No need to avoid A320 for 3200g unless you're not OCing.
No need to avoid A320 for 3200g unless you're not OCing.
Looking for a budget-friendly Gigabye A320M-S2H with 3200g RAM, no overclocking, and 3+3 VRM setup. It seems better than some 4+2 APUs for that price. Concerned about VRMs without heatsinks—will they handle the workload?
You tested the Ryzen 5 1400 with an Asus A320m-k and it worked fine.
Overclocking isn't possible on an A320 chipset motherboard. The phase count alone isn't reliable—what matters more is the type of components used. You might have four phases with high-power stages or MOSFETs handling up to 70A, or three phases with lower-rated stages capped at 40A. Regardless, a 3200g board draws 50-60 watts at around 0.9–1.0 volts, which equates to roughly 60–80A spread across 4–6 stages… about 20A per stage, which isn’t unusual for even modest MOSFETs. For a HTPC running movies and 2D content, the power demand stays low—around 10–20 watts—so two phases should be sufficient.
I’d be happy to help compare the two options. Based on the details you shared, it would depend on your specific needs—like performance requirements, budget, and compatibility with your existing setup. Let me know if you want a more detailed analysis!
I know this layout well. The MSI board offers improved performance. Each stage features a high-side and low-side MOSFET or power section that includes both. The low-side MOSFET tends to generate more heat, which is why it matters most. The Gigabyte design uses three phases for the CPU, with two MOSFETs per phase rated at 69A and a 4Ω resistance rating (lower values are better). For the GPU, there are also three phases but only one MOSFET each, maintaining the same specifications—69A and 4mΩ. MSI’s CPU side uses three phases, each with two MOSFETs rated at 80A and 3Ω resistance, resulting in cooler VRM operation. For the GPU, just two phases are present, yet two MOSFETs operate in parallel per phase, giving a total of four MOSFETs with identical ratings. This configuration yields lower heat output, allowing the VRM to run cooler. On the GPU side, there are only two phases but each has two MOSFETs delivering 80A and 3Ω resistance. For the CPU, Gigabyte provides 414A and 4Ω versus MSI’s 480A and 3Ω for the CPU core, with a voltage drop of 207A compared to 320A on the SoC. The MSI board places components farther apart, enabling better heat dissipation through more copper pathways around the chips. This design makes it more adaptable for DIY heatsinking solutions, as the layout allows easier application of thermal pads or conductive tape. Keep in mind those peak currents are manageable only under ideal conditions—chips close together on the board raise temperatures more, and without proper heatsinks, performance drops.
If you're after a budget-friendly HTPC, why not opt for a super-cheap B450 instead? You could get the additional features for just a bit more than a cheap A320. Since it's an HTPC, you might also consider undervolting to save power, lower temperatures, and even overclock RAMs without much extra energy use.
It seems you're looking for a thorough explanation on your situation. You're considering canceling an order and opting for a MSI one instead. Additionally, you want to know if the advice would differ for a Vega 11 APU versus a Vega 8. You also mentioned plans to add more items with free shipping up to a VAT limit, after which additional costs would apply. Let me clarify these points for you.
I agree if possible and there are no consequences, opt for the MSI model. A few points to note. The Gigabyte board includes a plus with VGA support, giving three video outputs (HDMI, DVI, VGA). The MSI board offers only HDMI and DVI, lacking analog options unless you use an adapter. Since you're building an HTPC, analog outputs aren't necessary. The Gigabyte also provides one extra PCIe x1 slot, though I'm unsure if you'll actually need it. It has a better onboard audio option (ALC892) compared to Gigabyte's ALC887. Are there other suitable choices? Do you have any bundled deals available (CPU + motherboard)? The store I like offers combined packages, such as the MSI A320M-A Pro Max with Ryzen 3 Pro 2100 GE processors, sold for $139 including 20% VAT. By itself, the Gigabyte board is $10 more expensive (converted to USD).
I purchased it on Amazon and didn't locate discounts there. (But I might sell the 3200g for a 3350g pro with Vega 11, which is why I inquired about the Vega.) The only other choice within my budget is the ASRock A320M-DVS R4.0—what are your thoughts on this? Edit: @mariushm I can also obtain the Gigabyte GA-AB350M-DS3H V2.