PCIe Switches Enter Third Generation

The third generation of the company's PCI Express switch offerings includes three switches: the ExpressLane PEX 8525 (24 lanes, 5 ports), PEX 8533 (32 lanes, 6 ports), and the PEX 8547 (48 lanes, 3 ports). The switches feature a 110-ns latency, port configurations up to x16, and true peer-to-peer support. Each has successfully completed PCI Express Base Specification, Revision 1.1 testing procedures and all three are on the PCI-SIG integrators list. Said to be the lowest in the industry, these switches consume 100 mW of power per lane. Power can be further reduced through an on-chip programmable SerDes, which can also be turned off when unused. Depending on the switch, volume prices range from $35 to $55 each. PLX TECHNOLOGY INC., Sunnyvale, CA. (800) 759-3735.