VRM Overview

The 14+1+2+1 phase power delivery (vCore, iGPU, VCCSA and VNNAON) is kept cool using two large separate heatpipes. These aren't attached to anything else thermally such as USB controllers and the like, so there's plenty of cooling to go around. Sadly it seems you don't get heatpipes at this price anymore but a peak VRM temperature in our 10-minute stress test of 53°C was decent enough considering it was running flat out with Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K flagship.


The I/O shroud and heatsinks are very easy to remove with just a handful of screws holding them in place and the heatsinks themselves are quite basic. With a much lower power draw compared to previous generations, there isn't much need for anything more elaborate, especially if you're running at stock speed.


All 18 phases are Alpha & Omega Semiconductor 80 A stages while the PCB has eight layers to help improve cooling, even if there's no backplate here.


Above we can see the DIGI+ EPU ASP2442GQW PWM controller.