Intel discontinuing Enpirion (integrated switching regulators) - alternatives? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2021, 01:17:39 pm
content: It appears that Intel have decided to pull out of the market and drop the Enpirion range of dc/dc converters:https://www.intel.co.uk/content/dam/www/programmable/us/en/pdfs/literature/pcn/pdn2133.pdfhttps://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/en/power/programmable/overview.htmlI'm pretty gutted about this. Enpirion was a start-up who developed a really superb range of efficient dc-dc converters with integrated inductors, and I've designed them into dozens of products over the years. The smaller ones in particular are as easy to use as a linear regulator, but with massively improved efficiency, and basically just solved the problem of "how do I generate X volts for this part?" overnight. No extra board area needed for a separate inductor, no complex stability calculations, no EMC headaches, just lay out the PCB sensibly and they 'just work'.Enpirion was bought by Altera, who wanted them to provide voltage rails for complex FPGAs. Altera in turn was bought by Intel, and from that point on, there was always a chance that they would simply be deemed commercially uninteresting. Sure enough, seems Intel just can't be bothered with them, and attempts to sell the product line on to Mediatek have fallen through.Now they're going away I'll need to find an alternative. Sad day.Does anyone know of any other voltage regulators that can do the same job? They'd need to be physically compact, easy to design with, and ideally have the inductor either built in or clearly specified as an external component.

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2021, 02:06:29 pm
content: QuoteAnalog devices, but they tend to be pricey. Texas Instruments has a few modules that fit some of the descriptions as well. Even Wuerth, Murata and a few others I can't name of the top of my head.edit: Oh, and Vicor has some cool stuff.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2021, 02:42:56 pm
content: I sympathize; this is the unfortunate reality of parts that do not really belong to the core business of a company... It is very hard to predict but Intel is a "digital" company in its DNA and would have very little reason to keep such "analog" part on their portfolio. Besides, these modules are even more of a niche market due mainly to their price. I know this since for years I drooled overTI's modulessince the PowerTrends days.

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2021, 02:54:39 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on October 06, 2021, 02:42:56 pmWhile I'm not surprised, but it's funny because now more than ever, boards end up as an ASIC and power. I.e. Video cards consist of the ASIC, RAM, a bunch of digital interconnects, and power. No more video DACs, or other bits and pieces. Hell the AMD cards with the HBM, is just an ASIC, PCIE connector, hdmi connector, and power.Guess Intel only wants the fillet, not the rest of the steak, let alone rest of the cow.

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2021, 06:02:01 pm
content: Quote from: ConKbot on October 06, 2021, 02:54:39 pmPossibly not even that:https://www.psma.com/sites/default/files/uploads/tech-forums-packaging/presentations/is87-package-and-platform-view-intel%E2%80%99s-fully-integrated-coltage-regulator.pdf