[geeks] VRM Failures

[Kevin]

What's the deal with machines that don't seem to have separate
VRM modules?  Are they built in or not needed?  It sounds like
something that would be universally necessary but i've only seen
them on certain SMP boxen.

As i recall, acquiring the VRM module was the sole reason why i
had to buy HP's dual PPro upgrade for a Vectra, instead of just
buying the chip on the open market.  Ended up paying $1200+ to HP
when the actual chips were going for ~$300 at the time.

/KRM

On Mon, 3 May 2004 11:50:31 -0400
Phil Stracchino <alaric at caerllewys.net> wrote:

> On Mon, May 03, 2004 at 10:46:04AM -0400, Kevin wrote:
> > My DNS server at work died this morning.  VRM failure in an
> > IBM xSeries 340.  Actual CPU failures seem to be fairly rare
> > but these damn VRM modules don't seem to be nearly as hardy. 
> > What exactly do VRM modules do?  I am assuming "Voltage
> > Regulation Module" or something of that nature...
> 
> "Voltage Regulation Module" is exactly it.  They clamp the bus
> voltage to within narrowly defined limits, and in particular
> the VRM's job is to avoid overvoltage that could damage the
> processor.