CAST Announces PCI Express Endpoint Controller Core

— Semiconductor intellectual property (IP) provider CAST, Inc. today announced a new IP core that implements an endpoint controller for PCI Express (PCIe), a fast new serial data interconnect intended for advanced and future applications.

“Great speed and significant packaging advantages are making PCI Express one of the fastest-growing interconnects,” said Hal Barbour, president of CAST. “Our new core is the ideal choice for smart designers who want flexibility in their implementation technologies and toolsets and an IP provider known for fantastic customer support.”

The technology-independent PCIe-EP core provides a quick time to market solution for designers exploiting PCIe in desktop and portable systems or mobile devices. Designed to conform to the PCIe Express Base Specification 1.0a, the core reliably implements all three PCIe protocol layers (transaction, data link, and physical). Features of the flexible design include multiple device link widths to better match the bandwidth needs of specific applications, including x1 (single lane) and x4 (four lane), with x8 (eight lane) under development. Its efficient architecture reduces potential latency and expensive memory requirements, while also providing the power management functions critical to mobile devices.

The core’s modular system interface simplifies integration through a variety of standard buses (e.g., Wishbone or AMBA) or a generic interface. The core supports the Intel PIPE specification for its external connection interface, ensuring compatibility with a wide choice of PHY products.

CAST is a member of PCI-SIG, and the new core will undergo formal conformance testing later this year. Commercial shipping will begin the third quarter this year, in synthesizable HDL form for ASICs or EDIF netlists for FPGAs. Potential customers should check the CAST web site for more details on the core,  www.cast-inc.com. For more on PCI Express, visit www.pcisig.org.

About CAST, Inc.

CAST provides over 100 popular and standards-based IP cores for ASICs and FPGAs. Privately owned and operating since 1993, CAST has established a reputation for high-quality IP products, simple licensing, and responsive technical support. The company is headquartered near New York City, partners with IP developers around the world, and works with select sales consultants and distributors throughout Europe and Asia.