Introducing the First 3nm Gen 6 PCIe® Switchtec™ Family: Redefining High-Performance Connectivity to Power Modern AI Infrastucture

Introducing the First 3nm Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec Family: Redefining High-Performance Connectivity to Power Modern AI Infrastucture

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the demand for faster, more reliable and scalable connectivity solutions is at an all-time high. Data centers, artificial intelligence (AI) platforms and cloud computing infrastructures are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, requiring innovative technologies that can keep pace with ever-increasing workloads and data traffic. Enter the new 3nm Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec switch—a revolutionary product designed to meet and exceed the connectivity needs of tomorrow.

A Leap Forward With 3nm Process Technology

At the heart of the new Switchtec product line is its advanced 3nm process technology. This cutting-edge manufacturing process enables the creation of smaller, more efficient transistors, resulting in significant improvements in performance, power efficiency and thermal management. By leveraging 3nm technology, the Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec product line achieves higher bandwidth and lower latency, all while consuming less power than previous generations. This makes it a suitable solution for environments where energy efficiency and heat dissipation are critical concerns.

Full PCIe Gen 6 Compliance and Advanced Features

The 3nm Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec family is fully compliant with the PCIe Gen 6 specification, delivering seamless interoperability with the latest hardware. PCIe Gen 6 introduces FLIT (Flow Control Unit) packing and Forward Error Correction (FEC), both supported by Switchtec technology for improved data integrity and transmission efficiency. The switch utilizes 64Gbps PAM4 signaling, doubling the data rate per lane compared to previous generations and enabling unprecedented bandwidth for demanding applications.

Deferrable memory writes up to 64 bytes (DMWr) and a 14-bit tag system further enhance transaction efficiency and tracking, supporting more complex and high-volume data flows. The Switchtec switch also supports more Transaction Layer Package (TLP) Prefixes, with up to four End-to-End and two Local TLP Prefixes available in FLIT mode. Notably, one local prefix can carry a partition ID, enabling physical crosslink sharing and greater flexibility in system architecture.

Scalable Architecture for Diverse Use Cases

Switchtec technology’s architecture is designed to address a wide range of deployment scenarios. The High Lane Count (HLC) variants offer up to 160 lanes (20 ports, 10 stacks with x16/x8 bifurcation) and 144 lane options, making them fit for accelerator-rich environments and AI/ML use cases where massive parallel data movement is required. For general use cases, including server, storage and AI/ML, the Low Lane Count (LLC) variants provide 64 and 48 lanes with flexible bifurcation options (x2, x4, x8, x16), providing peak performance and resource allocation.

Advanced Management and Processing Capabilities

For management, the Switchtec switch integrates I3C for the management port, offering faster and more efficient communication compared to legacy protocols. At its core, the product features a MIPS InterAptiv processor, delivering robust processing power for management tasks, monitoring and control, while maintaining low power consumption.

Unmatched Bandwidth and Ultra-Low Latency

With support for 64Gbps PAM4 signaling and advanced FLIT packing, the Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec family delivers industry-leading bandwidth and ultra-low latency. This is critical for real-time applications such as AI inference, high-frequency trading and data analytics, where rapid data movement and minimal delay are essential for optimal performance.

Enhanced Data Integrity, Security and CNSA Support

Data integrity and security are paramount in today’s interconnected world. The Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec switch incorporates Forward Error Correction (FEC) and robust error handling to safeguard against transmission errors and potential data loss. The switch is designed to target compliance with CNSA 2.0 (Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite), supporting ML-DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm) and ML-KEM (Key Encapsulation Mechanism) for advanced cryptographic protection.

Security is further enhanced with secure boot capabilities featuring post-quantum cryptography (PQC), confirming that systems remain protected against emerging threats and future-proofing infrastructure against quantum computing advances.

PCIe 6.0 Switch: The High-Bandwidth Hub for Heterogeneous Systems

The PCIe 6.0 Switch acts as a high-bandwidth hub in heterogeneous systems, enabling a new era of performance and flexibility across a variety of demanding use cases:

• AI/ML Training Clusters: Distribute training loads across GPU arrays with minimal latency and full PCIe 6.0 bandwidth, eliminating CPU bottlenecks and accelerating time-to-insight for complex models.
• Hyperscale Cloud Platforms: Optimize server rack density and interconnect speed for modern workloads such as real-time analytics, streaming and search, allowing cloud providers to deliver responsive, scalable services.
• High-Performance Storage Fabrics: Enable NVMe^® SSDs to operate at full PCIe 6.0 speeds, boosting IOPS and reducing queue latency for large data workloads, which is critical for data-intensive applications and next-generation storage architectures.
• Composable Infrastructure: Facilitate dynamic resource orchestration with shared accelerators and memory pools, enabled through non-blocking switch fabrics. This allows IT teams to allocate resources on demand, improving utilization and agility in rapidly changing environments.

Seamless Integration and Future-Proofing

Deploying new technology can be a complex process, but the 3nm Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec switch is designed for seamless integration into existing infrastructures. Its backward compatibility with previous PCIe generations confirms that organizations can upgrade at their own pace, without the need for wholesale hardware replacements. Comprehensive software support and management tools simplify configuration and monitoring, allowing IT teams to maximize the value of their investment.

Looking ahead, the Switchtec technology’s forward-thinking design positions it as a future-proof solution for emerging applications. As AI, machine learning and edge computing continue to evolve, the need for high-speed, reliable interconnects will only grow. The Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec product line is ready to meet these challenges head-on, providing the foundation for next-generation innovation.

Applications Across Industries

The versatility of the 3nm Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec switch makes it an attractive choice for a wide range of industries and use cases:

• Data Centers: Enable faster server-to-server communication, support high-density storage arrays and facilitate efficient resource sharing.
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Accelerate training and inference workloads by providing high-bandwidth, low-latency connections between GPUs and other accelerators, with HLC variants tailored for these demanding environments.
• Cloud Computing: Support dynamic scaling and resource allocation in multi-tenant environments, providing peak performance for diverse workloads.
• Enterprise IT: Enhance the performance and reliability of mission-critical applications, from databases to virtualization platforms.
• Edge Computing: Deliver robust connectivity in distributed environments, supporting real-time data processing and analytics at the edge.

Conclusion: Setting a New Standard in Connectivity

The launch of the 3nm Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec family marks a significant milestone in the evolution of high-performance interconnect technology. By combining the latest advancements in process technology with the power of PCIe Gen 6 and a rich set of advanced features—including FLIT packing, FEC, PAM4 signaling, DMWr, expanded TLP Prefix support, I3C management, CNSA 2.0 compliance and secure boot with PQC—Switchtec technology delivers a compelling solution for organizations seeking to future-proof their infrastructure and unlock new levels of performance.

Whether you’re building the next generation of data centers, powering AI-driven innovation or supporting mission-critical enterprise applications, the Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec family offers the bandwidth, scalability, security and reliability you need to stay ahead in a competitive landscape. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in connectivity.

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For more information about the 3nm Gen 6 PCIe Switchtec switch and how it can transform your infrastructure, contact our team or visit our website.