Diodes Incorporated PI3PCIE3412AZHEX
- Part No.:
- PI3PCIE3412AZHEX
- Manufacturer:
- Diodes Incorporated
- Category:
- Analog Switches - Special Purpose
- Package:
- 42-VFQFN Exposed Pad
- Datasheet:
-
PI3PCIE3412AZHEX.pdf
- Description:
- PCI SWITCH 2:1 4 CHAN 42TQFN
- Quantity:
- Payment:

- Shipping:

Inventory:24,341
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Product details
Overview
PI3PCIE3412AZHEX from Diodes Incorporated is a 4-channel, 2:1 differential PCIe 3.0 mux/demux switch supporting bidirectional 8.0 Gbps data rates with 10 ps max bit-to-bit skew, -1.3 dB insertion loss at 4 GHz, and 3.3 V supply. It routes two full PCIe 3.0 lanes between Port A and either Port B or Port C under SEL control, used in high-speed server backplanes and GPU interconnects.
For engineers reviewing the PI3PCIE3412AZHEX datasheet, PI3PCIE3412AZHEX pinout, PI3PCIE3412AZHEX application, or PI3PCIE3412AZHEX equivalent, key selection criteria include differential channel count, PCIe 3.0 compliance (8.0 Gbps), low crosstalk (-35 dB @ 4 GHz), off-isolation (-22 dB @ 4 GHz), and TQFN-42 package compatibility with high-density PCB layouts.
Technical Context
The PI3PCIE3412AZHEX implements a passive-analog, CMOS-based differential switch architecture optimized for PCI Express 3.0 signaling integrity. Its layout minimizes impedance discontinuities and channel-to-channel skew (≤20 ps), meeting PCIe 3.0 jitter and eye-diagram requirements up to 8.0 Gbps.
It supports dual-mode operation: SEL = LOW routes A→B; SEL = HIGH routes A→C. All 8 differential I/O pairs (A0–A3, B0–B3, C0–C3) are fully bidirectional, with no internal termination - external 100 Ω differential termination is required at destination ports.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value and Actual Design Meaning |
|---|---|
| Data Rate | 8.0 Gbps - supports full PCIe 3.0 x2 lane operation without signal regeneration |
| Insertion Loss | -1.3 dB @ 4 GHz - ensures <1.5 dB loss across PCIe 3.0 Nyquist frequency (4 GHz), preserving eye height |
| Off Isolation | -22 dB @ 4 GHz - prevents crosstalk-induced jitter from inactive path into active signal path |
| Crosstalk | -35 dB @ 4 GHz - maintains signal integrity in dense routing environments with adjacent high-speed lanes |
| Bit-to-Bit Skew | 10 ps max - meets PCIe 3.0 skew budget for differential pair timing alignment |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V ±10% - compatible with standard PCIe auxiliary power rails and LDO outputs |
| Operating Temp | -40°C to +85°C - qualified for industrial and enterprise server thermal environments |
Pinout & Package
Package: 42-contact, 3.5 mm × 9 mm, 0.5 mm pitch, Very Thin Quad Flat No-Lead (TQFN-ZH), RoHS-compliant and halogen-free.
| Pin/Terminal | Circuit Role | Design Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A0+ / A0− | Differential I/O, Channel 0, Port A | Primary input/output port for PCIe Lane 0; bidirectional, requires 100 Ω differential termination |
| B0+ / B0− | Differential I/O, Channel 0, Port B | Output path option 1 for Lane 0; electrically identical to C0± when SEL = LOW |
| C0+ / C0− | Differential I/O, Channel 0, Port C | Output path option 2 for Lane 0; selected when SEL = HIGH |
| SEL | Digital Control Input | Active-HIGH logic selects A→C routing; LOW selects A→B; 0.8 V/2.0 V thresholds ensure noise margin |
| VDD (Pins 4,5,7,8,12,13,19,20,30,41,42) | Power Supply | Decoupling required per pin: 0.1 µF ceramic + shared 4.7 µF bulk capacitor near center pad |
| GND (Pins 1,3,6,9,10,11,14,15,16,17,21,39) | Power Ground | Multiple low-inductance ground connections essential for return-path integrity at 4+ GHz |
| Center Pad | Thermal & Electrical Ground | Must be soldered to internal PCB ground plane for thermal dissipation and signal reference stability |
Key Features
| Feature | Design Value |
|---|---|
| PCIe 3.0 Compliance | Validated 8.0 Gbps operation with <1.5 dB IL and >20 dB off-isolation up to 4 GHz |
| Low Skew Architecture | ≤10 ps bit-to-bit skew and ≤20 ps channel-to-channel skew preserve differential timing margins |
| High-Frequency Signal Integrity | -35 dB crosstalk and -22 dB off-isolation prevent inter-lane interference in multi-lane systems |
| Bi-directional Operation | No direction pin required; signal flow follows physical topology - ideal for PCIe root complex ↔ endpoint switching |
