Microchip introduces the world's first PCI Express 5.0 switch

     Applications such as data analytics, autonomous driving, and medical diagnostics have created a huge need for machine learning and hyperscale computing infrastructure. To address this need, Microchip Technology introduced the Switchtec PFX PCIe 5.0 family, the world's first PCI Express (PCIe) 5.0 switch solution. Double the interconnect performance of intensive computing, high-speed networking, and NVM Express (NVMe) storage. Together with XpressConnect™ retimers, Microchip is the only supplier in the industry to offer both PCIe Gen 5 switches and PCIe Gen 5 retimers, providing customers with a complete PCIe 5th generation infrastructure solution with proven interoperability.

     Andrew Dieckmann, vice president of Marketing and Application Engineering at Microchip's Data Center Solutions Business Unit, said: "Accelerators, graphics processing units (Gpus), central processing units (cpus) and high-speed network adapters are driving the continued growth in demand for higher performance PCIe infrastructure. Microchip's world's first PCIe 5.0 switch doubles fourth-generation PCIe interconnect speeds to 32 GT/s to support a new generation of more demanding machine learning platforms. Together with our XpressConnect family of heavy timers such as PCIe 5.0 and Compute Express Link (CXL) 1.1/2.0, Microchip offers the industry's broadest line of PCIe Gen 5 infrastructure solutions. Achieve ultra-low latency and end-to-end interoperability.

     The Switchtec PFX PCIe 5.0 switch family consists of high-density, high-reliability switches that support 28 to 100 channels and up to 48 non-transparent Bridges (NTB). These products offer high reliability features such as hot swap, non-hot swap, and secure startup authentication. With PCIe 5.0's data rates up to 32 GT/s, signal integrity and complex system topologies pose significant challenges for system development and commissioning.

     To speed time to market, the Switchtec PFX PCIe 5.0 switch offers a comprehensive set of debugging and diagnostic capabilities, including a sophisticated internal PCIe analyzer that supports transaction layer package (TLP) generation and analysis, as well as non-invasive SerDes eye map capture configured on the chip. The Switchtec PFX PCIe 5.0 switch is also equipped with ChipLink, an intuitive graphical user interface based device configuration and topology viewer that provides full access to the PFX PCIe switch's registers, counters, diagnostics, and forensic capture capabilities for quick system startup and commissioning.

     Dr. Debendra Das Sharma, Intel Researcher and Director of Input/Output Technology and Standards, said: "Intel's upcoming Sapphire Rapids Xeon processors will feature PCI Express 5.0 and Compute Express Link running at speeds of up to 32.0 GT/s to provide customers with the low-latency and high-bandwidth I/O solutions they need for deployment. We are excited to see Microchip's PCIe 5.0 switches and retimers further solidifying our ecosystem and driving broader deployment of PCIe 5.0 and CXL solutions."