News

MSI Talks Intel twelfth Gen Alder Lake CPU Dies, Sizzling Spots, Finest Cooling Configurations, DDR5 Temperatures, Energy, Price, & Extra

Written by Jeff Lampkin

MSI has shared a whole lot of particulars of their current Insider episode of Livestreams concerning Intel’s twelfth Gen Alder Lake CPUs, DDR5 reminiscence & their Z690 product lineup. The motherboard producer revealed some attention-grabbing info concerning the completely different dies, energy necessities, thermal operations, and cooling configurations for the brand new platform.

Intel Alder Lake Desktop CPU Dies, Sizzling Spots, DDR5 Reminiscence Energy, Temperatures, Z690 Costs & Finest Cooling Configurations Detailed

We all know from the official announcement that Intel’s twelfth Gen Alder Lake Desktop CPUs might be accessible in two fundamental die configurations. These embody an 8+8 (C0) die which might be featured on high-end unlocked and non-Okay SKUs and a 6+0 (H0) die that might be used for non-Okay SKUs. The entire dies are based mostly on the 10nm ESF course of node (Intel 7) and have a smaller die measurement in comparison with 14nm SKUs.

Intel Demos XeSS Tremendous Decision In Hitman 3 & The Riftbreaker, Talks How Alder Lake E-Cores Can Assist Increase Gaming Efficiency

Intel Alder Lake CPU Dies, Sizzling Spots & Finest Cooling Configurations

The Intel Alder Lake C0 die has a floor space of 215.25mm2 whereas the H0 die has a floor space of 162.75mm2. Because of this as the world shrinks and transistor density will increase, warmth dissipation will develop into a serious problem. The CPUs will use a Tin TIM materials between the die and IHS together with a soldered design. Only for comparability, the 14nm Rocket Lake CPUs with 8 cores & 16 threads had a floor space of 276mm2.

Since each Alder Lake dies have a special core configuration, their sizzling spots are additionally completely different. As proven within the thermal imagery by MSI, the C0 (8+8) die has its sizzling spot shut in direction of the middle however the H0 (6+0) die has its sizzling spot barely in direction of the left facet. So it will likely be necessary to make use of the suitable cooling configuration based mostly on the SKU you might be getting.

Newegg Requests Prospects To Stay Quiet for Breaking Embargo Date & Delivery Intel Alder Lake CPUs Early

For this function, MSI has proven some finest cooling configurations to make use of with the Intel Alder Lake CPUs. For starters, it’s recommended that copper-based heatsinks are used as a substitute of aluminum ones. The positioning may also play an necessary function as you might be suggested to have the warmth pipes operating parallel to the die and never perpendicular. The parallel configuration will be certain that the warmth pipes are making direct contact over the recent spots and never making inefficient contact.

We already detailed beforehand how some older coolers might need mounting stress points with the brand new LGA 1700 socket chips. You’ll be able to learn extra on that right here however MSI has ensured its customers that almost all of their lineup might be getting the LGA 1700 mounting equipment free-of-charge and older CPU coolers from them might be receiving a brand new V2 revision for correct help for Intel Alder Lake CPUs.

DDR5 Reminiscence Energy Consumption, Temperatures & PSU Compatibility

A key characteristic of Intel’s Alder Lake lineup is help for DDR5 reminiscence and the reminiscence introduces some key upgrades together with increased switch speeds, bigger capacities, dual-banks, On-Die ECC, and PMIC.

PMIC or energy administration IC is a giant change for DDR5 because it brings the VRMs for the reminiscence over to the reminiscence modules themselves as a substitute of getting them on the motherboard. However whereas it has advantages by way of energy administration, decreasing the necessities, and bettering effectivity, the draw back is the warmth switch. A demo unit from MSI is proven which options the RENESAS P8911-Y0 controller and voltages (VDDQ/VDD) set to 1.35V. In thermal imagery, it may be seen that the ICs for VRM get actually sizzling, particularly the inductors which have the best temperature on your complete DIMM. So it seems to be like a whole lot of high-end reminiscence modules might be fitted with some beefy heatsinks as we get even higher-clocked DIMMs.

