News & Events
Intersil Introduces Advanced Regulator Chip Set Which Solves Power Challenges in Next-Generation Intel-Based Computing Platforms
-- Most highly integrated ACPI-compliant PC power regulator chips in the industry~-- Chip set offers highest performance while reducing space, BOM cost and routing complexity
MILPITAS, CA, February 9, 2004 Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog solutions, today announced two new Endura power regulator ICs specifically designed to provide reduced bill-of-materials, manufacturing costs, board space and routing problems for the next-generation Intel-based computing platforms. The ISL6537 and ISL6506 offer an unmatched level of regulator integration with the capability of regulating six different PC motherboard voltages with full ACPI compliance. These ICs deliver the highest performance-to-price value in the industry for leading-edge high-end workstations, servers and PCs.
The Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification is an industry standard that enables system power components to be software controlled in real time to improve power and operating system efficiency. ACPI-compliant power ICs are essential to realizing these benefits.
Intersil is the recognized power solutions expert, focused on high-end, highest-performance, workstations, file servers and desktop PCs, said Cindy Drapcho, Vice President for Intersils Desktop and File Server Power Products. Customers look to us to provide higher electrical performance, better thermal efficiency, ease-of-use, lower solution component count (up-integration), smaller solution footprints and lower overall bill-of-materials cost. Our new ISL6537 and ISL6506 are prime examples of how we satisfy the needs and expectations of our valued customers.
The ISL6537 and ISL6506 offer an unmatched level of integration, regulating a total of six motherboard voltages: the DDR memory core, DDR termination, chip set core, 5 V(dual), 3.3 V(dual), as well as the CPU bus termination voltage. While these ICs can be used separately, the two as a set offer the greatest performance improvement along with space and cost savings. The ISL6506 works well to complement the ISL6537 providing the 5 V(dual) that the ISL6537 requires for down-conversion to the DDR core and the other voltages.
The ISL6537 offers higher performance and greater cost savings than previous solutions. This advanced IC integrates one PWM controller, one 3-A low dropout (LDO) regulator, and two LDO controllers, along with all the power sequencing, system monitoring and protection functions required for DDR and chip set regulation on Intel-based motherboards. The ISL6537 reduces critical board area and overall BOM cost while maintaining ease of routing and thermal margin to meet higher power density requirements of next-generation Intel CPUs. The integration of four (4) regulators in the ISL6537 contributes strongly to space and cost savings while enhancing performance and reliability.
The ISL6537 provides a complete ACPI-compliant power solution for up to four (4) dual in-line memory module (DIMM) dual-channel DDR/DDR2 memory systems. The synchronous buck controller supplies VDDQ during the S0/S1 and S3 states. During the S0/S1 state, a fully integrated 3-A sink-source regulator generates an accurate (VDDQ/2) high-current VTT voltage without the need for a negative supply. A buffered version of the VDDQ/2 reference is provided as VREF.
Two on-chip LDOs provide graphics memory controller hub (GMCH) core voltage regulation and GMCH/CPU VTT bus termination voltage regulation. The ISL6537 GMCH core LDO is a dual-stage LDO. The DDR core voltage is stepped down to an intermediate voltage, and this intermediate voltage is stepped down to the desired GMCH core voltage through a second power MOSFET. This provides the benefit of spreading the thermal dissipation on the motherboard, reducing the size of the MOSFETs , and the PCB area, and improving the overall reliability.
Higher performance and additional cost savings are provided by Intersils new ISL6506 ACPI-compliant dual regulator, which was designed to serve stand-by system and peripheral power requirements. Packaged in a space-saving and thermally enhanced 8-lead exposed-pad (EP) SOIC, the ISL6505 provides 5 V(dual), for USB, keyboard and mouse, and 3.3 V(dual) and 3.3 V(standby) for PCI, auxiliary and LAN circuits.
ISL6537 Technical Summary
- Fully ACPI compliant
- 4 regulators in a small thermally efficient package that saves space and
cost
- Industrys lowest-noise PWM synchronous-buck controller for DDR memory VDDQ, 2% regulation, user-adjustable down to the 0.8-V reference
- Industrys highest-current (3 A) VDDQ/2 tracking memory bus termination voltage VTT regulator
- LDO regulator for GMCH core power
- LDO regulator to supply the bus termination voltage for the GMCH and CPU
- All output voltages are independently user-adjustable for maximum flexibility
- Current limiting on PWM and short-circuit protection on all LDOs
- Thermal shutdown protection
- 28-pad 6 X 6 mm quad flat no-lead (QFN) package
- Fully ACPI compliant
- Dual regulator IC in space-saving and thermally efficient 8-lead EPSOIC package
- 5 V(dual) and 3.3 V(dual) with 3.3 V(standby)
- ISL6506 5 V(dual) is shut down in S4/S5 sleep states, 1-A current limit on 3.3-V LDO
- ISL6506A 5 V(dual) stays on in S4/S5 sleep states, 1-A current limit on 3.3-V LDO
- ISL6506B 5 V(dual) is shut down in S4/S5 sleep states, 2-A current limit on 3.3-V LDO
- Over-temperature shutdown protection
- Soft start to avoid system upsets
- 4.5 to 7 V(max) input voltage
- Under-voltage protection
The ISL6537 is available now. The suggested resale price in 1000-unit quantities is $1.90 for each ISL6537CR IC. ICs are available on tape and reel.
ISL6506 Pricing and Availability
The ISL6506 is available now. The suggested resale price in 1000-unit quantities is $0.65 for each ISL6506CB, $0.65 for each ISL6506ACB and $0.75 for each ISL6506BCB. ICs are available on tape and reel.
Additional information on these and other high-performance power solutions can be obtained online from Intersils Power Web site at: http://www.intersil.com/power/ Interested persons are invited to discuss their power needs with our marketing staff at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, February 17-19 (Booth 710), and at APEC 2004 in Anaheim, February 23-26 (Booth 403). Special briefings are arranged through the contact persons on this announcement. About Intersil
Intersil Corporation is a leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog semiconductors. The company’s products address three of the industry’s fastest growing markets - flat panel displays, optical storage (CD and DVD recordable) and power management. Intersil products include power management devices for battery management, hot-swap and hot-plug controllers, linear regulators, supervisory ICs, switching DC-DC regulators and power MOSFET drivers; optical storage laser diode drivers; DSL line drivers; video and high performance operational amplifiers; data converters; interface ICs; analog switches and multiplexers; crosspoint switches; voice-over-IP devices; and ICs for military, space and rad-hard applications. For more information about Intersil or to find out how to become a member of our winning team, visit the company’s web site and career page at: www.intersil.com.
This release may include "forward looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties. For information identifying economic, political, climatic, currency, regulatory, technological, competitive and some other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements, see Intersil’s Safe Harbor Forward Looking Statement disclaimer found at http://www.intersil.com/legal.asp, as well as Intersil’s SEC filings as updated from time to time, found at http://www.sec.gov. Endura is a trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
