Renesas 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI

Overview

89H12NT12G2ZCHLI from IDT is an evaluation board (EB-LOGAN-19) designed for the 89HPES12NT12G2 PCIe Gen2 12-lane, 12-port switch - supporting PCIe Base Specification 2.1, x1/x2/x4 link width negotiation, automatic lane reversal, and NTB multi-root configurations. It enables hardware validation of fan-out switching in server/storage interconnects.

For engineers reviewing the 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI datasheet, 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI pinout, 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI application, or 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI equivalent, this page delivers verified board-level specifications, clocking configuration options, power architecture details, reset behavior, and adapter compatibility for PCIe switch evaluation in enterprise systems.

Technical Context

The 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI evaluation board implements full hardware access to the 89HPES12NT12G2 switch, including all 12 PCIe lanes routed to two Mezzanine connectors and SAS interfaces. It supports configurable global reference clocks (100/125 MHz), local port clocking via SATA or onboard ICS841484 generator, and flexible CLKMODE[1:0] boot selection for Common Clock or Non-Common Clock operation.

Power delivery includes five dedicated regulators: 1.0V VDDCORE, 1.0V VDDPEA, 1.0V VDDPETA, 2.5V VDDPEHA, and 3.3V VDDIO - with strict VDDCORE ≤ VDDIO – 1.0V ramp-up sequencing. Reset is implemented via fundamental PERST# propagation and user-accessible warm reset push button.

Key Specifications

Availability

89H12NT12G2ZCHLI is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for PCIe switch validation, server interconnect prototyping, storage subsystem testing, and NTB-based multi-root system development requiring stable component supply and long-term evaluation platform availability.

Supply support for 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT) was a fabless semiconductor company specializing in high-performance timing, memory interface, RF, and PCIe interconnect solutions before its acquisition by Renesas in 2019.

The 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI belongs to IDT's PCIe Switch Evaluation Platform family, engineered specifically to accelerate validation of PES-series switches in enterprise server, storage, and communications infrastructure applications.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI evaluation board?

The 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI evaluation board is a hardware platform designed exclusively to evaluate the 89HPES12NT12G2 PCIe Gen2 12-port switch. It provides full electrical access to all 12 lanes, configurable clocking, regulated power delivery, JTAG debugging, and physical interfaces (Mezzanine, iSAS, SATA) to validate switch behavior in real PCIe topologies - including fan-out, peer-to-peer, and NTB modes.

Does the 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI support PCIe Gen3 or higher speeds?

No. The 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI is built for the 89HPES12NT12G2 switch, which complies only with PCIe Base Specification 2.1 and operates at Gen2 speeds (5 GT/s). It does not support Gen3 (8 GT/s) or higher signaling rates, nor does it include hardware or firmware enabling backward-compatible Gen3 negotiation.

Can the 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI be used without an external host system?

No. The 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI requires connection to a host system with a PCIe root complex (e.g., server motherboard) via edge adapters or mezzanine cards. It has no onboard processor, memory, or boot firmware - it functions solely as a passive evaluation interface for the PES12NT12G2 switch under host control.

What clock sources are available on the 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI for the PES12NT12G2 device?

The 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI supports three global reference clock sources: differential signals from SMA connectors (J17/J20 or J66/J67), output from the onboard ICS841484 clock generator (U49, fixed 100 MHz), or SATA connectors (J21/J22). All sources must deliver synchronized 100 MHz or 125 MHz differential clocks, and both CLK[0] and CLK[1] inputs are mandatory for proper PES12NT12G2 operation.

Is the 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI compatible with the 89HPES24NT24G2 switch?

No. The 89H12NT12G2ZCHLI is specifically configured for the 12-lane 89HPES12NT12G2 switch. While it shares design lineage with the EB-LOGAN-19 platform used for the 24-lane PES24NT24G2, pinout, power routing, clock distribution, and layout are optimized for the 12-port variant - making direct substitution or mixed-device use unsupported and electrically incompatible.