{"id":41631,"date":"2026-05-14T14:45:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T19:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flex.com\/?post_type=resource&#038;p=41631"},"modified":"2026-05-14T14:45:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T19:45:19","slug":"quarter-brick-dc-dc-converter-evolution-advancing-power-density-and-efficiency","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/resources\/quarter-brick-dc-dc-converter-evolution-advancing-power-density-and-efficiency","title":{"rendered":"Evoluci\u00f3n del convertidor CC\/CC de cuarto de ladrillo: Avances en la densidad de potencia y la eficiencia."},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"overscroll-top\" style=\"background-color: #eaeef4;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"resource-header block\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a title=\"Homepage\" href=\"\/\">Flex<\/a>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M365.3 256l-22.6 22.6-192 192L128 493.3 82.7 448l22.6-22.6L274.7 256 105.4 86.6 82.7 64 128 18.7l22.6 22.6 192 192L365.3 256z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t<a title=\"Resources\" href=\"\/resources\">Resources<\/a>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M365.3 256l-22.6 22.6-192 192L128 493.3 82.7 448l22.6-22.6L274.7 256 105.4 86.6 82.7 64 128 18.7l22.6 22.6 192 192L365.3 256z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t<a title=\"Quarter-brick DC\/DC converter evolution: Advancing power density and efficiency\">Quarter-brick DC\/DC converter evolution: Advancing power density and efficiency<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<h1>Quarter-brick DC\/DC converter evolution: Advancing power density and efficiency<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"separator\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"date detail\">\n\t\t\t\tPosted on<br>\n\t\t\t\tmayo 14, 2026\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"categories\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"categories-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"cat-tag\">Blog<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"cat-tag\" data-cat-level=\"3\" data-destination=\"https:\/\/flex.com\/industries\/data-center?subcategories=data-center-power#resources\" href=\"https:\/\/flex.com\/industries\/data-center?subcategories=data-center-power#resources\">Data Center Power<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"cat-tag\" data-cat-level=\"3\" data-destination=\"\/industries\/industrial?subcategories=power#resources\" href=\"\/industries\/industrial?subcategories=power#resources\">Power<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"cat-tag\" data-cat-level=\"2\" data-destination=\"https:\/\/flex.com\/products\/power-modules#resources\" href=\"https:\/\/flex.com\/products\/power-modules#resources\">Power Modules<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sidebar block normal-sidebar\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<p>Attempts to create computer programs that mimic human conversation date back to at least the 1960s, <a href=\"https:\/\/liacademy.co.uk\/the-story-of-eliza-the-ai-that-fooled-the-world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">when Joseph Weizenbaum at MIT developed ELIZA<\/a>. Despite his achievements, Weizenbaum doubted that artificial intelligence would ever pass the Turing test, in which responses from a machine become indistinguishable from those of a human \u2013 so we can only imagine his surprise at recent controlled tests suggesting <a href=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2503.23674\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">ChatGPT-4.5 may have reached that milestone<\/a>. To be fair, he also likely would not have predicted the ways that data centers are expanding rapidly to support that technological progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the demand for AI advancement intensifies, delivering power efficiently requires increasingly sophisticated system designs, integrating an AC\/DC front end inverter followed by multiple DC\/DC conversion stages across the complete grid-to-chip power path. At the center of this chain are Intermediate Bus Converters (IBCs), typically converting distributed 48 V to 12 V close to the processor. When regulation is required, one of the most enduring industry standards for this stage is the quarter-brick format \u2014 approximately 58 mm x 37 mm, and 12.7 mm tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"sidebar normal-column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a title=\"Powering data centers from grid to chip\" class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/flex.com\/downloads\/powering-data-centers-from-grid-to-chip\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Powering data centers from grid to chip\" src=\"https:\/\/flex.