Helpful ReplyClarification question: Voltage regulator

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Gilli
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2011/03/10 09:38:10 (permalink)
Hello all,
 
first of all I want to mention that I do not know the difference of "voltage regulator", "MOSFET transistor", "capacitor" and "SMD" etc (if there is any difference). So let me call myself an electricity noob.
 
Please have a look at this picture:
http://www.hardwaresecret...limage.php?image=26269
It is from this article: http://www.hardwaresecret...R-2-Motherboard/1029/7
 
There you can see two kinds of electric parts which are normally covered by the heatsink. The bigger one named "FP4-150 10CH10F" and smaller parts "VT1185SF".
 
Question 1 is which functions these two parts have.
Question 2 is which part is known to get very hot.
 
If I have an answer I will explain which problem I currently have. Thank you in advance!
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Davabled
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Re:Clarification question: Voltage regulator 2011/03/10 14:13:33 (permalink) ☄ Helpful
Question 1 - which functions do these two parts have?

Short Answer:
Together they make sure the CPU is getting the exact amount of electricity it needs in order to prevent errors.  Higher-quality components in this area are preferred by overclockers, because as the CPU is pushed faster by overclocking, it becomes increasingly more picky about the quality of electricity it is being fed.

Longer, more detailed answer:

The larger parts (FP4-10CH10F) are inductors.  They help stabilize the voltage going to the CPU by storing a small amount of electricity.  That electricity can be used to boost the voltage back to normal levels if the source voltage drops slighty for a very short period of time.

The smaller parts (VT1185SF) are Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs).  They also help stabilize the voltage going to the CPU.  They are small chips that contain components.  They look at the voltage going in and out of the circuit to make sure the voltage stays stable, and apply resistance if necessary to reduce the voltage down to the specified value.  They check for and make corrections a certain number of times each second, and in systems like the SR-2 the frequency of these checks and balances can be changed in the motherboard BIOS under the heading "PWM Frequency".  (usually hundreds of thousands of times per second).  Higher frequencies produce more stable voltages to the CPU, but cause the Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs) to produce more heat.

Question 2 - which part is known to get very hot?

The Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs) are the parts the produce the most heat of the the two.

The inductors usually don't get warm enough to warrant a heatsink, however the voltage Regulator Modules can get quite hot, and are usually covered by a heatsink.

http://www.hardwaresecret...geview.php?image=26259

In the picture linked above, also from the article you linked above, you can see the Voltage Regulator Modules for each CPU being covered by the taller heatsinks next to each CPU socket, while only six of the eight inductors are covered by the same heatsink.
Generally speaking, the higher you set the PWM frequency in the BIOS, the warmer the voltage regulators get.
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bucyrus5000
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Re:Clarification question: Voltage regulator 2011/03/10 14:25:23 (permalink)
Thanks so much Davabled, that's helpful info! 


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Gilli
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Re:Clarification question: Voltage regulator 2011/03/11 04:23:10 (permalink)
Awesome! Thank you very much Davabled!
 
Now I come to my problem. Please have a look at the following pictures of my heatsink which covers the voltage regulators for CPU 0.
(click at picture will deliver high res)


As you can see there are 3 voltage regs which have not/no good contact to the heatsink. What do you think, could this be the reason that I get 20-25°C higher temps for CPU 0 PWM than for CPU 1?
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Davabled
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Re:Clarification question: Voltage regulator 2011/03/11 09:02:36 (permalink) ☄ Helpful
Good catch!  That is almost sure to be the cause of the problem.  Clearly the voltage regulators aren't making solid contact with the Thermal Interface Matieral (TIM - the gooey sticky stuff on the bottom of the heatsink).
 
Before going further, I would recommend:
  1. Looking at the motherboard to check for bends or bows that would cause the heatsink to not mount flat.  If you see a bend in the motherboard, even slightly, stop here and look for likely causes (screws being too tight in certain areas, or too much weight on the board in one or more areas, etc.).
  2. Placing the heatsink back onto the board without removing the TIM, and checking to see if the heatsink is bowed or bulges in the middle.  It could be that the heatsink wasn't quite screwed on right.  Carefully screw the heatsink into place with an eye for keeping it level and snug.  Then remove the heatsink again and see if there are impressions for all the VRMs.
  3. If the VRMs are still not making any contact with the heatsink, you could dab a tiny amount of non-conductive TIM on the VRMs which aren't making good contact.  (assuming you have some extra TIM left over).
  4. If none of that works, then you may want to remove all the TIM and apply your own.  The tricky part here is trying to put the new TIM on thick enough that it will make good contact with the heatsink without making a mess.  You don't want too much TIM, and you definitely don't want too little.
With each thing you try, take it slow and use caution.  You don't want to accidentally make things worse by screwing things too tight and risking further problems.  If you don't feel comfortable, continue to post here for help or even call EVGA's support phone line. (In the USA the toll free number is 1-888-880-EVGA)
post edited by Davabled - 2011/03/11 09:05:40
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Gilli
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Re:Clarification question: Voltage regulator 2011/03/11 09:58:52 (permalink)
Hello and thanks again.
 
The board is lying on the anti static bag on a planar table. Please note that the board has been delivered without any screws or any too high weights. Heatsink was mounted well enough I think as you can see it at both impressions at the end of TIM. So I think it is a quality issue, it is a small defect.
 
I am a little bit disappointed right now because on the one hand the quality of such high priced product (in Germany I paid about 850$ converted in dollar) is somehow cheap and on the other hand I do not know what to do :) There is no availability in Europe so RMA is not clever. ;) Perhaps I should invest into watercooling but actually I did not want to do so.
 
Ok, this is not your problem, you helped me very much! Now I know what is going on.
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Davabled
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Re:Clarification question: Voltage regulator 2011/03/11 10:18:17 (permalink)
Try re-seating the heatsink like I mentioned, you may find that you are able to get it sitting properly the second time.  It will also give you more practice if at some point you do decide to add a water-cooling block.
 
Your English is very good!   I wish I could return to Germany someday, I really miss living there.
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Gilli
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Re:Clarification question: Voltage regulator 2011/03/11 10:42:46 (permalink)
Ok, as I wrote a second ago via PM "Thanks for the flowers" ^^ (German proverb)
 
I will try tomorrow I think.
post edited by Gilli - 2011/03/11 10:49:47
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