Deep Dive Guide: Extreme Engine DIGI+ IV On Rampage V Extreme
Extreme Engine DIGI+ IV: More Power Phases Doesn't Make For a Better VRM.
It is important to keep in mind that a single component is just one stage within a complex system. Every Extreme Engine iteration is a power solution that combines hardware and software, together as a whole. This generation there have been changes throughout in response to the way Haswell-E LGA2011-3 processors with FIVR (fully integrated voltage regulation) work. ROG uses a high-performance 8+2+2 phase design (CPU and both memory banks) because at a certain point, adding more phases offer limited benefit in respect to the FIVR, which requires a different approach to power provision on the motherboard side.
The 4th generation Extreme Engine comprises of ASUS' custom DIGI+ power controller, PowIRstage MOSFETS and MicroFine Alloy Chokes. The PowIRstage combines driver and MOSFETs into a single component, reducing size, improving efficiency and reducing operating temperature. Combined with the MicroFine chokes and 10K Black Metallic caps, each phase pumps up to 60 Amps each.
ROG approaches and invests in every generation of products with a bespoke power design, as it's the only way to guarantee the best results.
Total Design Is Everything!
On the surface, the Extreme Engine DIGI+ IV is built using:
- ASUS custom designed PWM controller
- PowIRstage (pronounced pow-iiirrr stage) combined MOSFETs
- MicroFine Alloy Chokes
- 10K black capcitors and flat polymer capacitors.
MicroFine Alloy Chokes
The MicroFine Alloy used in the Extreme Engine are detailed below. The smaller, uniform granules pack more densely into the given space, and with a greater permeability they store more potential energy (through the electrical-magnetized-electrical mechanism). The end result is a choke design that's best suited for this platform, by a large margin.
DDR4 Power Design
The PWM controlled power to the DDR4 slots reduces ripple up to 40%, and combined with OC Socket's benefits and the PCB T-Topology optimizations means you get better signal quality and more accurate power supplied to your DDR4 DIMMs.
RDS On Sense
The PowIRstage MOSFETs allow for even further, fine-grained current sensing thanks to its internal Current Sense Amplifier. This gives a 13% improvement in tolerance versus competitive designs, and overall reduction in component number and motherboard space used. This is particularly important given the limited area available on X99 motherboards around the LGA2011-3 socket.
Tip: R=Resistance. DS=Drain to Source. On=When powered on. Sense=read out.
This deep dive doesn't include details of the underlying technical innovations in PCB layout design, how it connects to the OC Socket and UEFI advancements built on top of it. Together these help complete ROG's overall design advantage to build better overclocking motherboards.
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