MSI Z690 motherboards, like each different producer, will include three DDR5 Energy Modes. The primary is the usual Safety mode which can characteristic locked commonplace values of 1.1/1.1/1.8V (VDD/VDDQ/VPP), the Program mode which would be the commonplace always-on mode by the board & that may function at 1.1-1.435/1.1-1.435/1.8-20135V whereas the OC mode would require a particular IC on sure high-end motherboards to unlocked the ranges past the usual Program mode. MSI additionally despatched us some mode retails on the PSU kind appropriate for DDR5 reminiscence that may be learn under:

1. The distinction within the DDR5 energy provide.

Up to now, the facility provide for the reminiscence was immediately offered by the Motherboard, take DDR4 for example, as the usual specification for DDR4 reminiscence was 1.2V which is powered by the motherboard.

Nevertheless, the facility of the brand new era DDR5 is powered by PMIC which is positioned on the DIMM module as a substitute of Motherboard immediately.

2. The Challenges of PSUs on DDR5

Because of the new energy structure change of DDR5, the facility is immediately provided from the PSU to the PMIC with 5V. If the 5V energy is unstable, it’s straightforward to trigger an irregular energy provide of the reminiscence and trigger a system crash. Due to this fact, maintaining the 5V energy steady in any situation has develop into essential for these PSUs which are ready to energy the DDR5 reminiscence.

3. The ability testing on MSI PSUs.

Based mostly on the facility testing with the benchmarking instrument, it may be discovered that the MSI sequence energy provides face drastic 12V energy modifications, and 5V(CH2) nonetheless maintains stability, which suggests the PSUs of MSI can make sure the steady operation of DDR5 reminiscence always.

MSI additionally goes into particular about after they can see DDR5 costs drop. As anticipated of a new-gen, DDR5 is presently 30-50% dearer than DDR4 reminiscence on the similar density and that might go even increased based mostly on key supplies provide conditions akin to PMIC and SPD hub. It’s anticipated that costs will fall right down to DDR4 ranges round mid of 2023 because the adoption charge climbs and extra platforms begin utilizing the brand new commonplace. We detailed extra on the pricing state of affairs of DDR5 DRAM on this article.

PCIe Gen 5 AIC, M.2 Heatsinks For Gen 4 SSDs & Z690 Motherboard Costs

MSI additionally unveiled its model new PCIe Gen 5 AIC card for next-generation M.2 SSDs. The brand new AIC M.2 XPANDER-Z Gen 5 card will characteristic a dual-slot single-fan design with a single PCIe 5.0 slot & help one Gen 5 M.2 SSD via x4 lanes. This can supply as much as 128 GB/s of switch speeds & might be powered by a single 6-pin connector interface. Do notice that the Intel twelfth Gen Alder Lake CPUs solely present Gen 5 PCIe lanes to the enlargement slots and never the M.2 slots so it is a very helpful characteristic as soon as the Gen 5 SSDs hit the market.

Some M.2 Defend Frozr numbers for Gen 4 SSDs on Z690 motherboards are additionally shared. MSI is highlighting the necessary want for heatsinks in high-performance SSDs. Stats akin to thermal efficiency and throttling might be seen within the slides shared under:

Lastly, MSI has revealed the ultimate costs of its total Z690 motherboard vary for Intel twelfth Gen Alder Lake CPUs in USD and Euros. You’ll be able to see the lineup under:

  • MSI MEG Z690 GODLIKE (TBD)
  • MSI MEG Z690 ACE ($699 US)
  • MSI MEG Z690 Unify-X ($619 US)
  • MSI MEG Z690 Unify ($589 US)
  • MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK (TBD)
  • MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi ($469.99 US)
  • MSI MPG Z690 Drive WiFi ($429.99 US)
  • MSI MPG Z690 Edge WiFi ($349 US)
  • MSI MPG Z690 Edge WiFi DDR4 ($329 US)
  • MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk ($309 US)
  • MSI MAG Z690 Torpedo ($289 US)
  • MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk DDR4 ($299 US)
  • MSI PRO Z690-A WiFi ($249.99 US)
  • MSI PRO Z690-A ($229.99 US)
  • MSI PRO Z690-A WiFi DDR4 ($239.99 US)
  • MSI PRO Z690-A DDR4 ($219.99 US)

MSI has a extra detailed occasion for these motherboards and the way they carry out alongside Intel’s twelfth Gen Alder Lake CPUs deliberate for tomorrow together with a full launch event on 2nd November & we are going to be sure that to supply extra knowledge associated to specs and new options for the Z690 motherboards actually quickly!

About the author

Jeff Lampkin

Jeff Lampkin was the first writer to have joined gamepolar.com. He has since then inculcated very effective writing and reviewing culture at GamePolar which rivals have found impossible to imitate. His approach has been to work on the basics while the whole world was focusing on the superstructures.