A method and apparatus for generating a pseudorandom sequence using a hybrid ring generator with low hardware cost. When a primitive polynomial over GF(2) is selected as the characteristic polynomial f(x) to construct a hybrid ring generator, the circuit implementing f(x) will generate a maximum-length sequence (m-sequence). The hybrid ring generator offers unmatched benefits over existing linear feedback shift register (LFSR) based maximum-length sequence generators (MLSGs). Assume k 2-input XOR gates are required in a standard or modular LFSR design. These benefits include requiring only (k+1)/2 2-input XOR gates, having at most one level of a 2-input XOR gate between any pair of flip-flops, enabling the output of each flip-flop to drive at most 2 fanout nodes, and creating a highly regular structure that makes the new design more layout and timing friendly.