CPO真的要来了

Core Insights - Broadcom is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for co-packaged optics (CPO) in data centers, leveraging its extensive expertise in optical communications acquired through strategic acquisitions [2][3] - The company has made significant advancements in its CPO technology, particularly with the introduction of the Tomahawk series of Ethernet switch ASICs, which promise improved reliability, reduced power consumption, and lower costs [3][5] CPO Technology Development - Broadcom's first-generation "Humboldt" Tomahawk 4 CPO switch chip, launched in January 2021, has a total switching capacity of 25.6 Tbps and features four optical engines providing 12.8 Tbps bandwidth, with power consumption of approximately 6.4 watts per 800 Gb/s port [5] - The second-generation "Bailly" CPO switch ASIC, based on the 51.2 Tbps Tomahawk 5 chip, began shipping in 2023 and has shown a 14.1% reduction in power consumption compared to its predecessor, with 800 Gb/s ports consuming only 5.5 watts [8][9] Reliability and Performance - Meta Platforms has reported successful testing of the Bailly CPO switch, achieving over 1 million device hours without any link jitter, indicating high reliability and performance in real-world applications [13][15] - The average mean time between failures (MTBF) for the optical links in the Bailly CPO system supports the operation of large AI clusters, ensuring that interconnect failures do not become a bottleneck [16][21] Future Innovations - The upcoming "Davisson" TH6 CPO device is expected to further enhance performance, featuring a 102.4 Tbps ASIC with the capability to connect up to 512 ports at 200 Gb/s, significantly improving scalability for AI workloads [9][10] - Davisson's design allows for field-replaceable laser modules, enhancing maintenance and reliability, with power consumption for 800 Gb/s ports reduced to approximately 3.5 watts, a 36.4% decrease compared to the previous generation [10][19] Cost Efficiency - Transitioning from traditional pluggable optical modules to CPO technology can lead to substantial cost savings in power consumption, with estimates suggesting a reduction in operational costs for large-scale deployments [19][23] - The potential savings from adopting CPO technology could cover the costs of additional GPU accelerators, highlighting the financial benefits of improved energy efficiency [19][21]