Five millionth milestone for PCI Express chip

SAN JOSE, USA: Effecting a major landmark, the five millionth chip from PLX Technology has been shipped. The company has confirmed that it has shipped five million PCI Express bridge and switch chips representing 16 million PCIe ports. The company is now said to be working on an 8 GHz version of PCI Express to be launched in June next.

According to industry observers, the chips are being used in a variety of PC servers, storage and graphics systems as well as embedded systems and communications control planes.

The company, by reaching the landmark, has raked in upwards of $100 million as revenue. PLX ExpressLane chips boast of a 65 per cent market share in PCIe switches.

PCI Express's feat has helped the company's leap to the mainstream as an interconnect option along with its predecessor PCI technology. Speaking on acquiring the milestone, Jag Bolaria, a senior analyst covering interconnects at The Linley Group said, "Reaching the $100 million mark comes as a significant step and the 16 million ports shipped reflect the broad acceptance of PCI Express in general and of PLX's products in particular..

It may be recalled that PLX had become the first to market with several products, and now enjoys the leading market share for switching and bridging devices.

PLX had broke into the scene making PCIe products way back in year 2002. It currently boasts of 40-plus devices, including the four-lane, four-port switch for the 2.5 GHz version of PCIe to a 96-lane, 24-port switch for the 5 GHz version.