cooling vrm on cheap motherboard for 5950x

[inquisitor1]

so I bought a POS b550m board. I dont think the vrm are all that and my worry is not the cpu overheating but the system crashing with the weak vrm

is a compensative solution one by cooling them with extras fans? will colling them prevent the system from crashing?

https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Motherboard/B550M-AORUS-ELITE-rev-13/sp#sp

 

[Vya Domus]

What problem do you have exactly, it's fine to put a fan on VRM.

 

[inquisitor1]

if vrm arent that great, can you compensate with keeping it cool? is heat the issue or the vrm type or both?

 

[A Computer Guy]

so I bought a POS b550m board. I dont think the vrm are all that and my worry is not the cpu overheating but the system crashing with the weak vrm

is a compensative solution one by cooling them with extras fans? will colling them prevent the system from crashing?

https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Motherboard/B550M-AORUS-ELITE-rev-13/sp#sp

What CPU are you pairing it with? (haha sorry I forgot it was mentioned in the title)

It has a 5+3 phase I think it should be ok for stock operation.

B550 VRM DB sheet

시트1 Feedback : harukaze5719@gmail.com. Don't requst permission / You can leave comment :) Product,Price,Config,Phase Type,VRM Type,MOSFET (Vcore),PWM Controller,LAN,Wireless LAN,Audio ASUS ROG STRIX B550-XE Gaming WiFi,$ 330,14+2,Dual-Output,DrMOS,TI X95410RR 90A,ASP1405i (7+1),Intel I225-V (2.5...

docs.google.com

AM4 Vcore VRM Ratings v1.4 (2019-11-07)

AM4 Vcore VRM Ratings v1.4 AM4 Vcore VRM Ratings v1.4 (2019-11-07) By Cr1318 (Reddit) Cautilus#5912 (Discord) (I don't accept random friend requests on Discord, but you can send me a question on there if you share a server with me, you can find me on the discord.gg/overclock server, otherwise...

docs.google.com

The closest boards I could find the AM4 List with similar components in 5 + 2 can take a 3950x so they should be able to take 5950x too.

According to this list it's "Tier D :100A current draw on little ambient airflow"

Motherboard VRM Tier List v2 (currently AMD only)

Credit to: @LukeSavenije The following list is based on facts, ranked on power delivery and known problems. The list will include boards that support CPU overclocking available at retail from different brands. There are still differences in performance among boards of the same tier. As a result, ...

linustechtips.com

The heatsink looks fairly robust.

 

[Dr. Dro]

It shouldn't crash. My brother's been running my old 3900XT (super inefficient chip) on a B450M Steel Legend for years, works fine. That board has the bare minimum VRM to be viable, this Aorus Elite is still rather OK

 

[LabRat 891]

Looks like there's a heatsink on the I/O-side's VRMs.

I'd put something like these on the exposed ones.

IDK about 'today' but, back-in-the-day all of Gb's mid-tier and lower boards were 'skimpy' on VRM capacity/quality.
(I have a friend that's managed to light at least 3 on fire, over the years)

Personally, I'd absolutely be putting some extra cooling on the exposed VRMs.

 

[inquisitor1]

ok thanks for the assist and reassurance. ill get heatsinks pronto and run a 140mm fan from top angled inwards on vrm as the phantom spirit cooler has fans that mount higher then vrm and not in line with vrm.

 

[Marcus L]

so I bought a POS b550m board. I dont think the vrm are all that and my worry is not the cpu overheating but the system crashing with the weak vrm

is a compensative solution one by cooling them with extras fans? will colling them prevent the system from crashing?

https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Motherboard/B550M-AORUS-ELITE-rev-13/sp#sp

Why's it a POS? I have a Gigabyte Auros Elite AX V2 with a 5700x and it's respectable in lots of ways, is my VRM so different to yours? never had an issue with the CPU throttling compared to an older b450 board I had with no VRM heatsinks that I used to have to run a 90mm fan directly over, otherwise would throttle even a 1600AF CPU, obviously 5700x is not same as 5950x so maybe that's why I haven't had any issues with the VRM's on this board, though you should be able to run stock values without the VRM being the limiting factor

 

[R-T-B]

IDK about 'today' but, back-in-the-day all of Gb's mid-tier and lower boards were 'skimpy' on VRM capacity/quality.
(I have a friend that's managed to light at least 3 on fire, over the years)

They hardcore reversed course on that in recent years, but for anything pre x570 you'd be pretty spot on (as in, pre x570 cheap=crap vrm) Oh and their warranty is still trash unfortunately.

