What are power phases?

[jareDrake13]

I always see this advertised on graphic cards or motherboards, " ours has 8 power phases for more stable overclocking!' What is a power phase, and what does it actually do?

 

[jareDrake13]

I always see this advertised on graphic cards or motherboards, " ours has 8 power phases for more stable overclocking!' What is a power phase, and what does it actually do?

They basically constitute a little power supply on the motherboard, and they convert the 12V supplied by the (regular) power supply to the voltage required by the CPU (in the neighborhood of 1-1.5V, and can change dynamically). A quality power supply is important for the system as a whole, and the same goes again for the CPUs little dedicated power supply.

More power phases is a good thing because then the load on each power phase is reduced. That means they generate less heat, and that's great because heat makes them less efficient and stable. And in the worst case scenario, the VRM (Voltage Regulator Module, with X number of power phases) can even overheat and be damaged.

For more information about VRM, check the excellent tutorial at Hardwaresecrets, or the VRM/motherboard guide at overclockers.net.

PS: Haswell moved part of the VRM onto the CPU itself. This is part of the reason Haswell runs hotter than Ivy Bridge.

Very informative answer, thanks!

 

[ko888]

They basically constitute a little power supply on the motherboard, and they convert the 12V supplied by the (regular) power supply to the voltage required by the CPU (in the neighborhood of 1-1.5V, and can change dynamically). A quality power supply is important for the system as a whole, and the same goes again for the CPUs little dedicated power supply.

More power phases is a good thing because then the load on each power phase is reduced. That means they generate less heat, and that's great because heat makes them less efficient and stable. And in the worst case scenario, the VRM (Voltage Regulator Module, with X number of power phases) can even overheat and be damaged.

For more information about VRM, check the excellent tutorial at Hardwaresecrets, or the VRM/motherboard guide at overclockers.net.

PS: Haswell moved part of the VRM onto the CPU itself. This is part of the reason Haswell runs hotter than Ivy Bridge.

Intel has decided to get rid of the FIVR (Fully Integrated Voltage Regulator) with the Skylake microarchitecture processors that will be released in the second half of this year.

 

[jareDrake13]

They basically constitute a little power supply on the motherboard, and they convert the 12V supplied by the (regular) power supply to the voltage required by the CPU (in the neighborhood of 1-1.5V, and can change dynamically). A quality power supply is important for the system as a whole, and the same goes again for the CPUs little dedicated power supply.

More power phases is a good thing because then the load on each power phase is reduced. That means they generate less heat, and that's great because heat makes them less efficient and stable. And in the worst case scenario, the VRM (Voltage Regulator Module, with X number of power phases) can even overheat and be damaged.

For more information about VRM, check the excellent tutorial at Hardwaresecrets, or the VRM/motherboard guide at overclockers.net.

PS: Haswell moved part of the VRM onto the CPU itself. This is part of the reason Haswell runs hotter than Ivy Bridge.

Intel has decided to get rid of the FIVR (Fully Integrated Voltage Regulator) with the Skylake microarchitecture processors that will be released in the second half of this year.

so...that mean mobos compatible with skylake won't have vrm??

 

[ccampy]

Opposite the full vrm will be on the boards again meaning boards will have more of a effect on over clocking again and CPUs a little less but they will still be the main part of how high you can go

 

[jareDrake13]

Opposite the full vrm will be on the boards again meaning boards will have more of a effect on over clocking again and CPUs a little less but they will still be the main part of how high you can go

Oh ok.

 

[ko888]

It means new Socket LGA1151 motherboards with the CPU's power VRM circuit back on the motherboard.