The MAX8525 (VRM 10/VRD 10)/MAX8524 (VRM 9.1/ VRD 9.1) current-mode step-down controllers, the MAX8523 high-speed, dual-phase MOSFET gate driver, and the MAX8552 wide-input, single-phase MOSFET gate driver provide flexible, low-cost, low-voltage CPU core supplies. The MAX8523 and MAX8552 high-speed, high-current gate drivers allow operation at high switching frequencies to reduce external component size and cost for small-footprint, low-profile designs. Pin-selectable 2-, 3-, and 4-phase operation and master-slave 6and 8-phase operation provide output-current scalability for servers, workstations, desktops, desk notes, and networking applications. The switching frequency of the MAX8524/MAX8525 is adjustable from 150kHz to 1.2MHz, permitting loop bandwidths of up to 200kHz. Peak current-mode control provides fast transient response and reduces cost. A proprietary current-sharing scheme reduces current imbalance between phases to less than 5% at full load. The MAX8524/MAX8525 offer 0.4% initial accuracy and remote-sense functionality. Both controllers also feature programmable no-load offset and output-voltage positioning to adjust the output voltage as a function of the output current. The fast-active voltage positioning further reduces bulk output capacitors and cost. Current-mode control also simplifies compensation with a variety of capacitors by eliminating the output-filter double pole associated with voltage-mode controllers. Both devices are compatible with electrolytic, tantalum, polymer, and ceramic capacitors. Output current sensing eliminates issues associated with controllers that use high-side current sense and ensure stable and jitter-free operation. Temperature-compensated, lossless inductor current sense eliminates the need for a current-sense resistor and further reduces cost, while maintaining voltage-positioning accuracy and reducing power dissipation.