Decoupling Guidelines

Due to its large number of transistors and high internal clock speeds, the processor is capable of generating large current swings between low and full power states. This may cause voltages on power planes to sag below their minimum values if bulk decoupling is not adequate. Large electrolytic bulk capacitors (CBULK), help maintain the output voltage during current transients, for example coming out of an idle condition. Care must be taken in the baseboard design to ensure that the voltages provided to the processor remain within the specifications. Failure to do so can result in timing violations or reduced lifetime of the processor.