The MAX1218 dual, monolithic, 12-bit, 170Msps analogto-digital converter (ADC) provides outstanding dynamic performance up to a 250MHz input frequency. The device operates with conversion rates up to 170Msps while consuming only 700mW per channel. At 170Msps and an input frequency of 200MHz, the MAX1218 achieves a 78dBc spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) with excellent 66.2dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at 200MHz. The SNR remains flat (within 3dB) for input tones up to 250MHz. This makes the MAX1218 ideal for wideband applications such as communications receivers, cable head-end receivers, and power-amplifier predistortion in cellular base-station transceivers. The MAX1218 operates from a single 1.8V power supply. The analog inputs of each channel are designed for AC-coupled, differential or single-ended operation. The ADC also features a selectable on-chip divide-by-2 clock circuit that accepts clock frequencies as high as 340MHz and reduces the phase noise of the input clock source. A low-voltage differential signal (LVDS) sampling clock is recommended for best performance. The converter's digital outputs are LVDS compatible and the data format can be selected to be either two's complement or offset binary.