Serial Cables PCIe Gen5 x16 Host Interface Card With NVMe Support

Serial Cables LLC announces a PCIe Gen5 x16 host interface card with NVMe support.

This advancement enables PCIe Gen5 developers to test their new SSD’s and PCIe interface cards at Gen5 speeds today, before PCIe Gen5 enabled platforms are widely available.

The company’s PCIe Gen5 Host Cards use Broadcom Corp.‘s PEX89000 PCIe switch chip, providing connectivity for four MCIO Gen5 receptacles and one PCIe x16 slot. Since there is not an external cable standard for PCIe Gen5, the firm engineered a special PCI bracket and cables to safely expose the x4 MCIO internal connectors outside any motherboard or server enclosure, enabling concurrent testing of 4 SSD’s or other types of PCIe endpoints.

“Serial Cables has been at the forefront of enabling our customers early development of next-gen technology for many years” says Paul J. Mutschler, CEO. “And thanks to our collaboration with Broadcom, this Gen5 PCIe/NVMe x16 host card is another example of our commitment to remain an industry leader in this area and why our customers depend on us with the introduction of each gen of PCIe. The host card fully supports Broadcom’s new PCIe Embedded Analyzer (PEA) technology offered with its new PEX89000 Gen5 PCIe switch and the SerialTek iTAP protocol analyzer software. PCIe Embedded Analyzer technology gives PCIe developers the ability to set up, capture, decode, and view PCIe trace data captured on-chip for in depth debugging on the switch chip itself.“

“As the industry transitions to PCIe Gen5 systems, it is critical for OEMs and ODMs to have connectivity solutions for next-gen development and collaboration. Broadcom is pleased that Serial Cables continues to invest in and support the PCIe Gen5 ecosystem with test equipment, host interface cards and cables,” said Jas Tremblay, VP and GM, data center solutions group, Broadcom. “Serial Cables continue to be a key PCIe Gen5 technological collaborator for Broadcom and our joint customers.“

The company announces the availability of cabling for this Gen5 PCIe/NVMe host card, including MCIO to U2 (both 1×4 and 2×2), MCIO to U3 (both 1×4 and 2×2) and MCIO to EDSFF (1×4 and 2×2) cables. These cables are rated for PCIe Gen5 speeds, enabling a complete solution for testing any Gen5 SSD’s or PCIe endpoints.