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2026-Power-Brochure-cover-540x304.jpg\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBrochure\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"Powering data centers from grid to chip\" class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/flex.com\/downloads\/powering-data-centers-from-grid-to-chip\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPowering data centers from grid to chip\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"id-6a0668ef43345\" class=\"box block full-width dark-content es \" style=\"background-color: transparent; background-image: none;\">\n\t<style>\n\t\t#id-6a0668ef43345 > .container > .content {\n\t\t\tbackground-color: transparent;\n\t\t\tposition: relative;\n\t\t\tpadding-top: 48px;\n\t\t\tpadding-right: 0px;\n\t\t\tpadding-bottom: 72px;\n\t\t\tpadding-left: 0px;\n\t\t\tmargin-left: 0px;\n\t\t\tmargin-right: 0px;\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media (max-width: 1272px) {\n\t\t\t#id-6a0668ef43345.box.block.full-width > .container > .content {\n\t\t\t\tpadding-left: 0 !important;\n\t\t\t\tpadding-right: 0 !important;\n\t\t\t\tmargin: 0 !important;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media (max-width: 960px) {\n\t\t\t#id-6a0668ef43345 > .container > .content {\n\t\t\t\t\/\/padding-top: 24px;\n\t\t\t\tpadding-right: 0px;\n\t\t\t\t\/\/padding-bottom: 36px;\n\t\t\t\tpadding-left: 0px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t<\/style>\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Incremental gains require exponential efforts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Using Flex\u2019s quarter-bricks as an example, output power capability has increased from approximately 100 W in 2002, to 400 W in 2008, to 1.5 kW by 2020 and up to 2 kW in 2024. For power architects, that increase is not just about wattage: it fundamentally changes current distribution, thermal density, and system-level optimization trade-offs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This begs the question of what has enabled such increased power density over the years? A major part of the answer is efficiency improvements, as looking at those same products shows a progression from approximately 90% in early models to 97.9% and higher today. However, efficiencies were already near 96% as far back as 2008, so it is abundantly clear that every additional fraction of a percent is hard-won. The reason for this is that moving from 96% efficiency to 97% isn\u2019t just a 1% improvement \u2014 rather, it means reducing losses by approximately 26%. This compounds as efficiencies rise, so improving from 97.0% to 97.6% requires losses to be cut by an additional 20%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These small improvements can have a large impact in high-density AI racks, as they directly affect thermal headroom, airflow requirements, and cooling architecture selection. However, they scale with the component and connection parameters, so gaining that \u201c0.6%\u201d might mean a relatively minor redesign using a new generation of semiconductor devices with lower resistances and faster switching, or it might require a full redesign with an entirely new approach to conversion topology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, achieving these gains has required advances in semiconductor performance and topology optimization. Modern MOSFETs used in synchronous rectifiers now have sub-milliohm on-resistance, smaller package sizes, and lower capacitance, enabling parallel device strategies that reduce conduction and dynamic losses while improving thermal spreading.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"id-6a0668ef33b77\" class=\"columns block\">\n\t<style>\n\t\t#id-6a0668ef33b77 .column, #id-6a0668ef33b77 .wp-block-acf-column {\n\t\t\tpadding: 0 12px;\n\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t#id-6a0668ef33b77 > .container.show-rules .column+.column, #id-6a0668ef33b77 > .container.show-rules .wp-block-acf-column+.wp-block-acf-column {\n\t\t\tborder-color: rgba(38, 38, 38, 0.2);\n\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t#id-6a0668ef33b77 .column, #id-6a0668ef33b77 .wp-block-acf-column {\n\t\t\t.code.block {\n\t\t\t\t.container {\n\t\t\t\t\t.tagembed-widget {\n\t\t\t\t\t\tmax-width: 600px;\n\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t@media (max-width: 1320px) {\n\t\t\t#id-6a0668ef33b77 > .container {\n\t\t\t\tdisplay: block;\n\t\t\t\tmax-width: 600px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media (max-width: 1320px) {\n\t\t\t#id-6a0668ef33b77 > .container > .column, #id-6a0668ef33b77 > .container > .wp-block-acf-column {\n\t\t\t\tpadding: 24px 0 0 0 !important;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media (max-width: 1320px) {\n\t\t\t#id-6a0668ef33b77 > .container > .column:first-child, #id-6a0668ef33b77 > .container > .wp-block-acf-column:first-child {\n\t\t\t\tpadding: 0 !important;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media (max-width: 1320px) {\n\t\t\t#id-6a0668ef33b77 > .container.show-rules .column+.column, #id-6a0668ef33b77 > .container.show-rules .wp-block-acf-column+.wp-block-acf-column {\n\t\t\t\tborder-left: none;\n\t\t\t\tborder-top: 1px solid rgba(38, 38, 38, 0.2);\n\t\t\t\tpadding: 30px 0 0 0 !important;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 30px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t<\/style>\n\t<div class=\"container align-center\">\n\t\t\n<div class=\"column block\">\n\t\n<div id=\"id_6a0668ef2ccb6\" class=\"media block\">\n\t<div class=\"container media-center \">\n\t\t<div class=\"media\" style=\"left: 0px; min-width: 612px; max-width: 612px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chart of quarter-brick DC\/DC evolution from Flex analysis as of May 2026\" src=\"https:\/\/flex.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/quarter-brick-dcdc-evolution-may2026-1200x712.jpg\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<script>\n\t(function () {\n\t\tlet hasRun_id_6a0668ef2ccb6 = false;\n\t\tfunction updateVideoDisplay_id_6a0668ef2ccb6() {\n\t\t\tconst youtubeVideoId = \"\";\n\t\t\tconst bynderID = \"\";\n\t\t\tconst mediaType = \"image\";\n\t\t\tconst mediaVideoElement = document.getElementById('media-video-id_6a0668ef2ccb6');\n\t\t\tconst bodyClass = document.body.className || '';\n\t\t\tconst match = bodyClass.match(\/translatepress-([a-z]{2})(?:_[A-Z]{2})?\/i);\n\t\t\tconst currentLanguage = match ? 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We appreciate your patience and look forward to sharing it with you soon.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t`;\n\t\t\t\tmediaVideoElement.appendChild(errorDiv);\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\tfunction runVideoInjection() {\n\t\t\tif (hasRun_id_6a0668ef2ccb6) return;\n\t\t\thasRun_id_6a0668ef2ccb6 = true;\n\t\t\tupdateVideoDisplay_id_6a0668ef2ccb6();\n\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t\/\/ Always run on front-end\n\t\tif (document.readyState === 'loading') {\n\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', runVideoInjection);\n\t\t} else {\n\t\t\trunVideoInjection();\n\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t\/\/ Also run in editor if available\n\t\tif (typeof wp !== 'undefined' && wp.domReady) {\n\t\t\twp.domReady(runVideoInjection);\n\t\t}\n\t})();\n\t<\/script>\n\t\n\t<script>\n\t\tdocument.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\/\/ Get the block element by ID\n\t\t\tvar blockElement = document.getElementById(\"id_6a0668ef2ccb6\");\n\t\t\tif (!blockElement) return;\n\t\n\t\t\t\/\/ Reveal the block\n\t\t\t(function ($) {\n\t\t\t\tScrollReveal().reveal(blockElement.querySelector(\".container .media\"), {origin: \"bottom\", distance: \"20px\", opacity: 1, duration: 1000});\n\t\t\t\tScrollReveal().reveal(blockElement.querySelector(\".container .content\"), {origin: \"bottom\", distance: \"20px\", opacity: 1, duration: 1000});\n\t\t\t}(jQuery));\n\t\t});\n\t<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-small-font-size\"><em>Source: Flex analysis (May 2026)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"column block\">\n\t\n\n<p>However, as switching device losses are reduced, magnetics and interconnect losses often account for a larger share of the remaining loss budget \u2014 making winding resistance and layout-dependent interconnect impedance increasingly important to model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Efficiency is only part of the story though; the diagram above shows that losses in a 1.5 kW quarter-brick DC\/DC converter are still over 3x higher than what could be withstood by early designs. Physics and maximum junction temperatures haven\u2019t changed, so it is clear that thermal management design has seen major advances. However, heat dissipation becomes more challenging as layout density rises in modern systems, where placing a 1.5 kW load close to the converter can lead to significant cross-heating.