 

[A Computer Guy]

ok thanks for the assist and reassurance. ill get heatsinks pronto and run a 140mm fan from top angled inwards on vrm as the phantom spirit cooler has fans that mount higher then vrm and not in line with vrm.

It's not a high tier VRM so just don't abuse it with unlimited PBO settings an you should be fine.

 

[joemama]

So how did the OP jump to the conclusion that VRM is causing the crashes?

 

[Zach_01]

so I bought a POS b550m board. I dont think the vrm are all that and my worry is not the cpu overheating but the system crashing with the weak vrm

is a compensative solution one by cooling them with extras fans? will colling them prevent the system from crashing?

https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Motherboard/B550M-AORUS-ELITE-rev-13/sp#sp

Did you monitor VRM temp with a software?
If board has VRM temp sensor…

Try HWiNFO64 (sensor mode only).
You can monitor all kinds of sensors/readings with this including Current, temps, and also if there was any VRM throttle situation.

Crashes on the other hand can be caused by many different reasons.

Usually when VRM are weak and/or overheat they throttle current so causing CPU to throttle frequency. System should not crash.

Under what specific scenario the system is crashing? Be more descriptive of your problem/issue.

 

[inquisitor1]

no issue yet. alls good. I didnt check stats. but learning to edit and im sure system will get stressed. so thinking ahead and want to prevent issues. ordered heatsinks. will run a 140 fan angled at the vrm. should help it.

I dont know how crappy it is but for $120 board, I thought power delivery wouldnt be highest quality. but maybe im wrong. I went el cheapo on this build. times are tough

 

[micropage7]

no issue yet. alls good. I didnt check stats. but learning to edit and im sure system will get stressed. so thinking ahead and want to prevent issues. ordered heatsinks. will run a 140 fan angled at the vrm. should help it.

I dont know how crappy it is but for $120 board, I thought power delivery wouldnt be highest quality. but maybe im wrong. I went el cheapo on this build. times are tough

wait, adding a 140mm fan for vrm only? you use something that power hungry and release alot of heat?
don't forget to check your airflow and test it before you point you need to add this and that

 

[inquisitor1]

wait, adding a 140mm fan for vrm only? you use something that power hungry and release alot of heat?
don't forget to check your airflow and test it before you point you need to add this and that

I prefer to have it then not. more airflow is not a bad thing. and it gets brutally hot here (not usa) and I dont use ac during the summer. cant stand the cold so I use standing fans on my but nothing for pc. and it gets to like 30c at home in summer or maybe more.

 

[Zach_01]

I prefer to have it then not. more airflow is not a bad thing. and it gets brutally hot here (not usa) and I dont use ac during the summer. cant stand the cold so I use standing fans on my but nothing for pc. and it gets to like 30c at home in summer or maybe more.

I use A/C when in door temp goes above 29C and stays there.
I’m setting A/C(s) such so room/house temp remains around 27C. That is very comfortable temp for me and PC.
I do not feel cold air on places I’m sitting around the house, once desired temp is achieved (usually after 30-60min), all A/C(s) drop performance to just maintain the 27C.
My region can get hot in summer (32-36C). 2023 summer was particularly hot (35-40+C) for almost 2 straight months.
Can’t imagine running a 400-600W PC when gaming under these conditions.

But yeah it’s good to use a fan on VRM anyway if they cause throttling from overheat.
Even if I don’t have such an issue, I use one 120mm on low (<1000) rpm, and also have back I/O shroud removed. Never seen VRM temp above 55C even at 30C ambient and 140-150W on cores.
Typically stays well under 50C when gaming.
Also I have another 120mm on DRAM sticks to keep them at 40-42C during gaming.

