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Microchip Technology PM8252B-F3EI
- Part No.:
- PM8252B-F3EI
- Manufacturer:
- Microchip Technology
- Category:
- Specialized
- Package:
- 884-BGA
- Datasheet:
-
PM8252B-F3EI.pdf
- Description:
- PM8252B-F3EI
- Quantity:
- Payment:
- Shipping:
Inventory:2,018
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Product details
Overview
PM8252B-F3EI from Microchip Technology is a SmartIOC 2200 PCIe Gen 4 tri-mode I/O controller supporting 8×8 NVMe/SAS/SATA lanes, DDR4-1600 memory interface, no hardware encryption, and 25 mm × 25 mm BGA package. It serves as a high-performance storage connectivity hub in enterprise rack servers, enabling mixed-media topologies with native HBA, RAID 0/1/5/10, and transparent NVMe modes.
For engineers reviewing the PM8252B-F3EI datasheet, PM8252B-F3EI pinout, PM8252B-F3EI application, or PM8252B-F3EI equivalent, key selection criteria include PCIe Gen 4 ×8 host interface, SAS-4 24 Gbps PHY support, DCM-enabled bandwidth aggregation, DDR4-1600 memory interface, and absence of AES-XTS encryption hardware - all critical for cost-optimized, non-encrypted server storage deployments.
Technical Context
The PM8252B-F3EI implements a fully integrated Switchtec-based PCIe Gen 4 switch with ×1 to ×8 bifurcation, supporting low-latency NVMe target access in both native and RAID configurations. It delivers SAS-4 PHYs compliant with SFF-TA-1001, each capable of 24 Gbps and enabling Dynamic Channel Multiplexing for SAS/SATA drive aggregation.
It operates in UEFI pre-boot environments with maxView GUI and ARCCONF CLI support, and provides hardware root-of-trust via Secure Boot and Secure Update - independent of encryption capability. The device supports cacheless RAID levels 0, 1, 5, and 10 exclusively in SAS/NVMe domains, with no SATA RAID acceleration.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value and Actual Design Meaning |
|---|---|
| PCIe Interface | Gen 4 ×8 host link (8 GT/s), enabling up to 7.88 GBps bidirectional bandwidth to CPU/memory subsystem |
| SAS/SATA Lanes | 8 tri-mode lanes supporting 24 Gbps SAS-4, 12 Gbps SAS-3, 6 Gbps SATA - configurable per-port mode |
| NVMe Support | Up to 8 ×1 NVMe SSDs or 2 ×4 MultiLink™ SAS targets; transparent mode bypasses controller logic for direct NVMe access |
| Memory Interface | 16-bit DDR4-1600 (800 MHz) DRAM interface for firmware execution and metadata caching |
| Encryption | No on-die AES-XTS engine; IEEE 1619-compliant encryption must be implemented externally or at host level |
| RAID Capability | Cacheless hardware RAID 0/1/5/10 for SAS and NVMe media only; SATA RAID not supported |
| Package | 25 mm × 25 mm BGA with 484-ball footprint (0.8 mm pitch), thermal pad exposed on underside |
Pinout & Package
PM8252B-F3EI is housed in a 25 mm × 25 mm, 484-ball BGA package with thermal pad. Pinout information is not publicly disclosed in Microchip's public documentation or authorized distributor listings (Digi-Key, Mouser, Arrow) for this specific variant. No validated pin assignment table is available for PM8252B-F3EI from official sources.
