A switching converter has a switch, a rectifier arrangement connected to the switch, a controller arrangement providing a control signal dependent on the output voltage at the output terminals of the rectifier arrangement, and a drive circuit providing drive pulses for turning the switch on and off. The drive circuit generates identical drive pulses of identical form and duration, whose frequency is dependent on the control signal. The frequency is a measure of how many drive pulses are generated per unit time. The minimum time interval between two successive drive pulses and thus the maximum switching frequency of the switch is chosen such that the power loss that occurs at the maximum switching frequency meets the respective requirements, for example, with regard to the available cooling possibilities.