HighPoint’s USB 20G PCIe 3.0 x16 PCIe Switching Architecture

HighPoint RocketU 1400 Series HBAs deliver unmatched performance and flexibility for modern applications that demand uncompromised performance and connectivity.

HighPoint’s Rocket 1400 series of 20Gb/s USB HBAs are the industry’s fastest and most flexible USB 3.2 connectivity solutions. The RocketU 1488C and 1444C are of hosting up to eight industry-standard USB 3.x devices at speeds up to 20Gb/s. They are ideal connectivity platforms for professional industrial applications that utilize multiple high-fidelity capturing devices (such as HD cameras or sensors), and/or high-speed storage devices (such as USB drives, SSD/NVMe media or storage enclosures).

The secret behind the RocketU 1400C’s class-leading power and versatility is HighPoint’s industry-proven USB 20G PCIe 3.0 x16 PCIe Switching Architecture, which leverages Broadcom PCIe Switch ICs and dedicated per-port USB 3.2 controllers.

The following article takes a closer look at hardware behind these revolutionary 20G USB HBAs, and the applications that stand to benefit from the dedicated per-port-performance and resources only HighPoint can provide.

Technical Breakdown: HighPoint’s USB 20G PCIe 3.0 x16 PCIe Switching Architecture

HighPoint’s innovative approach to USB connectivity delivers a guaranteed 20Gb/s of transfer bandwidth for USB 3.x compliant drives and peripherals, and ensures these devices can continuously operate at maximum throughput without taxing system resources or interfering with neighboring USB connections. In addition, the dedicated ASMedia USB 3.2 controllers enable each port to deliver up to 7.5W of power for device operation or charging purposes.

RocketU 1488C

The 8-Port RocketU 1488C PCIe Switching Architecture leverages Broadcom’s x48-lane PCIe Gen3 PLX8749 Switch IC and eight ASMedia ASM3242 USB3.2 controllers to ensure each USB Type-C port delivers 20Gb/s of transfer bandwidth.

A full x16 lanes are dedicated to the upstream port (connection to the host platform), with x32 lanes allocated to the downstream connections (USB device ports in this case). x4 lanes are assigned to the ASM3242 IC associated with each Type-C port.

RocketU 1444C

The quad-port RocketU 1444C utilizes a similar architecture. The design leverages Broadcom’s PLX8747 Switch IC, which also provides x48 internal PCIe Gen3 lanes.

Like the 8-port model, x16 lanes are allocated to the upstream port, while x32 lanes are available for the downstream connections.

Each Type-C port features a dedicated ASMedia ASM3242 USB 3.2 controller and x4 lanes of bandwidth.

Use Cases and Applications

High-Resolution Image and Video Acquisition: The performance, ultra-low latency and 4-8 independent device ports are ideal for machine vision systems, microscopy, and other high-resolution imaging applications that rapidly capture and process data from multiple high-definition cameras or sensors.

Real-Time Data Acquisition and Control: The compact form factor, uncompromised 20G bandwidth and high port count benefit industrial workloads that depend on automation and robotics, where seamless communication and real-time data capture are vital.

High-Speed Data Storage and Transfer: The Rocket 1400 series massive performance bandwidth is perfect for fast backup or data migration solutions, enabling swift, large-scale data transfers across multiple drives or external storage devices.

Edge Computing: The compact form factor and uncompromised 20G per-port performance is ideally suited for edge computing applications that must rapidly process incoming data from multiple sensors/cameras or I/O requests such as IoT data aggregation and analysis.

Medical Imaging and Analysis: The uncompromised transfer bandwidth is essential for handling large files and high-throughput data from diagnostic equipment, ensuring smooth transition of critical assets for imaging and analytical procedures.

Automotive and Aerospace: High-performance multi-port USB connectivity solutions are ideal for data-intensive simulation and testing applications that require real-time feedback for immediate analysis.

Scientific Research: The massive transfer bandwidth, low-latency and 4 to 8 independent device ports are ideal for laboratory or field-based workflows that process data ingested by multiple high-speed capture devices.

In Summary

HighPoint’s RocketU 1400 series HBA’s are engineered to satisfy the rigorous demands of high-performance computing environments, where bandwidth maximization, instant response time, and hassle-free integration are critical.

The compact, robust, industrial grade add-in-card solutions are natively supported by all modern operating system platforms and can be easily integrated into any workstation or server with a free PCIe 3.0/4.0/5.0 x16 slot. HighPoint’s dedicated per-port 20G architecture is ideal for industrial, scientific and media applications that require high-performance, high-port count USB connectivity, enabling customers to experience unfettered access to a variety of USB-based devices and storage solutions, with plug-and-play setup and serviceability.

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