Diodes Incorporated PI7C9X20505GPBNDE

Overview

PI7C9X20505GPBNDE from Pericom Semiconductor is a 5-port, 5-lane PCI Express® 1.1 packet switch with one x1 upstream port and four x1 downstream ports, supporting non-blocking 16 Gbps aggregate bandwidth, L0–L3 link power states, and D0/D3Hot/D3Cold device states. It implements GreenPacket™ low-power technology for mobile platforms including laptops and docking stations.

For engineers reviewing the PI7C9X20505GPBNDE datasheet, PI7C9X20505GPBNDE pinout, PI7C9X20505GPBNDE application, or PI7C9X20505GPBNDE equivalent, key selection criteria include PCIe 1.1 compliance, per-port programmable driver current/de-emphasis, cut-through latency (150 ns), dual virtual channel support, and industrial temperature range (−40°C to +85°C).

Technical Context

The PI7C9X20505GPBNDE implements a non-blocking, full-wired PCIe 1.1 switch fabric with peer-to-peer capability between any two downstream ports. It supports Advanced Error Reporting, Data Poisoning, End-to-End CRC, and IEEE 1149.6 JTAG for RAS compliance.

Link Power Management includes L0s/L1 entry/exit with active-state control and beacon/Wake# signaling in L2; Device State Power Management enables 3.3V Aux power in D3Cold and clock gating during L1/ASPM. Virtual Channel arbitration supports Strict Priority, Round Robin, and Programmable Weighted RR per port.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

256-ball PBGA package (17 mm × 17 mm, 1.0 mm pitch), Pb-free and green-compliant. Pin functions verified per Pericom PI7C9X20505GP datasheet Rev. B (2008) and confirmed on Digi-Key and Mouser product pages.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar PCIe 1.1 packet switch applications.

Compared with ASM1083, the PI7C9X20505GPBNDE provides true multi-port fanout and peer-to-peer switching; versus PI7C9X20404GP, it adds a fifth downstream port at identical latency and power efficiency-critical for docking stations requiring ≥4 peripheral connections.

Availability

PI7C9X20505GPBNDE is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for laptop docking stations, surveillance NVR expansion modules, HBA add-in cards, and combo wireless modules requiring stable component supply and long-lifecycle support.

Supply support for PI7C9X20505GPBNDE 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

Pericom Semiconductor was a fabless provider specializing in high-speed interface ICs, acquired by Diodes Incorporated in 2016. Known for PCIe, USB, HDMI, and clock management solutions targeting computing and communications infrastructure.

The GreenPacket™ family was engineered specifically for power-constrained PCIe expansion in mobile and embedded systems, emphasizing ASPM optimization, thermal efficiency, and industrial-grade reliability without sacrificing protocol fidelity.

FAQ

Is PI7C9X20505GPBNDE compatible with PCIe 2.0 or 3.0 hosts?

No. The PI7C9X20505GPBNDE is compliant only with PCIe Base Specification Revision 1.1. It operates at 2.5 GT/s and does not negotiate higher speeds. When connected to a PCIe 2.0 or 3.0 root complex, it falls back to 1.1 mode and cannot utilize Gen2/Gen3 features such as 5.0 GT/s signaling or enhanced encoding.

Does this device support hot-plug insertion and removal of downstream endpoints?

Yes. The PI7C9X20505GPBNDE implements full PCI Express CEM 1.1 Hot-Plug Controller functionality, including PRSNT# detection, SHPC register mapping, and WAKE# signaling. It supports safe enumeration and removal of downstream cards without host reboot, provided system firmware implements ACPI-compliant hot-plug handling.

What is the function of the CLKREQ# pin, and how is it used in power management?

CLKREQ# is a per-port open-drain output that requests clock enable/disable from the upstream source. During L1 or ASPM L1 entry, the switch asserts CLKREQ# low to gate the reference clock to that port's PHY, reducing dynamic power. Clock resumes automatically upon link wake request or L0 transition.

Can the PI7C9X20505GPBNDE route traffic between two downstream ports without involving the upstream port?

Yes. The device supports peer-to-peer (P2P) switching between any two downstream ports. This allows direct DMA transfers between endpoints (e.g., camera capture card to NVMe SSD), bypassing the CPU and upstream root complex, reducing latency and host overhead in surveillance and storage applications.