8 phase vs 12 phase power around CPU socket

[Bipidri]

Hi this goes out to you scholars,

Could anyone explain to me in layman's terms what these tiny blocs are and what are their purpose. And what would be more preferable: 8*Rio R27 or 12*R40 ?
I tried google with a ''Rio R27'' search to no avail, and since I don't even know what the technical name of these thingies are, I couldn't specify my quest :o


Asus P5N32-E SLI
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/bosatsu-no-bipidri/RioR27.jpg
regarding those, all I could find is:
''8 phase EL-Capless power design
Reliable Power Supply and Longer Component Life
The 8-phase cap-less Power design demonstrates two hardcore commitments of ROG products: ultimate overclocking capability, and ultimate reliability. The 8-phase power design yields unparalleled superiority in the overclocking arena, while the EL cap-less design removes any worries of capacitor problems once and for all.''
source:Asus.com

now on this mobo they are twelve R40's (''Triple Quad Phase'' as Gigabyte marketing puts it)
Gigabyte GA-N680SLI-DQ6
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/bosatsu-no-bipidri/R40.jpg
''Quad-Triple Phase
An exclusive feature found only on GIGABYTE motherboards, this unique design incorporates Virtual 12 Power Phases to deliver steadier power and immediate current to the CPU and memory during heavy system workloads or overclocking. Additionally, Quad Triple Phase helps decrease the working temperatures, enhancing system stability and increasing component lifespan.''
source: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/News/Motherboard/News_List.aspx?NewsID=1314

Any light shed is appreciated :rolleyes:

[GalvanizedYankee]

I will sit corrected if wrong but we started out with three phase then stepped up to six phase, Albitron and ASUS now offer boards with 8 phase, then along comes Gigabyte with 12 phase.
More phases equals smoother voltage and with the Albitron/Asus 8 phase better OCs and cooler running have been reported. Nothing that's world shattering but a tad. This 12 phase is very good marketing and may give a very slight improvement over 8 phase...Most likely.

This board will be looked at long and hard when my next build comes due.

The polymer caps used on this board are much more temperature tolerant than electrolytic caps...This is a good thing.

[CAD4466HK]

http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=531&highlight=phase :)

[GalvanizedYankee]

Thanks CAD. I had forgotten about that tutorial over at badcaps. *thumbs up*

[CAD4466HK]

Anytime;)

[Bipidri]

Thanks alot for the links CAD and Galvanized :)
I've registered over at Badcaps but never received the confirmation mail so I don't even know if you got your 15th referal :o
It is complicated for me to understand what they are saying over there, I do try my best learning bits and tits though. I wonder how I could find out if what one member suggested a 6 phase with 2 converters instead of 12 phases in Gigabyte 's mobos would be true or its effectiveness in comparison to 8 phased ones.

''R27'' on it means R27: 4.42kΩ, 1/16W, 1% (edit: bad link removed )

''R40'' = ?

[GalvanizedYankee]

Plantentanalog link does not work for me. :p

You can not register at badcaps with any free email service, this is to reduce spammers & bots. Use your IP's email service. There have been a couple changes over there and I can not find the member's list to look for Bipitri.

I have 16 referrals now, we are kind of in a race. :cool:

[Bipidri]

the link was indeed dead-ending so I removed it, it wasn't very important, lot of gibberish made by a Texas Instrument guy. that's where in the end I saw that R27 in the used components list of the article.
the good thing I learned is that higher number of Rxx doesn't mean necessarely higher ohm resistance. which I thought previously.

For badcaps: yeah I've seen it reject my regular hotmail, so I put my own family email domain and after acception they said I'd receive a mail which contained the account activation link but I never got it :( so I could not see the attachement sketch like you mentionned - even I doubt I'd get it anyways.
I tried registering again and it's even worse ==>can't re-use my email address nor Bipidri as nickname , they say that they're already in use :wall:
oh well if my mailbox tonight doesn't have the activation link, I'll use my university email account and user another username :o

I've seen your thread on Xtreemforums regarding the other Gigabyte mobo the 965-DQ6 I think. now I'm at university so not much time to look for reviews of that board, but I will for sure. You think its really a 12 phase ?

[GalvanizedYankee]

Give Topcat, the site Admin, a few days to get back to you. He is very slow at getting to his emails. If it said the name was being used when you tried to register again, it means...you are in the system. I looked at the member list and Bipidri is not showing yet.
PM me here this Saturday if you are not registered yet at badcaps and I will PM Topcat.

I am not a member at XtreamForums, so you are thinking of someone else.

I am not positive that this board is 12 phase but it is supposed to be. I do know there was a limited edition Albatron that was 12 phase.
6 or 8 phase works very well, 12 phase is more about marketing than raw performance gain. It will run cooler however.

[GalvanizedYankee]

My vr-zone link has been killed but this thread may still interest you.
http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2033
Per Hansson is knowledgable and I trust his opinions.
another link http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1634

[Bipidri]

Thank you :beer:

nope thread was indeed of you but I confused the forum name, it was over at badcaps, my bad :D http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2033 ...and the link you give in that article leads to 9 blank pages :confused: I found it anyways, it was just that in the URL it's the article number 3745 and not 3735 http://www.vr-zone.com/?i=3745&s=9

reading the 2 given links now

[GalvanizedYankee]

You are welcome. :)

Thanks, I changed the article number so the link works again. It was 3735 when I first made that thread, the dirty dogs changed it. ;)

[Bipidri]

Very interesting article about the 965-DQ6, I really hope it will work well with the GA-N680SLI-DQ6 (wishful thinking oh yeah) I don't wait miracles, just some damn cooler temps on those heatsinks, I don't understand why the 680i chipset gets ablaze like this. Less Vdrop also appreciated.

[GalvanizedYankee]

Just my thoughts, as I have nothing to really back this up.

In the last few months there have been 5~7 newer ASUS boards posted over at AnandTech that had issues with booting or constant re-boots. They were all RMAed but it seemed they had capacitor problems. I am of the opinion that the new RoHS lead free solder is causing some dry joints. Dry solder joints will increase ESR and drive caps out of spec. This can cause boot issues. Lead free solder has a higher working temp, plus it does not wet as easily and the joints must be cleaner before soldering.

Before the ASUS fanboies attack: I have a P4P in use and one that has been re-capped on the shelf.

Start a thread about what board to get. If I were looking for a board Abit, Albatron and Gigabyte would all get a good look. Look over at motherboards.org to see what they have to say.