power, but everything else is the same so the CPU is what's likely accounting for the power differences.

 

Then, you can see here that in an ATX case with proper airflow over the VRM, the B450-F is capable of handling an R7 2700 at 4.2Ghz/1.4 volts (which should be roughly equivalent to a stock 2700X, or perhaps even a little higher):

 

 

So I would think that in the worst case scenario, this is basically how the B450-F would also handle the 5800X if you have good airflow over the VRM.

 

Now, I realize that I'm doing a lot of "well, this is kinda similar to that" and you may not be confident in my assessment, and in any case, the 5600X is a much easier CPU to manage than the 5800X due to it running significantly cooler. If all you're looking for is a boost to gaming performance and you want a CPU that you don't want to have to worry about, the 5600X is a good call.

 

But I do think the 5800X would work.

 

That's funny I didn't mention it but a 2700x is what I have now. It's totally stock with no overclock though. I am running an AIO so no real airflow on the VRM. I've never checked to see if it's ever throttling from heat. Wonder if I'd be better off with a 5600x OC or 5800x stock. Have a 2070 super now and basically just a gaming machine at 1440p and a second 1080p monitor. Just wanted a little upgrade to get through to the next gen or two and normal gpu prices for an all new build.

[Satan_Prometheus]

1 minute ago, somekevinguy said:

That's funny I didn't mention it but a 2700x is what I have now. It's totally stock with no overclock though. I am running an AIO so no real airflow on the VRM. I've never checked to see if it's ever throttling from heat. Wonder if I'd be better off with a 5600x OC or 5800x stock. Have a 2070 super now and basically just a gaming machine at 1440p and a second 1080p monitor. Just wanted a little upgrade to get through to the next gen or two and normal gpu prices for an all new build.

Where is the AIO mounted? What would likely help VRM temps is rear/top exhaust.

[somekevinguy]

2 minutes ago, Satan_Prometheus said:

Where is the AIO mounted? What would likely help VRM temps is rear/top exhaust.

Worst case I guess. I have a 240 front mounted and no other fans. Not enough room for top mount AIO. I could put in an exhaust fan in the rear spot. There is a top vent too but not sure if I have clearance for a fan with the motherboard. It is a full mesh front case.

[Satan_Prometheus]

1 minute ago, somekevinguy said:

Worst case I guess. I have a 240 front mounted and no other fans. Not enough room for top mount AIO. I could put in an exhaust fan in the rear spot. There is a top vent too but not sure if I have clearance for a fan with the motherboard. It is a full mesh front case.

Yeah, if I were you I would add a rear exhaust fan and possibly also a top exhaust fan. It would be weird to me if the fan mount had space conflicts with the motherboard (that's usually only an issue if you have radiator + fan up top), but if you find that it doesn't quite fit, you may be able to fit one of the slim 15mm fans. (Most fans are 25mm thick but Noctua and a few other companies make 15mm slim fans).

 

Having some exhaust fans would help with your GPU temperatures too.

[somekevinguy]

11 minutes ago, Satan_Prometheus said:

Yeah, if I were you I would add a rear exhaust fan and possibly also a top exhaust fan. It would be weird to me if the fan mount had space conflicts with the motherboard (that's usually only an issue if you have radiator + fan up top), but if you find that it doesn't quite fit, you may be able to fit one of the slim 15mm fans. (Most fans are 25mm thick but Noctua and a few other companies make 15mm slim fans).

 

Having some exhaust fans would help with your GPU temperatures too.

Yeah I had no idea about the VRM/heat issues with this board and just like to make sure I stay positive on the case pressure. I'll definitely at least add a rear one now no matter what I do. That video was really good.

 

edit: I also have a third fan in the front besides the two for the AIO.