Adaptive power dissipation for data communications system

A high performance data communications system (e.g., modem, transceiver, etc.) that has improved control over power dissipation is disclosed. The data communications system allows its power dissipation to be adaptively controlled so as to provide substantially improved control over the power dissipation of the data communications system than has been conventionally possible. The control over power dissipation can be performed only on transmissions, only on receptions, or on both transmissions and receptions. By suitably controlling the power dissipation, the power dissipation of the data communications system can be substantially reduced at lower power settings, while still supporting the higher power settings.