Small, Low-Power PCIe Packet Switches Are Cost-Effective

The GreenPacket PCI Express (PCIe) packet-switch product family from Pericom Semiconductor Corp. is designed to allow OEMs to cost-effectively upgrade existing motherboard and related platforms, as well as accelerate new PCIe-based I/O designs for power, size, and value-sensitive systems. Typical applications include volume motherboards/workstations, docking stations, networking control planes, video, graphics, and embedded systems. The family consists of three different port- and lane-count configurations: the four-port, four-lane P17C9X20404GP; the five-port, five-lane P17C9X20505GP; and the five-port, eight-lane P17C9X20508GP.

The packet switches are specifically designed for low power consumption, small package size, and optimized PCB layout. They fully meet the requirements of the latest PCI-SIG PCIe 1.1 and PCI 1.2 specifications. Unique features include special low-power and power-down modes, RoHS-compliant packages, and small footprints. In fact, at 12 by 12 mm, the P17C9X20404GP is the industry’s smallest packet switch, according to the company.