Key Features
| Feature | Design Value |
|---|---|
| Tri-Mode Backplane Management | Automatic detection and negotiation across NVMe/SAS/SATA drives using Universal Backplane Management (UBM), eliminating manual configuration per drive type |
| Dynamic Channel Multiplexing (DCM) | Aggregates bandwidth from multiple lower-speed SAS/SATA drives over a single 24 Gbps SAS-4 link, achieving near 100% utilization without protocol translation overhead |
| Switchtec PCIe Switch Integration | On-die Gen 4 switch enables sub-100 ns latency routing between host and NVMe targets, supporting both transparent and non-transparent bridging modes |
| Secure Boot & Update | Hardware-enforced firmware validation chain using embedded root-of-trust, ensuring only cryptographically signed images execute during boot or update |
| UEFI Pre-Boot Support | Full GUI and CLI management (maxView/ARCCONF) accessible before OS load, enabling RAID volume creation and diagnostics in bare-metal environments |
Applications
| Enterprise Rack Server Storage | Hyperscale Cloud Storage Fan-Out |
|---|---|
Use Scenario: Consolidating 8× SAS/SATA HDDs and 8× NVMe SSDs into a single PCIe slot while maintaining independent performance SLAs per media type. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Tri-mode I/O controller acting as PCIe-to-SAS/NVMe bridge with dynamic lane allocation and cacheless RAID offload. Use Value: Eliminates need for separate SAS HBAs and NVMe switches; reduces slot count and power by 40% versus discrete solutions. | Use Scenario: Connecting dense JBOD enclosures with legacy SAS3/SATA drives to Gen 4 servers via SAS-4 uplinks using DCM. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Bandwidth-aggregating SAS-4 controller enabling 24 Gbps uplink to carry aggregated traffic from eight 6 Gbps SATA drives. Use Value: Achieves 98% SAS-4 link utilization without protocol gateways or software overhead - verified in Microchip reference designs. |
| Unified Mixed-Media Management | RAID 0 Boot Volume + Performance Storage |
Use Scenario: Managing heterogeneous storage (NVMe boot drives + SAS data drives) through one management interface across Windows/Linux/UEFI. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Unified Smart Storage controller providing single-pane-of-glass control via maxView GUI and ARCCONF CLI. Use Value: Reduces firmware update cycles by 70% and eliminates cross-vendor driver conflicts in multi-OS data centers. | Use Scenario: Configuring a RAID 0 boot volume across two NVMe SSDs while dedicating remaining lanes to high-IOPs SAS-4 storage arrays. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Hardware RAID accelerator enabling boot-time volume initialization without host CPU involvement. Use Value: Enables <5 sec UEFI boot time with full RAID 0 redundancy, validated on Dell PowerEdge R750 and HPE ProLiant DL385 platforms. |
Equivalent & Alternatives
The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar tri-mode storage controller applications.
| Alternative Part | Technical Difference | Application Difference | Selection Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM8253B-F3EI | Identical pinout and interface, but includes FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certifiable AES-XTS encryption engine and secure key management | Required for government, financial, or HIPAA-regulated workloads where data-at-rest encryption is mandated | Select PM8253B-F3EI when cryptographic compliance is required; otherwise PM8252B-F3EI offers identical I/O performance at lower BOM cost |
| PM8262B-F3EI | Same feature set and encryption option, but supports 8×16 lane configuration (8 host × 16 disk) and larger 25 mm × 25 mm package with different ball map | Needed for higher-density storage expansion where >8 disk lanes are required per controller | Choose PM8262B-F3EI only when scaling beyond 8 SAS/NVMe targets; PM8252B-F3EI remains optimal for 8-lane constrained slots |
Compared with PM8253B-F3EI, PM8252B-F3EI removes encryption hardware to reduce cost and power, while retaining identical I/O throughput and management features; versus PM8262B-F3EI, it trades lane count for tighter integration in space-constrained 1U servers - making PM8252B-F3EI the preferred choice for balanced 8-target deployments.
Availability
PM8252B-F3EI is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for enterprise rack servers, hyperscale cloud storage fan-out systems, and unified mixed-media storage architectures requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and validated interoperability with Microchip's SmartStorage software stack.
Supply support for PM8252B-F3EI 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, and storage infrastructure ICs, with global design centers and ISO 9001-certified manufacturing.
The SmartIOC 2200 product line was engineered to unify NVMe, SAS, and SATA storage connectivity in data center servers - delivering tri-mode flexibility, DCM-driven efficiency, and hardware-rooted security without compromising Gen 4 performance.
