Gen6 PCIe/CXL Redriver
Product Description
Gen6 PCIe/CXL Redriver
By leveraging the the Phison PS7161 (4-channel) Redriver ICs to help enhance signal integrity and extend reach, this adapter from Serial Cables is well suited to drive all of your Gen6 testing. These adapters are designed specifically to meet the data infrastructure demands of artificial intelligence and machine learning, edge computing, high-performance computing, and other data-intensive, next-gen applications. These adapters help increase signal reach, meaning they amplify the signal so it can travel beyond the standard PCIe protocol range without degradation. They are protocol-agnostic and contain equalizers to boost the signal wherever it is negatively affected by frequencies within the components.
What is PCIe signal conditioning and why does it matter?
Simply put, signal conditioning is “the manipulation of an analog signal in such a way that it meets the requirements of the next stage for further processing.” Gen6 is already here and it has become more and more difficult to maintain adequate signal integrity without driving system prices way up. Enter PCIe signal conditioners. Devices such as redrivers, retimers and multiplexers are widely used to help enhance signal reach and quality between today’s advanced PCIe components.
When it comes to understanding PCIe signal conditioning, there's no better partner than Serial Cables.
What about CXL?
Built on the PCIe interface, CXL has a narrower focus. While PCIe is general-purpose and connects a range of different components within a system, CXL is specifically designed to connect CPUs to devices or memory. It can handle vast stores of data and enable high-speed transmission and access for advanced projects such as real-time analytics and AI/machine learning datasets. This redriver adapter fully supports CXL 2.0 solutions that can meet the high demands of applications in the era of AI.
- Advanced signal enhancement for all PCIe-deployed devices, including NAND flash, GPU, CPU, FPGA, ASIC, DPU, and other accelerator technologies
- High EQ boosting range up to 20dB @ 16GHz
- Adjustable output linear swing, flat gain, and equalization via pin control and I2C
- Integrated AC coupling capacitors
- CXL 2.0 compatibility Low latency of 5ns
- Hot plug and bifurcation support
- Pin-to-pin compatibility with competing solutions
- Protocol awareness accommodates various system configurations, suitable for a wide range of industries and applications
- The Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) delivers user-friendly diagnostic tool and standard C-SDK to support real-time monitoring for local and remote management and provide users with the utmost confidence in their system's performance
- Physical Specifications: 140mm W x 76mm H x 16mm D
On-Board CLI
Included is an on-board micro CPU (mCPU) to monitor key metrics like voltage, current and temperature in real time. It also features a rich set of CLI commands for deep configuration options to fit any test scenario you come across in the lab. Exclusive to the redriver is the ability to tune EQ, Flat Gain and Transmit Swing on the fly straight from the hardware. This allows you to finely tune your Gen6 PCIe or CXL application down to the dB level for the absolute best signal integrity from root complex to endpoint.
Please see the User's Manual in the Downloads section for more information.
PHiTUNE
Serial Cables Phison-based redrivers also come with an exclusive auto-tuning tool called PHiTUNE. Theis proprietary software uses AI and works with Phison’s E26 PCIe Gen5 SSD to detect recovery counts automatically and determine optimal EQ settings, which are then stored in the redriver’s persistent memory. With PHiTUNE, developers can analyze signal data and optimize settings for their current environment in about half an hour.
Note: The PHiTUNE tool can scan the i2c address to check if the
redriver is detected and read/write the EQ bin file to the EEPrM for EQ
setting. However, for manual adjusting of the redriver EQ/swing/flat gain, we
suggest only qualified signal integrity engineers attempt this. This often is done under the supervision of our FAE.
Please see the Downloads section to get PHiTUNE today and check out the PhiTUNE Demonstration:
