Application of HangJing Crystal Oscillators in Servers

Ⅰ. Introduction
Crystal Oscillators (XO) are indispensable components in modern electronic equipment. Within server systems, crystal oscillators serve as the "timing reference," providing stable and precise clock signals for the entire system. As data centers scale and demands for high reliability and performance escalate, the role of crystal oscillators in servers has become increasingly critical.

Ⅱ . Fundamental Principles of Crystal Oscillators
Crystal oscillators typically utilize quartz crystals, which exhibit the piezoelectric effect. When voltage is applied, mechanical vibration occurs. This vibration is converted by circuitry into an electrical signal of exceptionally stable frequency, forming the clock signal required by the system. Crystal oscillator frequencies typically range from tens of kHz to hundreds of MHz.

III. Key Application Scenarios of Crystal Oscillators in Servers

1.Motherboard Clock Generation:
Server motherboards require multiple clock signals to coordinate the operation of components such as processors, memory, PCIe buses, and network controllers. Crystal oscillators generate multiple clock signals of varying frequencies via PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) circuits to ensure synchronization between components.

2.Processor and Chipset Synchronization:
CPUs and chipsets require a stable reference frequency for high-speed data exchange. Crystal oscillators provide the core clock signal for these modules. The stability of this frequency directly impacts processor performance and data consistency.

3.Network Communication Clocking:
Server Network Interface Cards (NICs) often require high-precision time synchronization, particularly in applications like high-frequency trading and data replication. Crystal oscillators provide high-precision clocks for the network PHY and MAC layers, serving as critical components for achieving accurate network synchronization.

4.Storage Control and Data Integrity:
Storage subsystems, such as RAID controllers and NVMe controllers, rely on precise clock signals for data scheduling and error correction. High-quality crystal oscillators enhance the stability of storage systems and data integrity.

5.Distributed Time Synchronization:
In modern distributed computing architectures (e.g., HPC, high-frequency trading platforms), protocols like PTP (Precision Time Protocol) or NTP (Network Time Protocol) are used for time synchronization. High-stability crystal oscillators (e.g., OCXO) act as the local time reference, helping to minimize time drift and improve overall system coordination efficiency.

IV. Key Performance Requirements
When deploying crystal oscillators in server environments, the following key technical specifications must be considered:

V. Common Crystal Oscillator Reference Frequencies in Servers
In servers, crystal oscillators and clock circuits provide precise and stable frequencies for various subsystems. Multiple distinct frequencies are typically employed, including:

VI. Conclusion
Though a small component, the crystal oscillator plays a vital role in server operation. Stable and reliable clock signals are fundamental to data processing, network communication, and time synchronization. As server performance continues to advance, the performance requirements for crystal oscillators also increase. Selecting appropriate crystal oscillator solutions is key to ensuring the long-term stable operation of server systems.

HangJing has been adopted by numerous clients within the server industry, offering extensive expertise in crystal oscillator matching and solutions, along with dedicated technical support.