Revision 1.15 – August 30, 2007
440GX – Power PC 440GX Embedded Processor
Spread Spectrum Clocking
Data Sheet
Care must be taken when using a spread spectrum clock generator (SSCG) with the PPC440GX. This controller
uses a PLL for clock generation inside the chip. The accuracy with which the PLL follows the SSCG is referred to
as tracking skew. The PLL bandwidth and phase angle determine how much tracking skew there is between the
SSCG and the PLL for a given frequency deviation and modulation frequency. When using an SSCG with the
PPC440GX the following conditions must be met:
• The frequency deviation must not violate the minimum clock cycle time. Therefore, when operating the
PPC440GX with one or more internal clocks at their maximum supported frequency, the SSCG can only lower
the frequency.
• The maximum frequency deviation cannot exceed −3%, and the modulation frequency cannot exceed 40kHz.
In some cases, on-board PPC440GX peripherals impose more stringent requirements.
• Use the Peripheral Bus Clock for logic that is synchronous to the peripheral bus since this clock tracks the
modulation.
• Use the DDR SDRAM MemClkOut since it also tracks the modulation.
• For PCI-X and PCI 66 the maximum spread spectrum is -1% modulated between 30kHz and 33kHz.
Notes:
1. The serial port baud rates are synchronous to the modulated clock. The serial port has a tolerance of
approximately 1.5% on baud rate before framing errors begin to occur. The 1.5% tolerance assumes that
the connected device is running at precise baud rates.
2. Ethernet operation is unaffected.
3. IIC operation is unaffected.
Important: It is up to the system designer to ensure that any SSCG used with the PPC440GX meets the above
requirements and does not adversely affect other aspects of the system.
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AMCC
AMCC [ APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION ]