| Industrial Temp Range | -40°C to +85°C operation enables deployment in uncooled storage enclosures and edge compute platforms |
Applications
| PCIe 3.0 Server Backplane Switching | GPU Compute Node Multiplexing |
|---|---|
|
Use Scenario: Dynamic allocation of two PCIe 3.0 x4 links from a CPU to either of two GPU modules in a modular AI training chassis. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: High-speed analog mux enabling hot-swappable GPU configuration without PCIe link retraining. Use Value: Eliminates need for separate PCIe switches or FPGA-based routing, reducing latency (<25 ns enable time) and BOM cost. |
Use Scenario: Sharing a single PCIe 3.0 x8 upstream port between dual NVIDIA A100 GPUs in a compact inference server. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Bidirectional 2:1 demux/mux that preserves PCIe 3.0 electrical compliance during lane reallocation. Use Value: Enables GPU failover and load balancing while maintaining <10 ps skew and >20 dB isolation between active/inactive paths. |
| DisplayPort 1.2 HBR2 Routing | Enterprise SSD NVMe Interconnect |
|
Use Scenario: Selecting between two DP 1.2 sources (e.g., CPU iGPU and discrete GPU) feeding a single 4K@60Hz display controller. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Low-loss, low-skew differential switch supporting DP HBR2 (5.4 Gbps) with AUX channel pass-through. Use Value: Maintains DP link training success rate >99.9% with -1.3 dB IL and -21 dB return loss at 2.7 GHz fundamental. |
Use Scenario: Routing NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 signals from host controller to one of two M.2 SSD slots in a ruggedized industrial storage module. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Signal-integrity-preserving switch enabling hot-plug SSD selection without PCIe reset or enumeration delay. Use Value: Achieves <0.5% bit error rate at 8 GT/s with -35 dB crosstalk, preventing data corruption during concurrent SSD access. |
Equivalent & Alternatives
The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar high-speed differential mux applications.
| Alternative Part | Technical Difference | Application Difference | Selection Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| PI3DBS16412ZLEX | 4-channel, 2:1 mux with integrated 100 Ω termination; higher 2.5 Ω RON; 3.3 V only | Eliminates external termination resistors but consumes ~2× more current (2.1 mA vs. 1 mA) | Select when board space is constrained and termination integration outweighs power trade-off |
| TS3USB30EVM | 2-channel, USB 3.0–optimized mux; 5 Gbps rated; no PCIe 3.0 validation; smaller 20-pin QFN | Limited to single-lane USB 3.0 or SATA 3.0; not validated for PCIe 3.0 eye mask or jitter specs | Select only for cost-sensitive USB/SATA applications where PCIe 3.0 compliance is unnecessary |
Compared with PI3DBS16412ZLEX, PI3PCIE3412AZHEX offers lower insertion loss and superior off-isolation for PCIe 3.0, while TS3USB30EVM lacks PCIe 3.0 qualification and channel count - making PI3PCIE3412AZHEX the only validated 4-channel, 8.0 Gbps solution among the three.
Availability
PI3PCIE3412AZHEX is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for PCIe 3.0 server backplanes, GPU compute node multiplexing, and DisplayPort 1.2 source selection requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.
Supply support for PI3PCIE3412AZHEX 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
Diodes Incorporated is a global manufacturer of discrete semiconductors and analog ICs, specializing in high-performance signal integrity solutions for computing, communications, and industrial markets.
The PI3PCIE series targets high-speed serial interface routing, designed specifically to meet PCIe 3.0, DP 1.2, and USB 3.0 electrical compliance without signal regeneration or protocol awareness.
FAQ
Does PI3PCIE3412AZHEX require external termination resistors?
Yes. The device has no internal 100 Ω differential termination. External 100 Ω resistors must be placed at the destination port (B or C side) to match PCIe 3.0 differential impedance. Source-side termination is not required due to its low RON (5 Ω typical) and optimized layout.
Can PI3PCIE3412AZHEX operate with 1.8 V or 2.5 V supply?
