True phase VRM or fewer phases with a doubler?
True phase VRM or fewer phases with a doubler?
The X570 Tomahawk matches the Unify/Ace in power supply efficiency and offers better value, but it remains hard to find.
I prefer my Itx B450-I with 6x IR 3553 VRMs and its strong current handling. Ideal for higher wattage components. A 65W model like 3700x works well, while lower numbers suggest a less premium build, as noted before. Overclockers should aim for more VRM counts. X470 and X570 seem better suited than B450 since most boards offer better high-current performance.
Even with 3950x boosters it's fine; just avoid pushing ln2 too hard unless you're targeting very specific setups (like older x570 models). Tomahawk X570 supports doublers and can handle 3950x even with ln2, possibly without heatsinks. As Buildzoid mentioned, even with 3900x it might scale down due to efficiency limits, making extra phases unnecessary. People often get excited about theoretical upgrades that rarely matter in everyday use unless you're focused on extreme content creation. Be cautious of links promoting flashy specs—they usually aim to sell more expensive gear. Six VRMs are interesting if you're thinking about an iGPU layout (imagine routing it as an engineer). Probably refers to power stages, and the 3553s are rated at 40A; compared to the Tomahawk X570’s 12x 60A, they’re still decent. Whether you need 3900x or lower depends on your needs—unless you're chasing record-breaking boosts, a board that delivers 400A without heatsinks isn’t practical for most users (unless it helps with cooling). For regular overclocking, the 3000-series offers little gain; heavy overclocking isn’t worth it unless you’re willing to pay a premium for extra performance and noise reduction. Remember, unless you're chasing extreme results, the main difference between a $250 and $700 board is cost, marketing hype, and a lot of empty bragging rights.
Mostly I agree with @Bartholomew. My issue is that I tend to be an extreme overclocker and prefer using Tec, Dice, and LN2. You probably already know that. Still, maybe check the specifications if you have a moment. My B450M-A (ASUS) can handle a 3950x, but I’m sure the CPU would really struggle with power limiting, even if it’s claimed to support it. What does that actually mean?
Absolutely fascinating! It's rare to see such creativity in this space. Most people stick to the main streams unless they're really diving deep. The term "compatible/supported" is pretty vague—it just means it should work, not necessarily perform well. In extreme cases, saying "I don't know" was a safe way to sound knowledgeable without overpromising. For regular users, it felt like a broad warning rather than a technical spec.
Ah yea, Im on a HWBot team called Warp9-systems (not a promotion here) and have been with the team for about 14 years. (At least) Have some cold submissions under my belt along with a few other guys on the team. We are definately NOT video youtube warriors, just a bunch of guys enjoying the hobby. We kinda make our business to hammer processors hard and go for high clocks. Right now, Im kinda benching RTX 2060. Im only using liquid cooling at this time however. Card is still on stock air. That may change in a few days, Im not getting clocks Id like to have. There is no over volt available on the encrypted bios.... I cant even unlock it. Running the sig rig with 8700K 5.2-5.4ghz depending on the benchmark. So far, I have the fastest Aquamark score lol.... I guess thats not saying much. I prefer legacy benching honestly.