Intel Haswell to Include Integrated Voltage Regulator

Penal Stingray

2012-12-28 09:45

Intel Corp.’s next-generation code-named Haswell microprocessors will feature a secret weapon: integrated voltage regulator module (VRM). The latter will allow to improve granularity of powe... Intel Haswell to Include Integrated Voltage Regulator

really? would be nice if it comes with a hoe lol

#4488634

deltatux

2012-12-28 09:49

ummm, now the question would be: what would the effects be on overclocking? Last time Intel integrated more things into the CPU, it made overclocking a bit messy with it requiring an unlocked CPU. Though, not going to lie, I'm happy about lower CPU power consumption. deltatux

#4488638

vidra

2012-12-28 10:15

Sexytime!

#4488640

lucidus

2012-12-28 10:25

Without compromising stock performance I'm sure. As an enthusiast I'd like to know the implications on moderate overclocking though we won't find that out until release.

#4488661

JohnMaclane

2012-12-28 11:23

Without compromising stock performance I'm sure. As an enthusiast I'd like to know the implications on moderate overclocking though we won't find that out until release.

I think the implications are actually positive, the article itself tells us how Intels integrated voltage regulators offer much more flexibility in terms of the number of phases available. This means better control of power delivery. This innovation is not to be under estimated. The implementation of programmable power electronic devices on a 22nm node is not easy; as designing analogue circuits on such an advanced node, next to large digital circuits is hard. This means Intel has been spending some of that R&D money on power electronics which is a cool field.

#4488813

IPlayNaked

2012-12-28 16:23

I think the implications are actually positive, the article itself tells us how Intels integrated voltage regulators offer much more flexibility in terms of the number of phases available. This means better control of power delivery. This innovation is not to be under estimated. The implementation of programmable power electronic devices on a 22nm node is not easy; as designing analogue circuits on such an advanced node, next to large digital circuits is hard. This means Intel has been spending some of that R&D money on power electronics which is a cool field.

Guess they figure that's where they will find their future power savings once the die shrinks run out.

#4488825

Mraz

2012-12-28 16:48

What about OC'ing, I think this will either have positive or negative impact with OC. Noone can tell me it would change nothing because it may cause a lot of things from simple overheat, to impossible ''high'' OC with power being on the actual CPU.

#4488828

Ven0m

2012-12-28 16:51

These are great news. I hope that the power savings and voltage stability increase will be noticeable. GPU makers might benefit from such solution too.

#4488931

JJayzX

2012-12-28 19:47

this actually might have a positive effect on oc'ing unless it creates a barrier, but i think we might see more stable clocks from this compared to without it. before we would bump up on the voltage and everything would be over volted and always on, now it will only get the power when necessary, in which case i think there would be reduced stress on certain components of the chip.

#4488949

tsunami231

2012-12-28 20:14

I more interested in the latency this may or may not cause. As it stand most Voltage changing and Speeds changes cause latency spikes. Which is Why I have all Power management features on CPu Turned off. Lower power usage is great, but not if it gona cause latency spikes, but then this imo

#4488993

JJayzX

2012-12-28 21:54

they say it wont effect performance but we will see. i don't think we will see any recognizable latency from this though due to its integration.

#4489719

smashly

2012-12-29 22:13

In theory sounds great and should offer better life expectancy of the chip. Me being a pessimist, it'll add more heat to the cpu package as anytime I think of vrm I also think of high temps. I imagine it will be Intel way of making sure your oc'd $200 chip doesn't out perform the $500+ Intel chip.

#4489748

Ven0m

2012-12-29 23:11

In theory sounds great and should offer better life expectancy of the chip. Me being a pessimist, it'll add more heat to the cpu package as anytime I think of vrm I also think of high temps. I imagine it will be Intel way of making sure your oc'd $200 chip doesn't out perform the $500+ Intel chip.

I have to partially agree on that. But it may turn out in any way; the time will show. High VRM temps are caused by power loss, but you can see that it gets better and better. I can remember times where PSUs were like heaters; now they're so efficient that you can barely notice their losses if you have one with Silver/Gold specs (especially in regions with 230V). I think it'll be the same with CPU's + the shorter distance for high-current voltage = less power loss. There will be also a possibility to reduce power pin count on LGA/BGA.

#4489767

seaplane pilot

2012-12-29 23:47

this actually might have a positive effect on oc'ing unless it creates a barrier, but i think we might see more stable clocks from this compared to without it. before we would bump up on the voltage and everything would be over volted and always on, now it will only get the power when necessary, in which case i think there would be reduced stress on certain components of the chip.

You can achieve that if you have motherboard capable of setting offset voltages.