A system for optimizing the power efficiency of a switching power converter operating at a switching frequency includes a digital controller for receiving an analog signal representing an output DC voltage of the switching power converter for comparison to a desired output voltage level and generating switching control signals to control the operation of the power supply to regulate the output DC voltage to the desired output voltage level. At least two of the switching control signals have a dead time between a first edge of a first control signal and a second edge of a second control signal. The dead time is programmable to control a power efficiency of the switching power converter. The switching control signals additionally switch the power supply between a continuous conduction mode and a discontinuous conduction mode responsive to a mode control signal. The operation of the digital controller is parameterized by a set of operating parameters. A driver circuit is connected to an output of the digital controller to drive the switching control signals and further includes an input for a regulated voltage. The voltage regulator selects the regulated voltage to the driver circuit responsive to a voltage control signal. A micro controller determines the parameters used by the digital controller, establishes the programmable dead time between the control signals to substantially maximize power efficiency of the switching power converter, generates a voltage control signal to substantially maximize the power efficiency of the switching power converter and generates the mode control signal responsive to a current signal from the switching power converter. The micro controller operates independently of the operation of the digital controller.