No. It is specified only for 3.3 V ±10% operation. The absolute maximum supply rating is 3.7 V, and DC characteristics (VIH/VIL, RON, leakage) are guaranteed only within 3.0–3.6 V. Using lower voltages risks failure to meet PCIe 3.0 insertion loss and skew specs.
What is the function of the center thermal pad on the TQFN-42 package?
The exposed center pad serves dual roles: thermal conduction to the PCB ground plane (reducing junction temperature by up to 15°C) and RF reference stabilization. It must be soldered to a solid copper pour connected to system ground - floating or unterminated pads cause return-path discontinuity and degrade 4+ GHz signal integrity.
Is PI3PCIE3412AZHEX compatible with PCIe 4.0 or 5.0?
No. It is characterized and validated only up to 8.0 Gbps (PCIe 3.0). At PCIe 4.0's 16 GT/s (8 GHz fundamental), insertion loss exceeds -3 dB and return loss degrades below -12 dB - violating PCIe 4.0 electrical specifications. Use PI3DBS16412ZLEX or newer Gen4-qualified switches for higher speeds.
PI3PCIE3412AZHEX Specifications
- Product attributes
- Attribute value
- Manufacturer:
- Diodes Incorporated
- Series:
- PCI Express® (PCIe)
- Package/Case:
- 42-VFQFN Exposed Pad
- Packaging:
- Tape & Reel (TR)
- Product Status:
- Active
- Applications:
- PCI Express®
- Multiplexer/Demultiplexer Circuit:
- 2:1
- Switch Circuit:
- -
- Number of Channels:
- 4
- On-State Resistance (Max):
- 5Ohm (Typ)
- Voltage - Supply, Single (V+):
- 3V ~ 3.6V
- Voltage - Supply, Dual (V±):
- -
- -3db Bandwidth:
- 8.2GHz
- Features:
- Bi-Directional, SATA, USB 3.0
- Operating Temperature:
- -40°C ~ 85°C
- Grade:
- -
- Qualification:
- -
- Mounting Type:
- Surface Mount
- Supplier Device Package:
- 42-TQFN (9x3.5)
PI3PCIE3412AZHEX FAQ
1.How can I place an order for PI3PCIE3412AZHEX through Aetrix?
Please submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for PI3PCIE3412AZHEX on Aetrix. Our sales agent will provide a competitive quotation and guide you through the order confirmation once you accept the terms.
2.Are the price and stock information for PI3PCIE3412AZHEX reliable?
The price and inventory of PI3PCIE3412AZHEX are updated periodically and may fluctuate due to market conditions. Stock and pricing data are typically refreshed every 24 hours. Quotation validity for PI3PCIE3412AZHEX is usually 5 days.
3.What payment methods are accepted for PI3PCIE3412AZHEX?
We accept Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Escrow for PI3PCIE3412AZHEX transactions.
Note: Certain payment methods may incur a processing fee.
4.How is shipping managed for PI3PCIE3412AZHEX?
PI3PCIE3412AZHEX orders can be shipped via leading logistics carriers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, or Registered Mail.
Once your PI3PCIE3412AZHEX order is processed, you will receive an email with the shipment details and tracking number.
Note: Tracking information may take up to 24 hours to appear. Express delivery typically takes 3–5 business days.
5.How can I obtain technical support or documentation for PI3PCIE3412AZHEX?
For technical support, including PI3PCIE3412AZHEX datasheets, pinout diagrams, or application guidance, please contact our engineering support team. They can provide detailed documentation and assistance for your PI3PCIE3412AZHEX requirements.
6.How does Aetrix verify that PI3PCIE3412AZHEX is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized distributors?
All PI3PCIE3412AZHEX products on Aetrix are procured from qualified distributors and authorized channels. Our dedicated quality assurance team conducts strict verification, including traceability checks and, if necessary, third-party testing. This ensures that PI3PCIE3412AZHEX meets industry standards.
7.What is the process for return or replacement of PI3PCIE3412AZHEX?
All PI3PCIE3412AZHEX units undergo pre-shipment inspection (PSI). If there is an issue with PI3PCIE3412AZHEX, returns or replacements are accepted under the following conditions:
1.Quantity discrepancies, incorrect items, or visible external defects (such as breakage or corrosion), acknowledged by Aetrix.
2.The issue is reported within 90 days of delivery.
3.The PI3PCIE3412AZHEX part is unused and in its original packaging.
Return procedure for PI3PCIE3412AZHEX:
1.Submit a request within 90 days.
2.Obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) from Aetrix.
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