The need of each leads to a different type of card and different material needs, it is not easy for us to mark a limit of phases and their divisions to say “from here it is valid and below it is not. “, it’s not that simple. And it is not because the fact of having a greater number of power supply phases remains an element available to a specific user: the overclock.
And we are not talking about an overclocker that will go up to 100 MHz (which is already a lot because of the voltage of current Intel processors), but we are talking about a very advanced user, with extensive knowledge of the CPU and Memory. overclocking, with experience and on the whole with a very high-end or premium cooling system, ideally elite with LN2 or LN2 + helium.
The rest of the users do not need what we are going to show here beyond pure whim or visual taste for the model in question. Having said that and clarified, before we start we also need to say some logical things:
- More does not mean, strictly speaking, the better.
- There are VRM systems that have not been confirmed for various reasons.
- There are very few vendors of VRM chips and drivers of this caliber.
This being understood, we go with the main models by number of power phases:
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 EXTREME GLACIAL
One of the star motherboards of this generation, without a doubt, the most expensive, but it is also the one with the best integrated cooling system and also the one with the most total phases. We are talking about a 24 + 1 + 2 configuration, where the central phases are managed by a dual 12 + 1 system under Renesas RAA229131, being the MOSFETs of the CPU, iGPU, Auxiliary PWM and Auxiliary for the following MOSFETs:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- MOSFET iGPU -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- Auxiliary PWM -> MPS MP2940A
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> MPS MP86992 with 70A and SPS
As we can see, the system is very complete and it is the best that we can buy currently in terms of Z690 cards with better VRMs.
ASUS ROG Z690 EXTREME
It comes in for obvious reasons: it’s the same as its GLACIAL version but without the full coverage EK waterblock. The layout of the chip is logically the same as that of its big sister, so it’s the same:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- iGPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- Auxiliary PWM -> MPS MP2940A
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> MPS MP86992 with 70A and SPS
That said, the price difference logically lies in the cooling and the exclusivity.
ASUS ROG Z690 APEX
This is the card designed for overclocking from ASUS and oddly though it also copies the chip specs of its higher sisters, the company made a small change by implementing a 12 + 0 system. Because? Well, this is due to the obsolescence of two DDR5 RAM modules, since it only integrates two slots. In addition to that, we know its PWM and MOSFET system for memories:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- iGPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- Auxiliary PWM -> MPS MP2940A
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> MPS MP86992 with 70A and SPS
- PWM from memory -> Anpec APW8723A
- Memory MOSFET -> OnSemi 1H 4C10C and 2L 4C10C
The rest of the ASUS lineup is already upgrading to 20 + 1 + 2 (HERO) and from there.
ASROCK Z690 AQUA
On this card we find a very powerful system, but inferior to the ASUS range including the HERO, but it is not a worse motherboard for that, far from it. In fact, ASUS configurations are only integrated by them and this is not common as we move through the models.
The configuration of this card is 19 + 1 + 2 with Renesas RAA229131 in 19 + 1 and without dual output, and it incorporates the following chips and configurations:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- iGPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- Auxiliary PWM -> Unknown at the moment
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> Unknown at the moment
- PWM memory -> Unknown at the moment
- Memory MOSFET -> Unknown at the moment
This is the most ASROCK has on the market (although there is still no official photo), followed by the following plaque.
ASROCK Z690 TAICHI
Exactly the same setup as its upper sister, but it is known to integrate Renesas chips into Auxiliary PWMs and Auxiliary MOSFETs:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- iGPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- Auxiliary PWM -> Renesas RAA
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> Renesas ISL
- PWM memory -> Unknown at the moment
- Memory MOSFET -> Unknown at the moment
The rest of the ASRock range is already downgrading its phase and VRM system.
