PEX 8548
PEX 8548: 48 Lane, 9 Port PCI Express Switch, 37.5 x 37.5mm² PBGA
The ExpressLane™ PEX 8548 device offers 48 PCI Express lanes, capable of configuring up to 9 flexible ports. The switch conforms to the PCI Express Base Specification, rev 1.1. The 48-lane switch enables users to add scalable, high bandwidth I/Os to a wide variety of applications including servers, storage, communications, blade servers, and embedded-control systems. The architecture supports packet cut-thru with the industry's lowest latency of 110ns (x16 to x16). This, combined with large packet memory (1024 byte maximum payload size) and non-blocking internal switch architecture, provide full line-rate on all ports for performance-hungry applications. The PEX 8548 is offered in a 37.5 x 37.5mm² 736-ball PBGA package. This device is available in leaded and lead-free packaging.
Page Index
Related Gen 3 Devices
Related Gen 2 Devices
Related Gen 1 Devices
Supporting Documentation
- PCIe Technical Info & White Papers
- Company Overview, Product Snapshots
- Support Documentation (Quality, FAQs, RoHS...)
Hot Applications
Usage Models
In this typical server-based design, the Root Complex provides a x16 PCI Express link to the PEX 8548, which is then used to fan out to 6 endpoints, enabling connectivity to a variety of I/O devices.
PEX 8548 Technical Documentation
| Document/Resources | Everyone Access | Requires Membership | Requires NDA | Description | Version | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Brief | Download | Product Overview | 1.8 | 05/08 | ||
| Data Book | Download | Detailed Technical Specifications | 1.5 | 01/08 | ||
| Design Notes | Download | I2C Level Shifting and Voltage Management | 1.0 | 08/07 | ||
| Download | PEX 8548 Schematic Design Checklist | 1.1 | 06/07 | |||
| Download | Quick Start Hardware Design Guide | 1.4 | 01/08 | |||
| Errata | Download | Silicon Revisions and Errata List | 1.7 | 03/10 | ||
| Interoperability | Download | Interoperability Report | 1.0 | 02/07 | ||
| Videos | View HTML | IO Sharing via PLX PCIe Switches | -- | Oct 2010 | ||
| View HTML | PCI Express 3.0 over Optical Cable | -- | Oct 2010 | |||
| View HTML | PCI Express Clustering for next generation data centers | -- | Oct 2010 | |||
| Product Change Notification (PCN) | Download | PCN-2007-11, standard BoM | -- | 03/07 | ||
| Download | PCN-2007-14: ASE Assembly | -- | 09/07 | |||
| Download | PCN-2008-1: Substrate | -- | 02/08 | |||
| Download | PCN-2008-2: Final Test ASE Kaohsiung | -- | 02/08 | |||
| Ordering Information | View HTML | Part Number, Listing and Compliance | -- | -- | ||
| Quality & Reliability | Download | ICP Test Report | -- | 27Sep10 | ||
| Download | Lead-Free Reflow Profile & Peak Temperature | -- | -- | |||
| Download | Reliability Qualification Report | -- | -- | |||
| Webinars | View HTML | About PLX PCIe Gen3 Switches (may require Webex plug-in) | -- | 05Oct11 |
PEX 8548 Development Tools
| Document/Resources | Everyone Access | Requires Membership | Requires NDA | Description | Version | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Development Kit (RDK) | Download | RDK Hardware Reference Manual | 1.2 | 07/07 | ||
| Download | RDK Product Overview | 1.3 | 09/07 | |||
| Software Development Kit (SDK) | View HTML | Software Development Kit | -- | -- | ||
| BSDL | Download | Boundary Scan Description Language files | 1.1 | 01/08 | ||
| HSPICE Model | Download | PEX 8548 HSPICE Model | 1.0 | 09/06 | ||
| IBIS Models | Download | IBIS Model | 1.0 | 10/06 | ||
| OrCAD | Download | PEX 8548 OrCAD library files | 1.1 | 10/06 | ||
| Download | PEX 8548 RDK OrCAD Design files | 1.0 | 07/07 | |||
| GERBER | Download | PEX 8548 RDK Gerber files | 1.0 | 07/07 | ||
| EEPROM | Download | EEPROM Images | 3.0 | 05/08 | ||
| Design Guidelines | Download | PCB Layout Review Guide | 1.0 | 11Oct11 |
Relevant Press Releases
| Release Date | Announcement |
|---|---|
| 08/01/11 | PLX to Present on PCI Express-SSD Storage at Flash Memory Summit |
| 11/08/10 | PLX Announces Sampling of Industry's First PCI Express 3.0 Switches |
PEX 8548 Applications
| Application | Description | Document | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Servers | Blade | Servers - Create PCIe Ports & End Points | ExpressApps#44 (PDF) |
| Communications | Router/Switch | Create High Throughput & Performance | ExpressApps#50 (PDF) |
| Communications & Embedded | MicroTCA -- Create MCH Switch Fabric with PCI Express | ExpressApps#47 (PDF) |
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