Renesas 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL

Overview

89H24NT6AG2ZAHL from Renesas Electronics (formerly IDT) is a 24-lane, 6-port PCI Express Gen2 system interconnect switch with Non-Transparent Bridging (NTB) and Switch Partitioning capabilities. It delivers up to 24 GBps switching capacity, supports 5.0 GT/s link speed per lane, and operates in servers, storage, and intelligent I/O systems requiring multi-domain peer-to-peer communication.

For engineers reviewing the 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL datasheet, 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL pinout, 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL application, or 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL equivalent, this device is selected for high-throughput PCIe Gen2 switching with NTB-enabled CPU-to-CPU or host-to-host inter-domain data exchange, dynamic partition reconfiguration, and integrated DMA acceleration.

Technical Context

The 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL implements a Combined Input Output Queued (CIOQ) non-blocking switch core with large internal buffers, supporting up to six independent logical partitions - each configurable as a standalone switch with movable upstream ports and dynamic port migration. Its SerDes layer supports both Gen1 (2.5 GT/s) and Gen2 (5.0 GT/s) operation with per-lane de-emphasis, receive equalization, and drive strength control.

It integrates dual SMBus interfaces (master and slave), IEEE 1149.1/1149.6 JTAG, on-die temperature sensing (0–127.5°C), and hardware-accelerated NTB functionality including 6 NT endpoints, 32 doorbell registers, 4 message registers, and BAR address translation with lookup-table support - all compliant with PCI Express Base Specification 2.1.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

484-ball Flip Chip BGA (23 mm × 23 mm, 1.0 mm pitch) with thermal pad; pinout includes 24 PCIe differential lanes across 6 ports (Port 0/2/4/6/8/12), dual SMBus interfaces, 9 GPIOs with alternate functions (e.g., PARTxPERSTN, P0LINKUPN), JTAG, reference clocks (GCLKP/N, port-specific CLKP/N), and dedicated power/ground pins (VDDCORE, VDDI/O, VDDPEA, VDDPEHA, VDDPETA, VSS).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar PCIe Gen2 switching applications.

Compared with 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL, the ZCBL variant extends temperature range and lead-free compliance at no functional cost, while the 32-lane variant increases scalability but demands PCB redesign - making 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL optimal for cost- and space-constrained Gen2 multi-host systems.

Availability

89H24NT6AG2ZAHL is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for server backplanes, intelligent storage controllers, telecom line cards, and embedded multi-processor systems requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and validated PCIe Gen2 switching performance.

Supply support for 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL 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

Renesas Electronics Corporation acquired Integrated Device Technology (IDT) in 2019 and continues development of its high-performance interface and connectivity portfolio, including PCIe switches, timing devices, and memory interface solutions.

The 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL belongs to IDT's PES (PCI Express Switch) family, designed specifically for high-reliability, multi-domain PCIe interconnect in enterprise servers, storage arrays, and communications infrastructure.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL in a PCIe system?

The 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL serves as a 24-lane, 6-port PCI Express Gen2 system interconnect switch with integrated Non-Transparent Bridging (NTB) and Switch Partitioning. Its primary function is to enable high-bandwidth, low-latency peer-to-peer communication between multiple PCIe domains - such as between two CPUs or between a CPU and an intelligent I/O controller - while providing logical isolation through configurable partitions. The 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL achieves this using a CIOQ switch core, hardware-accelerated NTB address translation, and dynamic port reconfiguration.

Does the 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL support PCIe Gen3 or higher speeds?

No, the 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL is specified exclusively for PCI Express Gen1 (2.5 GT/s) and Gen2 (5.0 GT/s) operation per lane. It does not support Gen3 (8.0 GT/s) or higher speeds. The SerDes architecture, electrical specifications, and compliance testing in the official datasheet are limited to Gen2. Attempting Gen3 signaling will result in link training failure or unstable operation. For Gen3-capable switching, Renesas offers later-generation devices such as the 89HPESx family with Gen3 support.

How many non-transparent bridge (NTB) endpoints does the 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL support?

The 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL supports up to 6 non-transparent bridge (NTB) endpoints, each with 6 BARs (Base Address Registers), 32 doorbell registers, and 4 message registers. Each NTB endpoint can establish memory-mapped communication with other switch partitions or external PCIe domains. This capability is implemented in hardware and does not require host CPU involvement for address translation or transaction routing - a key feature confirmed in the device overview and Table 1 of the official datasheet.

What reference clock frequencies does the 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL accept?

The 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL accepts either 100 MHz or 125 MHz differential reference clock inputs, selected via the GCLKFSEL pin. Both frequencies are supported simultaneously across the device's global clock inputs (GCLKN[1:0]/GCLKP[1:0]) and individual port clocks (e.g., P00CLKN/P00CLKP). The clocking architecture also supports common clock, non-common clock, and local port clock modes - enabling flexibility in board-level clock distribution and spread-spectrum clocking for EMI reduction.

Is the 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL pin-compatible with other members of the PES24NT6AG2 family?

Yes, the 89H24NT6AG2ZAHL is pin-compatible with other variants in the PES24NT6AG2 family, including 89H24NT6AG2ZCBL and 89H24NT6AG2ZABL. All share the identical 484-ball Flip Chip BGA package (23 mm × 23 mm, 1.0 mm pitch), identical pin assignments, and identical power/ground/SerDes/GPIO/SMBus/JTAG signal mapping. Differences are limited to temperature grade, ball finish (SnPb vs. SnAgCu), and minor electrical tolerances - verified in the "Ordering Information" section of the Renesas datasheet.