Microchip Unveils First 3 nm PCIe® Gen 6 Switch to Power Modern AI Infrastructure

Core Insights - Microchip Technology has launched the Switchtec™ Gen 6 PCIe Switches, which are the first PCIe Gen 6 switches made using a 3 nm process, aimed at enhancing bandwidth, reducing latency, and improving security for high-performance computing and AI workloads [1][2] Group 1: Product Features - The Switchtec Gen 6 PCIe switches provide up to 160 lanes for high-density AI system connectivity and feature advanced security measures including a hardware root of trust and secure boot with post-quantum safe cryptography [1] - PCIe 6.0 doubles the bandwidth of PCIe 5.0 to 64 GT/s per lane, addressing previous bandwidth bottlenecks and enabling efficient data transfer between critical components like CPUs, GPUs, and storage [2] - The switches include 20 ports and 10 stacks, with capabilities for hot- and surprise-plugging, Non-Transparent Bridging (NTB), and multicast data distribution [4] Group 2: Technological Advancements - The introduction of Flow Control Unit (FLIT) mode and a lightweight Forward Error Correction (FEC) system in PCIe 6.0 enhances data transfer efficiency, particularly for small packets typical in AI workloads [3] - The switches are designed to facilitate direct communication between GPUs, reducing signal loss and maintaining low latency, which is critical for AI applications [3] Group 3: Development Tools and Support - Microchip's ChipLink diagnostic tools support the Switchtec Gen 6 PCIe Switch family, providing comprehensive debugging, diagnostics, and configuration through an intuitive GUI [5] - The PM61160-KIT Switchtec Gen 6 PCIe Switch Evaluation Kit is available to assist in the design and deployment of these switches [5] Group 4: Availability - The Switchtec Gen 6 PCIe switches are currently available for sampling to qualified customers, with further information accessible through Microchip sales representatives or authorized distributors [6]