Choose between the Gigabyte B450M H, B450M S2H, ASUS Prime B450M-K II, or the Gigabyte B450M S2H V2 model.
Choose between the Gigabyte B450M H, B450M S2H, ASUS Prime B450M-K II, or the Gigabyte B450M S2H V2 model.
You can observe in the images above and below the two boards being compared. The main difference is the VRM controller: the first uses an Intersil model with 4+3 phases, while the second employs an International Rectifier version with 4+2 phases. This shift might stem from Intersil being acquired by Renesas, or perhaps Renesas/Renesas opted to discontinue this chip in favor of larger alternatives that cost more. Alternatively, Gigabyte may have chosen to unify its offerings across multiple boards and adopt the IR controller on a broader range of models. This change doesn't imply one board's VRM is superior or inferior; it's simply a technical evolution. In the picture below, the V2 appears on the left, whereas the previous version is shown on the right. The VRM chips are highlighted in orange, while the old design uses light green for both phases and blue for the components. Each phase contains two chips, with one high-side and one low-side MOSFET. These work together with inductors to transform 12V into a lower voltage. Imagine cylinders in an engine—each pair of MOSFETs handles 40A, collectively allowing the motherboard to manage up to 120A for the SoC. The new design uses only two phases but includes four MOSFETs per phase (two high and two low), enabling each to deliver 80A due to dual configurations. This could result in a total of 160A available compared to the previous 120A. However, efficiency matters: MOSFETs lose performance near full capacity. Operating closer to lower currents is more effective. With four low-side MOSFETs handling 20A each, instead of three low-side MOSFETs at 26A each, the system may achieve better efficiency and reduced heat generation. The heat is distributed across multiple chips, lowering temperature per component. Additionally, inductors are relocated between chips, enhancing thermal management by spreading cooling effects. Overall, the two-phase layout can potentially manage higher power loads more effectively, especially when shared across more boards. The HDMI connector also shows minor updates with a larger lip for improved contact. Beyond these changes, the new model supports 3600 MHz memory sticks, whereas the older version only supported up to 3200 MHz—likely due to cost constraints in the original design. It seems hardware limitations rather than performance gains drove this decision.
No, it does not match the same VRM and phases as the GIGABYTE B450M H.
This model is an updated version of the GA-A320M-H, incorporating improvements and new features in revision 2.
A320 boards typically feature less robust VRMs since they restrict CPU overclocking, making it simpler to predict the maximum power draw of CPUs. They usually install only sufficient chips to support a mid-range processor without throttling, especially in well-ventilated environments. Many lack heatsinks on these VRMs, causing them to heat up more quickly and remain hotter for extended periods. A heatsink would help by reducing the VRM's temperature, allowing high-performance CPUs to operate at boost or higher frequencies longer. I advise choosing an A320 board only for office PCs, light gaming, or systems with a 6-core Ryzen processor.