1 Suggested DC/DC Converters

Table 1-1 highlights the latest point-of-load DC/DC converters with integrated MOSFETs that are applicable to powering Sapphire Rapids applications; however, they are designed to accommodate the requirements for a wide range of markets. These devices are designed to achieve fast transient response, high efficiency, good thermal performance, and high output voltage accuracy. Notice that different control architectures are suggested in Table 1-1.

Fixed-frequency control architectures provide a predictable switching frequency and can be synchronized to an external clock. Current mode or voltage mode control is desirable in noise-sensitive applications that use data converters and high-speed analog circuits. On the other hand, devices implementing constant on-time control deliver a faster transient response than voltage or current mode control to quickly changing load profiles, since there is no internal clock to control the switching frequency. Several devices feature PMBus or I²C with adaptive voltage scaling and margining. Devices integrating PMBus or I²C with telemetry report voltage, current, and temperature information to a host.

DC/DC converters with integrated MOSFETs supporting Serial Voltage Identification (SVID) are now available, and offer a solution that is smaller and easier to design than a multiphase controller-based solution when the output current is lower. The TPS53820 provides up to two outputs to power the low current SVID rails such as VCCANA (5.5 A) and P1V8 (4 A) in VR13.HC applications, and the TPS544C26 is Intel VR13 SVID compliant for Eagle Stream and Birch Stream applications.