PCI Express® is taking over the world! Or maybe it just seems that way.
PCIe® – born as PCI® – started as a simple CPU-to-I/O controller interconnect more than 20 years ago. Today, it is one of three interfaces (Ethernet and DDRx are the others) common in almost all computing platforms.
Current and future system design are focused on leveraging the 32 GT/s lane performance of PCIe 5.0. Many development solutions – from IP, silicon and eval kits – are coming to the market.
PLDA PCIe 5.0 Link Training Demo
PCIe IP-provided PLDA recently unveiled their latest PCIe 5.0 demonstration platform. The demo showcases PLDA’s XpressRICH® IP Controller for PCIe 5.0 with a Broadcom® PCIe 5.0 PHY platform.
The combined solutions provide three key takeaways. First, the demo achieves exceptional signal integrity at 32 GT/s. Second, it offers robust link training for PCIe 5.0 applications. Lastly, it proves stable backward compatibility at PCIe 4.0, PCIe 3.0, PCIe 2.0 and PCIe 1.0 data rates.
The PLDA demo video below contains more details.
From an SI performance standpoint, the demo showcases exceptional results. A PRBS-31 pattern generator running at 32 Gbps produces the following open eye.
Samtec PCIe 5.0 Connector
Samtec and PLDA have been development partners from some time. This new platform is another example of our joint collaboration.
As can be seen from the video, the PLDA demo links two PCIe Endpoint AICs via an interposer card. This approach overcomes the current lack of a PCIe 5.0 Root Complex Host Platform needed for testing.
As a workaround, PLDA developed the P144 interposer PCB. This test platform allows users to convert an PCIe 5.0 upstream port to a PCIe 5.0 downstream port. The interposer also supports PCIe power, a HCSL PCIe 5.0 capable clock and PCIe 5.0 reset signalling.
As seen in the picture, the P144 interposer uses two Samtec PCIE-G5 series 1.00 mm PCI Express 5.0 Edge Card Connector. Specifically, the demo uses two PCIE-G5-16-01-S-DP-A-WT which support a x8 configuration in the PLDA set-up.
The PCIE-G5 high-speed edge card sockets support one, four, eight and sixteen PCI Express links at 32 GT/s data rates. For ruggedness, Samtec also offers a weld tab option that PLDA utilized on their interposer.
Samtec offers a number of PCI Express connector and cable solutions.
For more information, view the PCI Express Interconnect Solutions brochure or visit www.samtec.com/pcie.
Leave a Reply