EVGA Z690 DARK KINGPIN
It may be the last to arrive and therefore there is not too much detailed data to have a clear reading, one would have to analyze his PCB in depth. What we do know is that it incorporates an 18 + 0 + 2 configuration, the main PWM being a Renesas RAA2291131 with the following arrangement:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- iGPU MOSFET -> Unknown at the moment
- Auxiliary PWM -> Double phase, not confirmed in its version
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> Unknown at the moment
- PWM memory -> Unknown at the moment
- Memory MOSFET -> Unknown at the moment
The CLASSIFIED EVGA Z690 is the only model that it looks like the firm will launch on the market and at the moment everything about the VRM system and phase is unknown.
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE
The top of the top in GIGABYTE has a 20 + 1 + 2 configuration with a Renesas RAA229131 main PWM in 20 + 0 and a direct configuration, it does not have a double configuration in this regard. Its characteristics are as follows:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- iGPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- Auxiliary PWM -> MPS MP2940A
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> MPS MP87992 with 70A and SPS
- PWM memory -> Unknown
- MOSFET memory -> Unknown
This is essentially what ASUS uses in its TOP maps, but with less phases and direct, without a dual control system.
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREME
As in the case of the GLACIAL and the XTREME of its direct rival, the WATERFORCE and this XTREME do not differ in any way, except by a single component. Oddly enough, these are not identical cards, because this XTREME changes its auxiliary PWM system:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- iGPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- Auxiliary PWM -> Renesas RAA229130 in 1 + 2 configuration
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> MPS MP87992 with 70A and SPS
- PWM memory -> Unknown
- MOSFET memory -> Unknown
As we can see, just one change and it should be for the best, but … GIGABYTE will have its reasons, surely due to the temperatures.
MASTER AORUS GIGABYTE Z690
This is the last of the GIGABYTE cards that stands out in this section, since it gets 19 + 1 + 2 with a Renesas RAA229131 main PWM in a 19 + 1 direct configuration. From there there are some changes in the complete system:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- MOSFET iGPU -> Renesas ISL99390 with 90A SPS
- Auxiliary PWM -> MPS MP2940A
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> MPS MP87992 with 70A and SPS
- PWM memory -> Unknown
- MOSFET memory -> Unknown
As can be seen, the changes are minor, but they put it a notch below the rest of the models.
MSI MEG Z690 GODLIKE
It is the top of the range of the brand and as such incorporates a 20 + 0 + 2 configuration with a Renesas RAA229121 main PWM in 20 + 0 and in direct mode. Oddly enough, and despite being the best of MSI, it hardly differs from the rest of the models as we will see later, but pending its configuration and chips are:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- MOSFET iGPU -> Unknown
- Auxiliary PWM -> MPS MP2940A
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> MPS MP87992 with 70A and SPS
- PWM memory -> Unknown
- MOSFET memory -> Unknown
Having seen this GODLIKE, let’s see the rest of the boards, because it’s funny how MSI has segmented the ranges.
MSI MEG Z690 ACE
The configuration is 19 + 1 + 2, but unlike the GODLIKE the main PWM, being the same, is not configured in the same way due to the smaller number of phases, so this time it is 19 + 0 with system direct. Regarding the global configuration:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- iGPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- Auxiliary PWM -> MPS MP2940A
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> MPS MP87992 with 70A and SPS
- PWM memory -> Unknown
- MOSFET memory -> Unknown
MSI MEG Z690 UNIFY-X
It perfectly copies the characteristics of the ACE model, but its main PWM is a 19 + 0 + 2 with a Renesas RAA229131 in direct 19 + 0 configuration. The specifications are identical to the high-end model:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- iGPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- Auxiliary PWM -> MPS MP2940A
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> MPS MP87992 with 70A and SPS
- PWM memory -> Unknown
- MOSFET memory -> Unknown
MSI MEG Z690 UNIFIER
There is not a single difference from the Model X, so in terms of VRM and MOSFET we buy the same motherboard:
- CPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- iGPU MOSFET -> Renesas RAA22010540 with 105A and SPS
- Auxiliary PWM -> MPS MP2940A
- Auxiliary MOSFET -> MPS MP87992 with 70A and SPS
- PWM memory -> Unknown
- MOSFET memory -> Unknown
And so far the main Z690 board models in terms of VRM and MOSFET are affected. Which one will you choose?
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