Maxim launches AI system power supply chipset with highest efficiency and smallest solution size

Maxim Integrated Launches Power Chipset for AI Systems with Highest Efficiency and Smallest Solution Size

MAX16602 and MAX20790 multiphase power chipset delivers >95% efficiency, supports 60A to 800A or higher system designs, reduces output capacitance by 40% while delivering best-in-class transient performance

Beijing, China—August 24, 2021—Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. announced the launch of the MAX16602 dual-output regulated power supply for AI processor core power supply and the MAX20790 intelligent power stage IC, helping developers of high-performance, high-power artificial intelligence (AI) systems achieve the design goals of maximum efficiency (reduced energy costs and reduced heat) and minimum solution size. This AI multi-phase power chipset takes full advantage of Maxim Integrated's patented coupled inductor technology to suppress current ripple, improving efficiency by 1% over competing solutions; at 1.8V output voltage and 200A load conditions, the efficiency is higher than 95%. In addition, the efficiency improvement reduces energy waste by 16%. Compared with competing solutions, the size of the chipset output capacitor is reduced by 40%, effectively reducing the overall solution size and the number of capacitors. The chipset provides a scalable solution for users to customize to meet the requirements of different output currents and different specifications. In addition, the chipset is suitable for power supply design of systems such as AI edge computing and data center cloud computing.

To meet the rapidly growing needs of AI applications and deep learning, engineers working on the development of hyperscale data centers need to continuously improve system computing capabilities, while also dealing with many challenges such as increasing peak power and the resulting heat generation problems. Compared with competing solutions, the use of the MAX16602 and MAX20790 multi-phase chipsets can significantly reduce the heat generation of AI systems. Thanks to Maxim Integrated's patented coupled inductor technology and single-chip double-sided cooling power stage IC design, the switching frequency can be reduced by 50%, thereby reducing power losses. The single-chip integrated solution eliminates the parasitic resistance and parasitic inductance between the FET and the driver, achieving the industry's highest efficiency.

As designers seek to enhance AI performance, space constraints pose a huge challenge. This power chipset provides users with the smallest overall solution size, allowing developers to reduce component count and bill of materials (BOM) costs. In addition, compared to competing solutions using discrete inductors, Maxim Integrated's thin coupled inductor design allows each phase to support higher saturation current, which helps reduce the number of working phases of the power supply, helping designers overcome space limitations while also reducing overall costs.

Key Benefits

• Highest efficiency/lowest heat and power consumption: Maxim Integrated's patented coupled-inductor technology reduces switching frequency by 50%, resulting in a 1% improvement in efficiency.

• Minimum overall solution size: The chipset has 40% less output capacitance than competing solutions, allowing for fewer operating phases, effectively reducing solution size.

• Flexible design: The solution can be expanded from 2 to 16 phases to meet different output current requirements (typically 60A to 800A or higher); low-profile (<4mm) coupled inductors can be customized and provided in a variety of specifications and sizes, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe®) and OCP Accelerator Module (OAM).

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• “The space left for AI power design in the system is becoming increasingly limited. How to improve power density within an extremely limited space has become the key to design. Designers need a set of customizable solutions to customize their design goals.” Steven Chen, business director of Maxim Integrated’s cloud computing and data center business unit, said: “Maxim Integrated’s multi-phase AI power chipset powers AI hardware accelerators such as GPUs, FPGAs, ASICs, and xPUs, which can effectively improve work efficiency and reduce solution size. It can meet the requirements of different specifications and sizes such as PCIe and OAM.”

Availability and Pricing

The MAX16602 is available for purchase through the Maxim Integrated website and authorized distributors. Please contact us for pricing.

The MAX20790 is available for purchase through the Maxim Integrated website and authorized distributors. Please contact us for pricing.

• Provide the MAX16602CL8EVKIT# evaluation kit that supports both products.

• Samples of the MAX16602 and MAX20790 are available through the Maxim Integrated website.

• EE-Sim® models available, for more information please visit: http://bit.ly/EE_Sim_Maxim

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About Maxim Integrated®

Maxim Integrated is an engineer-oriented technology company that aims to solve engineers' toughest problems to drive design innovation. Maxim Integrated has a comprehensive high-performance semiconductor product line, as well as industry-leading design tools and support, to provide customers with basic analog solutions such as efficient power supply, high-precision measurement, reliable interconnection, reliable protection and intelligent processing. Maxim Integrated has won the general trust of engineers in application fields such as automotive, communications, consumer, data center, healthcare, industry and IoT by helping engineers quickly develop smaller, smarter and safer designs.