October 19, 2026
As power density increases in AI servers, high-performance computing and networking equipment, power distribution requires more than conventional overcurrent protection. MaxLinear's MxL745950 and MxL745951P intelligent eFuses combine high-current protection, low on-resistance and integrated monitoring to improve power-path reliability, fault management and system serviceability.
Increasing processor and accelerator power demands place additional requirements on power distribution architectures. High-current power rails must handle dynamic loads, controlled start-up sequences and fault conditions while minimizing conduction losses and voltage drops.
Traditional fuses provide basic overcurrent protection, but they cannot offer the same level of active control, configurable fault response or diagnostic information as an electronic fuse.
The MxL745950 and MxL745951P address these requirements by integrating power MOSFETs, sensing, protection and control functions in compact semiconductor packages.
The MxL745950 is a 16V, 50A eFuse designed for compact power-path protection. With 1 mΩ on-resistance, programmable soft-start, current sensing and temperature monitoring, it supports controlled power delivery in servers, networking equipment and plug-in modules.
For applications requiring higher current capability and digital system monitoring, the MxL745951P provides up to 60 A with 0.79 mΩ on-resistance. Its PMBus/I²C interface enables configurable protection thresholds, power telemetry and non-volatile fault recording.
| Specification | MxL745950 | MxL745951P |
|---|---|---|
| Input voltage | 4–16 V | 2.9–16 V |
| Maximum current | 50 A | 60 A |
| On-resistance | 1 mΩ | 0.79 mΩ |
| Current sensing | Analog | Digital, ±1% reporting accuracy |
| Monitoring | Current, temperature, fault status | PMBus/I²C telemetry |
| Fault recording | Fault indication | Non-volatile fault logging |
| Parallel operation | Supported | Supported with active current balancing |
| Package | 5 × 5 mm LGA-32 | 5 × 4.5 mm VQFN-26L |
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Both eFuses integrate protection functions covering undervoltage, overvoltage, overcurrent, short-circuit and overtemperature conditions.
Programmable soft-start helps control inrush current during power-up and hot-plug events, reducing electrical stress on the power distribution network.
The MxL745951P extends these capabilities with digital telemetry for parameters including voltage, current, power and input energy. Configurable protection thresholds, fault response modes and non-volatile event recording provide additional visibility into operating conditions and failure events.
This information can be integrated into a system management architecture to support fault analysis, preventive maintenance and faster troubleshooting.
Low on-resistance is particularly important in high-current applications, where conduction losses increase with the square of the current.
At 60 A, the MxL745951P's nominal 0.79 mΩ on-resistance corresponds to approximately 2.84 W of resistive conduction loss. Actual losses and junction temperatures depend on operating conditions, PCB thermal design and on-resistance variation.
Engineers should also consider current-limit settings, start-up timing, supply transients, power-path inductance and coordination with upstream and downstream protection circuits.
For higher-current power architectures, parallel operation enables additional current capacity. The MxL745951P includes active current balancing during start-up and steady-state operation, helping distribute current between devices.
The intelligent eFuses are suitable for high-current power distribution in:
AI servers and accelerator trays
High-performance computing platforms
Data center switches and routers
Rack-scale power distribution systems
Fan trays and plug-in modules
Networking and telecommunications infrastructure
As computing platforms become more power-intensive, integrated protection and monitoring are increasingly important for system reliability.
With the MxL745950 and MxL745951P, MaxLinear provides two approaches to high-current power-path protection, from compact analog monitoring to digitally managed protection with advanced telemetry. They are the first two devices in MaxLinear’s planned eFuse portfolio, with additional models expected to follow.
TOP-electronics supports engineers with component selection, power architecture evaluation and design-in support.
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