
HyperTransport Tunnel-to-Dual PCI-X Bridge
The Most Scalable, Highest Performance HyperTransport
Interconnect Bridge
Ever increasing CPU bus clock
speeds, coupled with faster peripheral
devices, have engendered I/O
bottlenecks in high-speed, networked
applications such as switches, routers
and storage servers. The
HyperTransport technology is a fast,
non-proprietary, point-to-point link
that offers the speed necessary for
these advanced systems.
.
Features
offers a maximum bandwidth of 6.4GB/s
offers a maximum bandwidth of 3.2GB/s
HyperTransport technology-compliant
device
each port)
technology-defined reduced bit widths—
8-bit, 4-bit, and 2-bit
1200, 800, and 400 mega-transfers per
second
width selection
B) each support the following:
o
A 64-bit data bus
o
PCI-X modes and legacy PCI
revision 2.2 modes
o
133-, 100- and 66MHz transfer rates
in PCI-X mode
o
66- and 33-MHz PCI 2.2 modes
o
Independent transfer rates and
operational modes
o
Up to five PCI masters
o
An I/O Advance Programmable
Interrupt Controller (IOAPIC) with
four redirection registers – legacy
interrupt controller and IOAPIC
modes supported
o
Hot Plug controller and support
PLX Technology has developed the PowerDrive HT7520, a HyperTransport
Tunnel-to-Dual PCI-X bridge that interfaces HyperTransport-based devices to
PCI-based peripherals. The HT7520 offers flexible connectivity and high
performance, enabling today’s high-speed embedded systems.
Scalability
PowerDrive devices provide maximum scalability through an onboard bi-
directional HyperTransport tunnel interface. The tunnel enables daisy chaining of
up to 31 other HyperTransport devices on a single bus. The PowerDrive device
couples a HyperTransport tunnel with two PCI-X bridges. The PCI-X bridge
provides a connection between HyperTransport based processors and PCI based
peripherals. Together, the two PCI-X bridges enable support for connectivity of up
to 10 PCI masters. As a result, PowerDrive enables higher capacity systems via
connections to multiple PCI-X devices and HyperTransport peripherals.
High Performance
PowerDrive devices significantly increase performance over PCI-only based
systems. The HyperTransport Tunnel has a 16-bit interface (Side A) and an 8-bit
interface (Side B). PowerDrive also offers a full, 800MHz DDR clock rate. As a
result, Side A of the tunnel provides a maximum bandwidth of 6.4 GB/s, a 48X
speed up over standard PCI. Side B provides a maximum of 3.2 GB/s, giving a
24X speed up. These high-speed interfaces provide fast peripheral accesses
to/from memory.
Performance is also maximized through the PCI-X bridges. Each 64-bit wide
bridge is capable of a maximum speed of 133 MHz. In PCI-X mode, 133-, 100-
and 66MHz transfer rates are supported. In PCI mode, each bridge supports 66-
and 33MHz transfer rates. For optimum performance networks, PowerDrive does
not require the highest speed device to be slowed down to the
performance of the slowest peripheral. Instead, the
PowerDrive device allows high-speed loads to
operate on a separate bridge, enabling high-speed
traffic to run full tilt. A high bandwidth tunnel and
multiple high-speed bridges are the enablers
for high-performance embedded applications.
Version 1.3 2002
PowerDrive
HT7520