A system for determining a data converter clock operating mode includes measurement circuitry which measures a master clock frequency of a master clock signal and a frequency ratio between a frequency of a data clock signal and the master clock frequency. A mapping system maps the measurements of the master clock frequency, the frequency ratio, and a characteristic of an additional data clock signal to an operating mode of the data converter. In another embodiment, the mapping system maps measurements of the master clock frequency alone to a data converter operating mode. In a further embodiment, the measurement circuitry measures the master clock frequency of a master clock signal, which is received directly from a master clock signal source without a modification in the master clock frequency.