Op Amp Gain Bandwidth Product Parameter (GBW)

Problem:
What is meant by the op amp gain bandwidth product parameter (GBW)?

Solution:
Gain bandwidth product, GBW, is defined as the product of the open-loop voltage gain and the frequency at which it is measured. GBW is expressed in units of Hz.

The following figure shows the open loop bandwidth graphically.

GBW is similar to unity-gain bandwidth(B₁). While B₁ specifies the frequency at which the gain of the op amp is 1, GBW specifies the gain-bandwidth product of the op amp at a frequency that may be different than the B₁.

GBW is constant for voltage-feedback amplifiers. It does not have much meaning for current-feedback amplifiers because there is not a linear relationship between gain and bandwidth.

When an op amp is selected for a specific application both the bandwidth and the slew rate should be taken into account (along with other factors including power consumption, distortion, price, etc.).



Also refer to the following related links:
Op Amp Parameter Table
Op Amp Parameter Information

These pages were extracted from Op Amps For Everyone, Chapter 11, by Bruce Carter, Ron Mancini–Editor in Chief.
Copyright © 2000, Texas Instruments Incorporated