PLX Technology Announces New Pair of PCI Express Gen3 Switches with Native x2 Port Interfaces

The PLX® ExpressLane™ PEX8713 (12 lanes, 10 ports) and PEX8717 (16 lanes, 10 ports) PCIe Gen3 switches are capable of moving 8Gbps of data per lane, in both directions (Tx/Rx), enabling designers using their unique x2 native architecture to optimize connectivity with bandwidth-intensive endpoints such as Thunderbolt, SAS/SATA and USB 3.0.

Today’s processor south bridges offer x1 or x4 PCIe lanes, where x1 often does not provide enough bandwidth and x4’s sheer size could waste valuable PCIe lanes. The introduction of a native PCIe x2 interface, therefore, allows for optimal- or matching-bandwidth needed for new SATA, USB and SSD endpoints. While CPU/chipset vendors are determining whether to add native x2 support, designers can rest assured that PLX already has the products that support it and can move forward with certainty.

PLX is the only PCIe switch vendor to offer field-tested and proven x16 port capability, non-transparent port functionality and embedded DMA controllers, all of which are key requirements of many storage and server applications.

ExpressLane PCIe Gen3 switches enable designers to configure each port of the switch independent of the other ports for PCIe Gen1, Gen2 or Gen3 speeds, thus allowing forward and backward compatibility by mixing and matching the performance of sub-systems in a larger system. Additionally, designing with PCIe Gen3 switches today in mixed (Gen1, Gen2 and Gen3) systems allows designers to future-proof their designs for full Gen3 enablement when migrating to next-generation end-points.

“PLX was first to market with PCIe Gen3 silicon in June 2010 and today remains the only vendor sampling PCIe Gen3 switches,” said David Raun, PLX executive vice president of marketing and business development. “Our early PCIe leadership gives PLX a very strong position in new designs with numerous OEMs, GPU and CPU vendors who’ve been testing and validating these 40-nanometer-based chips for more than a year and in some cases testing against their own Gen3 silicon.”

ExpressLane PCIe silicon and supporting software provide the high-speed interconnect in server, storage, enterprise and consumer products from manufacturers worldwide. This family of more than 50 devices ranges from PCIe Gen1, Gen2 and Gen3 switches with the industry’s broadest selection including three to 96 highly configurable lanes, and three to 24 ports, as well as comprehensive PCIe bridge solutions. PLX switches include support from our state-of-the-art enhanced debug features that allow rapid bring-up and debugging of systems resulting in quicker time to market and subsequent launch of revenue-generating products.

The new PLX ExpressLane PEX8713 and PEX8717 PCIe Gen3 switches are available today with production scheduled for Q4’11. Volume pricing is around $20.00 to $25.00.