Broadcom Unveils the PEX90144: A Look at the 144-Lane PCIe Gen6 Switch at SC25
At the SC25 conference, Broadcom showcased its cutting-edge PCIe Gen6 switch chips, designed for the 2026 server generation. One of the highlights was the PEX90144, a formidable 144-lane, 72-port PCIe Gen6 switch, seamlessly integrated into a Dell PowerEdge XE7745-style PCIe board.
This particular display was easily overlooked at SC25, but Broadcom had the PEX90144 switch platform on full display. It’s worth noting that the red board indicates a pre-release board, although PCIe Gen6 is more focused on the next-generation NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs and ConnectX-8 NICs.
The internal chassis revealed two PCIe switches, with 144 lanes translating to just 9x PCIe x16 slots. This chassis houses eight accelerators, showcasing the dense I/O requirements of modern AI systems.
Beyond the accelerators, which are all internal in the PowerEdge XE7745 design, these systems demand NICs in a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio with GPUs. The switches themselves require a x16 link to the CPU, meaning 144 lanes can be utilized rapidly.
The rear NIC I/O slots further emphasize the extensive I/O demands of even CEM slot AI systems.
Broadcom’s Avago and PLX switch chip legacy has solidified its dominance in PCIe switches today. Looking ahead, Broadcom has the PLX91144 (144-lane PCIe Gen7) on the horizon for 2027 and the PLX 92144 (144-lane PCIe Gen8) set for 2029, indicating a strong roadmap.
However, Broadcom faces competition from companies like Astera Labs, XConn, and Microchip, who are also entering the market. This is particularly significant for future AI and storage servers, as well as CXL switches, which are part of this product line.
The success of Broadcom’s roadmap is crucial, as NVIDIA is pushing Broadcom out of high-speed NIC and PCIe switch opportunities in NVIDIA B300 servers, as discussed in their Substack. This development could potentially lock out a BOM opportunity of over $4000, as detailed in the Substack article ‘NVIDIA Just Ended Broadcom’s Chances in a Traditional AI Segment’.
For more insights, visit the Substack link: https://axautikgroupllc.substack.com/p/nvidia-just-ended-broadcoms-chances