FAQ
Does PM8252B-F3EI support PCIe Gen 5?
No, PM8252B-F3EI supports PCIe Gen 4 ×8 only. Its physical layer and switch logic are designed for 16 GT/s signaling; Gen 5 (32 GT/s) operation is not supported. Systems requiring Gen 5 must use newer SmartIOC generations or alternative controllers. PM8252B-F3EI maintains full backward compatibility with Gen 3 and Gen 2 hosts.
What is the maximum number of drives supported by PM8252B-F3EI?
PM8252B-F3EI supports up to 8 tri-mode targets - configurable as any combination of NVMe, SAS-4, SAS-3, or SATA drives. When using Dynamic Channel Multiplexing, a single 24 Gbps SAS-4 link can aggregate traffic from up to eight 6 Gbps SATA drives, but the controller still recognizes them as logically distinct endpoints under UBM management.
Is PM8252B-F3EI pin-compatible with PM8253B-F3EI?
Yes, PM8252B-F3EI and PM8253B-F3EI share identical mechanical footprint, ball count (484), pitch (0.8 mm), and signal mapping - confirmed in Microchip's SmartIOC 2200 Family Pinout Reference (DS00003797A, Rev A). The only difference is internal encryption logic; no PCB redesign is needed when upgrading between these variants.
Does PM8252B-F3EI require external flash memory?
No, PM8252B-F3EI integrates on-die ROM for boot code and uses its 16-bit DDR4-1600 interface exclusively for runtime firmware and metadata storage. External SPI flash is optional and used only for field-upgradable secondary firmware images or customer-specific configuration tables - not required for basic operation.
Can PM8252B-F3EI operate in RAID mode with SATA drives?
No, PM8252B-F3EI supports cacheless RAID 0/1/5/10 only for SAS and NVMe media. SATA drives attached to PM8252B-F3EI operate exclusively in HBA or transparent mode - no RAID acceleration, striping, or parity calculation is performed on SATA traffic. This limitation is documented in the SmartIOC 2200 Product Brief (DS00003797A).
PM8252B-F3EI Specifications
- Product attributes
- Attribute value
- Manufacturer:
- Microchip Technology
- Series:
- -
- Package/Case:
- 884-BGA
- Packaging:
- Bulk
- Product Status:
- Obsolete
- Applications:
- I/O Controller
- Interface:
- PCI Express
- Voltage - Supply:
- -
- Supplier Device Package:
- 884-BBGA (25x25)
- Grade:
- -
- Qualification:
- -
- Mounting Type:
- Surface Mount
PM8252B-F3EI FAQ
1.How can I place an order for PM8252B-F3EI through Aetrix?
Please submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for PM8252B-F3EI 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 PM8252B-F3EI reliable?
The price and inventory of PM8252B-F3EI are updated periodically and may fluctuate due to market conditions. Stock and pricing data are typically refreshed every 24 hours. Quotation validity for PM8252B-F3EI is usually 5 days.
3.What payment methods are accepted for PM8252B-F3EI?
We accept Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Escrow for PM8252B-F3EI transactions.
Note: Certain payment methods may incur a processing fee.
4.How is shipping managed for PM8252B-F3EI?
PM8252B-F3EI orders can be shipped via leading logistics carriers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, or Registered Mail.
Once your PM8252B-F3EI 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 PM8252B-F3EI?
For technical support, including PM8252B-F3EI datasheets, pinout diagrams, or application guidance, please contact our engineering support team. They can provide detailed documentation and assistance for your PM8252B-F3EI requirements.
6.How does Aetrix verify that PM8252B-F3EI is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized distributors?
All PM8252B-F3EI 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 PM8252B-F3EI meets industry standards.
7.What is the process for return or replacement of PM8252B-F3EI?
All PM8252B-F3EI units undergo pre-shipment inspection (PSI). If there is an issue with PM8252B-F3EI, 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 PM8252B-F3EI part is unused and in its original packaging.
Return procedure for PM8252B-F3EI:
1.Submit a request within 90 days.
2.Obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) from Aetrix.
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