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"spacer block\" style=\"height: 24px;\">\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p>At the highest power levels, one solution that has emerged is utilizing the same cooling techniques as the CPU or GPU load for IBCs as well, so the DC\/DC might have cooling plates integrated in the top and bottom that can be coupled into the existing liquid cooling system. This also places less reliance on heat conduction through the DC\/DC PCB, allowing copper traces and connector pins to pass the higher currents needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Optimize the entire system, not just the parts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Designing a power conversion chain from grid-to-chip can technically be done piece-by-piece, but to maximize system efficiency, data center operators must take a more holistic approach. This is because optimizing an individual part of the system may come at the expense of limiting the function of parts upstream or downstream of it, impacting the efficiency of the entire system. It is a clich\u00e9 for a reason: a great system really is more than the sum of its parts.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"id_6a0668ef38a25\" class=\"media block\">\n\t<div class=\"container media-right content-top\">\n\t\t<div class=\"media\" style=\"left: 0px; min-width: 492px; max-width: 492px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Quarter-brick DC\/DC converter from Flex Power Modules\" src=\"https:\/\/flex.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/QB-Evolution.png\" title=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\" style=\"margin-right: 48px; margin-left: 0px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\n<p>For example, non-isolated, unregulated IBCs in packages much smaller than the quarter-brick standard can exceed 98% efficiency, but a fixed ratio of 4:1 between input and output will result in a relatively high output voltage of 12 V at 48 V<sub>in<\/sub>. If that intermediate bus voltage does not have to be 12 V, then the following non-isolated \u2018Point-of-Load\u2019 conversion stage down to sub-1 V for the processor may then have to operate over a less efficient, higher conversion ratio. 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Digital control techniques such as dynamic voltage adjustment and phase shedding can help save energy by improving efficiency under light-load conditions, such as when processors are idling. However, these behaviors must be evaluated under realistic workload profiles, rather than the steady-state assumptions associated with piecemeal system designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Don\u2019t just improve your products, improve your approach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The quarter-brick evolution is no longer simply about achieving higher power density. Today\u2019s power design engineers are being asked to reach further, and they need the right tools for the job. Modeling the entire in-rack power-path with tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/flex.com\/products\/power-modules\/flex-power-designer\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"33886\">Flex Power Designer<\/a> enables them to compare architecture options, loss allocation between stages, and performance under dynamic workload conditions. They more commonly rely on AI itself for things like simulations of electrical and thermal effects. They source suppliers with grid-to-chip product portfolios to maximize compatibility and reliability. And they apply this approach system-wide, to ensure the best possible efficiency, thermal stability, performance, and uptime.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>La evoluci\u00f3n de los convertidores CC\/CC de un cuarto de ladrillo ya no se limita a lograr una mayor densidad de potencia. Hoy en d\u00eda, a los ingenieros de dise\u00f1o de potencia se les exige ir m\u00e1s all\u00e1 y necesitan las herramientas adecuadas para ello.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":41914,"template":"","categories":[90,43,97],"tags":[260,293,115,120,256,106],"content-type":[13],"class_list":["post-41631","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-data-center-power","category-power","category-power-modules","tag-bmr350","tag-bmr451","tag-bmr491","tag-bmr683","tag-bmr684","tag-pkm-d","content-type-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/41631","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resource"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/41631\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42018,"href":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/41631\/revisions\/42018"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41631"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41631"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41631"},{"taxonomy":"content-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flex.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-type?post=41631"}],"curies":[{"name":"gracias","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}