The Case Of High-Speed Data Transfer Between Semiconductor Components: PCIe VS CXL

Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard designed to replace the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP bus standards. It connects high-speed components in a computer, such as graphics cards, SSDs, and network cards. Unlike its predecessors, PCIe provides higher data transfer rates and is more flexible regarding the layout of the physical connections. It operates using a point-to-point topology, with separate serial links connecting each device to the host, which reduces latency and increases data transfer efficiency.

Compute Express Link (CXL) is an open standard interconnect for high-performance computing components. It is built on the PCI Express (PCIe) physical and electrical interface but is distinct in its operations and objectives. CXL focuses on creating high-speed, efficient links between the CPU and workload accelerators like GPUs, DPUs, FPGAs, and memory expansion devices. CXL addresses the high-bandwidth, low-latency needs of next-generation data centers and computing applications, facilitating efficient sharing of resources and improved performance.

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THREAD

The semiconductor industry offers diverse career opportunities beyond traditional chip design roles, Many of which involve specialized skills and areas of expertise. Learn more about different skills.

If you are a student aspiring to study/work in the U.S. and also considering a career in the U.S. semiconductor industry. Then, based on the data provided by the SIA, you can learn more about the states you would want to be In.

Student can now learn and use ROHD, or Rapid Open Hardware Development (Pronounced like “road”), an open framework to modernize and simplify hardware development. It leverages the dart programming language, offering a simple build system and an efficient package manager. By working with scalable test benches and SystemVerilog interactions. Students can gain valuable insights into real-world hardware development processes.

There is a new term that is soon going to take centerstage. It will be called “AI Gap". Read and lear about this opportunity cum issue that AI workloads will face in the near-future.

Productizing SoC using sub-2nm needs to be affordable. Is it possible? Read more here.

VLOG

Watch this insightful video on PCIe and CXL to learn about the high-speed connectivity standards.

PCIe or Peripheral Component Interconnect Express is a standard in computer expansion, PCIe revolutionized how devices like GPUs and SSDs talk to the motherboard. It is all about lanes. Imagine them as high-speed highways, with data zooming at breakneck speeds. Over the years, PCIe has evolved, with PCIe 5.0 and 6.0 offering mind-blowing rates. But it is not just about fast data. PCIe versatility and backward compatibility make it a cornerstone of modern computing.

On other side, CXL or Compute Express Link. CXL is built on the PCIe 5.0 physical infrastructure but leaps forward. It is designed for high-performance computing, tackling the challenges of data centers and AI applications. CXL uniquely facilitates coherency and memory sharing between the CPU and devices. It means faster data processing and less bottlenecking, a dream for complex computations.

GOVERNMENT

U.S. Commerce Department to launch survey of US semiconductor supply chain. The Department of Commerce will release a survey to help determine how domestic companies source mature-node and current-generation semiconductors as part of efforts to analyze capabilities and challenges within the U.S. chip supply chain.

Set to be launched in January, the survey is expected to inform U.S. policy aimed at strengthening the semiconductor supply chain, leveling the playing field for the production of legacy chips and addressing national security risks posed by China, the Commerce Department said on Thursday.

INDUSTRY

Semiconductor industry players Robert Bosch GmbH, Infineon Technologies AG, Nordic Semiconductor ASA, NXP® Semiconductors, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., have formally established Quintauris GmbH.

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, the company aims to advance the adoption of RISC-V globally by enabling next-generation hardware development.

The formation of Quintauris was formally announced in August, with the aim to be a single source to enable compatible RISC-V-based products, provide reference architectures, and help establish solutions to be widely used across various industries.

The initial application focus will be automotive, but with an eventual expansion to include mobile and IoT.

Read more here.

ACADEMIA

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today announced a $17.5 million investment in Arizona State University (ASU) to expand Arizona’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. The expansion will enhance Arizona’s fan-out wafer-level packaging R&D and workforce training capabilities and drive the creation of a GaN (gallium nitride) manufacturing and research ecosystem in the state to enable technology of the future.

ASU will allocate the funding to purchase equipment to enhance the capabilities of ASU’s MacroTechnology Works (MTW) in Tempe. ASU plans to expand advanced packaging and GaN research to additional capabilities that support 6G, IoT, machine learning and more. The expansion will also include workforce development initiatives such as internships and university joint research, and next-gen GaN research development for 6G in partnership with NXP Semiconductors in Chandler.

Read more about it on ACA website.

RESEARCH

Three research teams led by the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering have been awarded grants totaling $3.38 million by the National Science Foundation’s Future of Semiconductors design and manufacturing program.

TOOLS

ABACUS - Assembly of Basic Applications for Coordinated Understanding of Semiconductors - provides easy access to selected nanoHUB educational material on semiconductor devices that is openly accessible. 

JOBS

To meet the expected demand, the White House says the United States needs 90,000 to 100,000 more semiconductor technicians — and needs to triple the number of engineering grads — by 2030. The engineering shortage could be as high as 300,000 by the end of the decade, according to a report from consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

This is a good opportunity for students worldwide to explore and learn more about the semiconductor industry and the different set of career options that it provides.

CONNECT

Whether you are a student with the goal to enter semiconductor industry (or even academia) or a semiconductor professional or someone looking to learn more about the ins and outs of the semiconductor industry, please do reach out to me.

Let us together explore the world of semiconductor and the endless opportunities:

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