 

[inquisitor1]

I use A/C when in door temp goes above 29C and stays there.
I’m setting A/C(s) such so room/house temp remains around 27C. That is very comfortable temp for me and PC.
I do not feel cold air on places I’m sitting around the house, once desired temp is achieved (usually after 30-60min), all A/C(s) drop performance to just maintain the 27C.
My region can get hot in summer (32-36C). 2023 summer was particularly hot (35-40+C) for almost 2 straight months.
Can’t imagine running a 400-600W PC when gaming under these conditions.

But yeah it’s good to use a fan on VRM anyway if they cause throttling from overheat.
Even if I don’t have such an issue, I use one 120mm on low (<1000) rpm, and also have back I/O shroud removed. Never seen VRM temp above 55C even at 30C ambient and 140-150W on cores.
Typically stays well under 50C when gaming.
Also I have another 120mm on DRAM sticks to keep them at 40-42C during gaming.

not an ac guy. for many reasons.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

I use A/C when in door temp goes above 29C and stays there.
I’m setting A/C(s) such so room/house temp remains around 27C. That is very comfortable temp for me and PC.
I do not feel cold air on places I’m sitting around the house, once desired temp is achieved (usually after 30-60min), all A/C(s) drop performance to just maintain the 27C.
My region can get hot in summer (32-36C). 2023 summer was particularly hot (35-40+C) for almost 2 straight months.
Can’t imagine running a 400-600W PC when gaming under these conditions.

But yeah it’s good to use a fan on VRM anyway if they cause throttling from overheat.
Even if I don’t have such an issue, I use one 120mm on low (<1000) rpm, and also have back I/O shroud removed. Never seen VRM temp above 55C even at 30C ambient and 140-150W on cores.
Typically stays well under 50C when gaming.
Also I have another 120mm on DRAM sticks to keep them at 40-42C during gaming.

Man I wish I was comfortable at 80F lol the minute it hits 74F/23C that AC is going full blast

@inquisitor1 Your VRM does look pretty weak but with direct airflow your probably ok I just wouldn't be running all cpu workloads on days your ambient is above 30C.

 

[tabascosauz]

ok thanks for the assist and reassurance. ill get heatsinks pronto and run a 140mm fan from top angled inwards on vrm as the phantom spirit cooler has fans that mount higher then vrm and not in line with vrm.

no issue yet. alls good. I didnt check stats. but learning to edit and im sure system will get stressed. so thinking ahead and want to prevent issues. ordered heatsinks. will run a 140 fan angled at the vrm. should help it.

I dont know how crappy it is but for $120 board, I thought power delivery wouldnt be highest quality. but maybe im wrong. I went el cheapo on this build. times are tough

There's zero reason to stick copper heatsinks on this one. The uncovered 3 phases are SOC side, chiplet CPUs are basically incapable of ever pulling enough SOC current to make a different no matter how shit the VSOC VRM is. The only way to get appreciable current out of VSOC on AM4 CPUs is to OC and torture the snot out of both memory and iGPU on 5700G, and even then it's not that considerable to warrant concern for crappy SOC VRMs.

The covered part is Vcore, and it's a 5-phase with doubled lo-side (ie. in rough terms, 10-phase for a discrete VRM), with a hefty heatsink no less. 4C10/4C06 is the standard unholy combination of bad mosfets but it's fine with the heatsink and doubled lo-side. People have been running 142W CPUs (12- and 16-core Ryzen) for years on even unheatsinked 4-phase with shitty mosfets for years.

The VRM probably isn't causing your crashes. Explore other things like memtesting and WHEA errors in event viewer.

If you do have generally horrible case airflow, any discrete VRM can benefit from a little bit more active cooling, however. Unfortunately, while VRMs have improved significantly across the board since 2019/2020, Gigabyte mATX VRMs only get decent with 50A powerstages at the Aorus Pro/Pro-P/Pro AX level. It's no longer the case on AM5 as Aorus Elite mATX has moved up and has a similar config to Aorus Pro mATX now.

EDIT: it's not doubled lo-side, unlike the low end Gigabyte ATX boards it's only single 5 phase, which changes the calculus significantly. However, it's still a big heatsink, and a stock 5950X should be no sweat for it. SOC side is still 3 phase doubled, so no issues like I said.

Affordable B550 VRM Thermal Performance, In Search of the Best Value Board (youtube.com)