AP-523
E
16
(
m
Amps) and will not suffer from the line losses
described above. This allows the supply to regulate its
output based on the voltage level at the load that
is
affected by the line losses. The down-side of this method
is the added inductance due to cabling to a power supply
and the noise induced in the remote sense feedback
signal. Section 4.3 explains why this is an issue. Another
difficulty is finding a representative load point that
applies for all processors when there is more than one in
the system.
In either case the accuracy of this voltage can be
maintained fairly easily at ±2%, plus a small ripple and
noise budget, under a
stable
load. However, further
demands of the Pentium Pro processor will tax this
supply. With the large current transients developed by
the processor, extreme care must be exercised to
eliminate noise coupling and ringing when using remote
sense feedback.
4.2.1.
LOCAL DC-TO-DC CONVERTERS VS.
CENTRALIZED POWER SUPPLY
Most desktop computers today utilize a self-contained
multiple output power supply. This is convenient and
cost effective as it isolates the issues of power generation
from the system designer and allows the creation of a
large reusable sub-system. However, lower operating
voltages and increased transient response make long bus
distribution schemes and self-contained supplies less
suitable due to the resistance and inductance of the
distribution scheme. The use of distributed local DC-to-
DC converters provides another alternative.
Another benefit of distributed local DC-to-DC converters
is upgrade potential. They allow for socketed and/or
voltage selection and regulation. Sockets allow modules
to be added or replaced as required while self adjusting
regulators can be set to meet the varying needs of the
processor socket.
While the decision lies in the hands of the system
designer, Intel recommends the use of local regulators.
Converter sockets meeting the upgrade specification in
the
Pentium
a
Pro Processor Developer’s Manual,
Volume 1
can then be installed by each empty Pentium
Pro processor socket to provide an inexpensive upgrade
strategy. Utilized Pentium Pro processor locations can be
powered by a socketed regulator or one whose output
levels can be selected.
4.2.2.
AC VS. DC INPUT VOLTAGE
The new Pentium Pro processor DC voltage can be
created directly from the line voltage or from a low
voltage AC or DC tap of the central power supply.
Creating a DC voltage from an AC voltage is generally
easier
than converting from one DC level to another.
This is due to the fact that a DC voltage first needs to be
chopped
in order create an alternating voltage that can be
then stepped up or down. Typically however, PC power
supplies today do not provide AC voltage taps to the
system.
Creating the additional DC voltage from the line voltage
requires the addition of an extra winding to the line
transformer. This tends to be rather costly, and will suffer
more from issues of distribution explained in the next
sections. Changing the output voltage in this system
requires changing the transformer, which makes the
design less versatile.
Creating the additional DC voltage from an existing DC
voltage requires a DC-to-DC converter. These converters
work well in the PC market as they can be designed to
work off the existing 5V or 12V taps of standard PC
power supplies, and can be manufactured in high
volumes. They can be placed very near the Pentium Pro
processor, thus reducing distribution loss issues, or
designed into the existing power supply case. They can
also be designed to have a selection of output voltages,
as well.
4.2.3.
LINEAR REGULATORS VS.
SWITCHING REGULATORS
A linear regulator is a simple device that drops a variable
voltage across itself in order to maintain an output
voltage within tolerance regardless of load changes
(within its specifications). Due to the simplicity of this
device, its reaction time is fairly quick, on the order of
1
m
S. However, the efficiency of a linear regulator is
fairly poor. Its efficiency drops off as the input voltage
and output voltage become farther separated as
evidenced in Equation 1.
Equation 1 Loss Within a Linear Regulator
P
LOSS
(V
IN
-V
OUT
)
′
I.
The linear regulator also requires a minimum drop from
the input to the output of about a diode drop (0.5V-1.0V),
making it impossible to have small changes from V
IN
to
V
OUT
.