With the rapid development of data-intensive applications and AI technology, traditional memory architecture can no longer meet the growing computational demands. The memory wall and I/O wall have become the key bottlenecks restricting performance enhancement. Against this backdrop, Compute Express Link (CXL) technology has emerged as a powerful solution to this problem.

Overview of CXL Technology

CXL is a brand-new interconnect protocol designed to provide a unified interface standard for CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, accelerators, and storage devices. It utilizes the physical layer of PCI Express to offer low-latency, high-bandwidth connections, aiming to support high-performance computing and memory-intensive workloads in next-generation data centers. Through CXL, efficient data transfer and resource sharing between computing devices and memory or other devices can be achieved, significantly enhancing the overall system performance.

The CXL technology mainly includes three sub-protocols: CXL.io, CXL.cache, and CXL.memory, which are responsible for handling I/O operations, cache consistency, and memory access, respectively. These sub-protocols work together to provide comprehensive memory expansion and management capabilities for the system. Since 2019, CXL has released five different versions, including 1.0/1.1, 2.0, and 3.0/3.1. Each version has been enhanced and optimized in terms of memory pooling, hot-plugging, sharing and access, and interconnect communication capabilities. In particular, the CXL 3.1 version has introduced additional structural improvements, new secure execution environment enhancements, and further improvements to memory expanders, building upon CXL 3.0.

Market Application and Promotion of CXL Technology

In the face of the increasing requirements for data processing speed and response time of AI large models, CXL technology has been widely promoted by manufacturers of processors, storage chips, controllers, modules, etc. These manufacturers continuously promote the accelerated development of CXL technology through technological innovation and product upgrades. For example, Marvell's Structura CXL product series is the industry's first breakthrough product that supports four memory channels, integrates embedded compression, and uses a 5-nanometer manufacturing process. The Structera A CXL near-memory accelerator and Structera X CXL memory expansion controller are optimized for high-bandwidth memory applications and high-capacity memory applications, respectively, effectively enhancing system performance and reducing costs.

Examples and Manufacturer Layout of CXL Memory Expansion Technology

There are countless practical application cases of CXL technology. Marvell's Structera X 2404 is a typical example, which uses CXL technology to reuse retired DDR4 DIMMs, adding several TBs of large-capacity memory to general-purpose servers, thus achieving effective utilization of memory resources and cost savings. In addition, international giants such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron have also launched DRAM and hybrid storage modules based on CXL technology, further promoting the market popularity and application of CXL technology.

At the same time, CXL technology has also received widespread attention in China. Domestic manufacturers such as Jiangbolong have displayed innovative memory expansion devices based on CXL technology, such as the CXL 2.0 AIC memory expansion card. This expansion card not only supports CXL 1.1 and CXL 2.0 standards but also has adaptability to a variety of application scenarios, bringing more choices to the domestic market.

Future Development Prospects

CXL technology will continue to play an important role in fields such as AI, high-performance computing, and data centers. With the continuous maturation of the technology and the gradual improvement of the ecosystem, the CXL market is expected to experience explosive growth. Yole's statistical data show that the global CXL market is expected to grow from $1.7 million in 2022 to $15 billion in 2028. At the same time, major manufacturers are also actively developing processors and DRAM products that support CXL 3.0 to bring more features into the data center and accelerate the application process of CXL technology.

As a revolutionary memory expansion technology, CXL technology is gradually changing the landscape of data centers and the AI field. With the continuous development of the technology and the in-depth expansion of applications, CXL technology will bring us a more efficient, flexible, and sustainable computing experience.

Conevo Component

● The XCR3128XL-7VQ100I is a 128-macrocell complex programmable logic device (CPLD) manufactured by AMD/Xilinx. The XCR3128XL-7VQ100I uses advanced TotalCMOS design technology, contains 128 macro cells and 3000 usable gates, and supports system frequencies up to 145 MHz with a pin-to-pin propagation delay of only 6.0 ns. It is suitable for designs that are power sensitive and require leading-edge programmable logic solutions, and for a variety of applications that require high logic integration, low power consumption and high performance.

● The IRPS5401MTRPBF is a highly integrated power management unit (PMIC) from Infineon Technologies designed for multi-rail power systems such as processors, FPGAs and other applications. The IRPS5401MTRPBF offers up to five output voltages, including four high-efficiency configurable switching regulators and one linear regulator, to meet typical power requirements such as core voltage, storage voltage and I/O voltage. It also has integrated current sensing and comprehensive telemetry capabilities, including voltage, current, temperature and fault detection. Suitable for high density ASics, FPGAs and CPU multitrack systems, embedded computing systems, and communication and storage systems.

● The KSZ8895MQXIA is a highly integrated Layer 2 manageable five-port Ethernet switch from Microchip Technology with multiple features designed to reduce system costs. It combines on-chip terminals and internal LDO regulators, supports high-performance memory bandwidth and a shared memory-based switching structure, and includes a rich feature set. KSZ8895MQXIA is suitable for a variety of application scenarios, including VoIP phones, set-top boxes/game boxes, industrial controls, IPTV POF, SOHO residential Gateway, broadband gateway/firewall /VPN, integrated DSL/ cable modem, wireless LAN access point + gateway, And a separate 10/100 5 port switch.

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