I'm confused about the VRM specifications for two motherboards I'm considering. I've been given the choice between a motherboard with 6x60A VRM and another one that has 12x60A VRM. I plan to build a PC using an AMD 7800X3D CPU and an RX 9070 XT GPU. Is the extra VRM phase really necessary, or can I go with the 6x60A option?
1 Answer
VRMs, or Voltage Regulator Modules, manage how power is distributed to your CPU. In simple terms, more VRM phases can provide smoother power delivery. With 6x60A vs. 12x60A, you're looking at 360A vs. 720A total capacity. While the AMD 7800X3D can run fine on 6 phases, having more could be beneficial if you overclock or plan to upgrade in the future. If the price difference isn’t huge, I'd suggest going with the 12 phases for better efficiency and future-proofing.
Got it! So if I stick with the 7800X3D, even the 6-phase should suffice. But if I ever upgrade, it might not hold up, right?