Diodes Incorporated PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB

Overview

PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB from Pericom Semiconductor is an evaluation board for the PI7C9X2G312GP - a PCIe Gen 2, 3-port/12-lane packet switch with one x4 upstream port and two x4 downstream ports, supporting cut-through switching, end-to-end CRC, ACS, SR-IOV address translation, and industrial temperature operation (–40°C to +85°C). It targets embedded, storage, surveillance, and networking platforms requiring low-latency, power-managed PCIe expansion.

For engineers reviewing the PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB datasheet, PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB pinout, PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB application, or PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB equivalent, this board enables functional validation of PCIe topology flexibility, L0s/L1 link power management, virtual channel arbitration, and peer-to-peer traffic routing between downstream endpoints in real system environments.

Technical Context

The PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB implements hardware-level PCIe 2.1 compliance per PCI-SIG specifications, including support for Advanced Error Reporting, Data Poisoning, and End-to-End CRC across all three ports. It validates the switch's dual Virtual Channel (VC0/VC1) and eight Traffic Class (TC) mapping capability with independent per-port TC/VC configuration.

This board enables verification of critical timing and power behaviors: 150 ns typical non-blocking packet latency, L0s/L1 active-state power management, and programmable driver current/de-emphasis per port - all under industrial temperature conditions and with full SR-IOV AT packet handling enabled.

Key Specifications

Availability

PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for PCIe switch validation, SR-IOV-capable storage controller development, and industrial embedded system bring-up requiring stable component supply and full-featured evaluation infrastructure.

Supply support for PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB 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, timing, and signal-integrity solutions before its acquisition by Diodes Incorporated in 2016. It emphasized low-power, green-compliant ICs for computing and communications infrastructure.

The GreenPacket™ family - including the PI7C9X2G312GP - was engineered specifically for PCIe Gen 2 expansion in space-constrained, thermally demanding embedded and storage systems where power-aware link management and robust error handling were mandatory.

FAQ

What interfaces does the PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB provide for host connection?

The board provides a standard PCIe x4 edge connector for upstream attachment to a host motherboard or SoC platform, plus two PCIe x4 slot connectors for downstream endpoint devices. It includes SMBus headers for configuration and debug access, and dedicated test points for power rail monitoring and signal integrity analysis.

Does the PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB support SR-IOV virtualization testing?

Yes - the board fully enables SR-IOV validation via hardware support for Address Translation (AT) packets and Access Control Service (ACS), allowing direct assignment of PCIe functions to VMs while maintaining traffic isolation and error containment between virtual functions on shared physical ports.

Can the PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB validate L0s and L1 link power states?

Yes - the evaluation board supports full link power state transition testing, including L0s (low-latency active state) and L1 (reduced power with configurable sub-states like L1.1), using standard PCIe configuration space writes and platform firmware control paths verified against ACPI and ASPM specifications.

Is the PI7C9X2G312GPBEVB compatible with PCIe Gen 3 hosts or endpoints?

No - the PI7C9X2G312GP switch operates exclusively at PCIe Gen 2 (5 GT/s) and is not backward- or forward-compatible with Gen 3 signaling. Host and endpoint devices must be Gen 2–compliant to ensure electrical and protocol interoperability during evaluation.