Microchip Technology PM40100B1-FEI

Overview

PM40100B1-FEI from Microchip Technology is a PCIe Gen 4 fanout switch IC with 100 lanes, 52 ports, 48 assignable non-transparent bridges (NTBs), 26 virtual switch partitions, and per-port hot- and surprise-plug controllers. It integrates a MIPS processor and supports x1/x2/x4/x8/x16 port bifurcation for data center server interconnects, NVMe SSD expansion, and cellular infrastructure backplanes.

For engineers reviewing the PM40100B1-FEI datasheet, PM40100B1-FEI pinout, PM40100B1-FEI application, or PM40100B1-FEI equivalent, key selection criteria include Gen 4 16 GT/s SERDES performance, NTB assignment flexibility, DPC/AER error containment, and support for SFF-8644/OCuLink passive and optical cable interfaces.

Technical Context

The PM40100B1-FEI implements a non-blocking PCIe Gen 4 switch fabric with full 16 GT/s link training compliance and manual PHY configuration capability for optical interconnects. It features per-port downstream port containment (DPC), advanced error reporting (AER), and completion timeout synthesis (CTS) to isolate faults without upstream host disruption.

Its integrated MIPS processor enables firmware-based management, boot image authentication, and real-time diagnostics including per-port performance counters and eye capture. The device supports up to 11 TWI/SMBus interfaces, 4 SGPIO ports, and 4 UARTs for system-level control and monitoring.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

PM40100B1-FEI is housed in a 27 mm × 27 mm, 1156-ball FC-BGA package (package code: FCBGA-1156) with 1.0 mm ball pitch. Pinout information is not publicly disclosed in standard documentation and requires NDA-protected Microchip design files; no public pin function table is available for this orderable variant.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with Intel PEX89000 and AMD Pensando PDX-1000, the PM40100B1-FEI delivers purpose-built Gen 4 fanout with hardware-enforced security, lower power, and diagnostic depth - ideal for reliability-critical infrastructure where deterministic partitioning and error containment outweigh raw Gen 5 bandwidth.

Availability

PM40100B1-FEI is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for data center server interconnects, NVMe SSD expansion chassis, and 5G baseband unit designs requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and traceable sourcing.

Supply support for PM40100B1-FEI 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

Microchip Technology is a U.S.-based semiconductor company specializing in microcontrollers, analog devices, FPGAs, and connectivity solutions, with emphasis on reliability, security, and long-life support.

The Switchtec PFX family was designed specifically for high-availability PCIe fanout in mission-critical infrastructure - emphasizing error containment, virtual partitioning, and embedded diagnostics over raw throughput.

FAQ

What is the PCIe generation and lane count supported by the PM40100B1-FEI?

The PM40100B1-FEI is a PCIe Gen 4 switch supporting a total of 100 lanes across 52 configurable ports. Each port can be bifurcated as x1, x2, x4, x8, or x16, and the device maintains full non-blocking bandwidth across all configurations. It complies with PCIe Base Specification Rev 4.0 and supports 16 GT/s signaling rates with full link training and equalization.

Does the PM40100B1-FEI include an integrated processor, and what is its role?

Yes, the PM40100B1-FEI integrates a MIPS processor used for embedded firmware execution, switch configuration, boot image authentication, and real-time diagnostics. This processor manages per-port hot-plug controllers, error containment policies, and ChipLink diagnostic tools - eliminating the need for an external management controller in many system designs.

How does the PM40100B1-FEI handle PCIe link errors and fault isolation?

The PM40100B1-FEI implements Downstream Port Containment (DPC), Advanced Error Reporting (AER), and Completion Timeout Synthesis (CTS). These features isolate faulty endpoints at the port level, prevent error propagation to upstream hosts, and synthesize timeouts for stalled non-posted transactions - ensuring system stability even during transient physical layer failures.

Is the PM40100B1-FEI pin-compatible with other PFX family members like PM40084B-FEI?

No, the PM40100B1-FEI is not pin-compatible with smaller PFX variants such as PM40084B-FEI. It uses a unique 1156-ball FC-BGA package optimized for 100-lane routing density. While functional architecture and register maps are consistent across the PFX family, mechanical layout, ball count, and I/O assignment differ significantly between lane-count variants.

What diagnostic capabilities does the PM40100B1-FEI provide for system validation?

The PM40100B1-FEI provides real-time eye capture per lane, multiple loopback modes (electrical, logical, and external), per-port performance and error counters, and integrated PCIe protocol generator/analyzer functions via ChipLink tools. These capabilities enable signal integrity validation, link training debugging, and topology-level stress testing without external instrumentation.