Compact card
1 min read
PCI Express (PCIe) is used more and more in the embedded systems market. The serial bus standard provides more bandwidth, a higher signal integrity and a simple system layout
Unlike the conventional PCI bus, the PCIe technique works with point-to-point connections. By using PCIe switches, a single PCIe port can be equipped with several PCIe devices.
Swiss based Digital Logic’s Microspace is offering a 1G Ethernet card with four ports for applications in data servers and ethernet video cameras. The compact card is based on the PEX8505, a PCIe switch IC, which has five ports/five lanes, cut through architecture with low latency of 138ns and low power consumption of 0.8W. For fast network connectivity the MSM4E104EX contains four Intel 82573L PCIe 1GB LAN controllers (low power) which are connected over the PCIe switch to the PCI/104-Express bus using one lane. The network access takes place via four RJ-45 ports. Drivers are available for Windows and Linux. The card has dimensions of 90 x 96 x 17mm and a weight of 120grams. It requires a 5/3.3V power supply and operates within the standard temperature range of –25 to 70°C (1GB). On request, it is also available for an extended operating temperature range from –40 to 70°C. The mean time between failures is specified with over 100,000 hours.
