MaxLinear announces the development of the Rushmore family of 200G/lane PAM4 Digital Signal Processors (DSP)
- Development of Rushmore family of 200G/lane PAM4 SERDES and DSP by MaxLinear to address increasing data traffic demand and power efficiency requirements in data centers and telecommunications networks.
- Variants of Rushmore family include support for optical modules, electrical cables, and re-timers, providing a comprehensive suite of solutions for customer-specific requirements.
- Rushmore family builds on the success of Keystone 5nm 100G/lane DSP family, doubling data rates, reducing latency, and enhancing functionality for Big Data and AI/ML applications.
- Collaboration with Samsung Foundry for co-optimized SERDES technology to achieve best-in-class power and performance, catering to the needs of next-generation data center and high-performance computing applications.
- Expected growth in PAM4 DSP shipments driven by AI/ML applications, with MaxLinear well-positioned to capitalize on the trend with innovative 200G/lane solutions.
- None.
Insights
The recent announcement by MaxLinear, Inc. regarding the development of the Rushmore family of 200G/lane PAM4 Digital Signal Processors (DSP) represents a significant technological advancement within the semiconductor sector. Data centers and cloud providers are under constant pressure to keep up with the exponential growth in data traffic, driven largely by the proliferation of AI/ML applications. The introduction of a new DSP that promises to double data rates while reducing latency is noteworthy for these stakeholders.
From a market perspective, such an innovation could potentially shift competitive dynamics, as providers who adopt these DSPs may gain a significant edge in terms of performance and power efficiency. This is particularly relevant as the industry moves towards sustainable computing and energy efficiency becomes as important as computational power. MaxLinear's collaboration with Samsung Foundry leverages advanced CMOS process technology, which is a nod to industry trends favoring partnerships that marry design and manufacturing expertise to accelerate product development.
The potential growth in shipments of PAM4 DSPs, as indicated by the projected CAGR of 50% between 2023 and 2027, suggests a robust demand for these components. MaxLinear's positioning in the market, therefore, could be substantially strengthened by this launch, provided the Rushmore family delivers on its performance promises and is adopted widely by the industry.
MaxLinear's strategic move to develop the Rushmore family of DSPs in conjunction with Samsung's leading-edge CMOS process technology could be a game-changer for the company's financial performance. Investors should note that the semiconductor industry is cyclical and highly competitive, with innovation serving as a key differentiator. MaxLinear's focus on high-speed interconnect ICs for data centers and AI/ML networks taps into a growth segment, which could translate to increased revenue streams if the Rushmore DSPs gain market acceptance.
MaxLinear’s stock valuation in the short term may react positively to this news as the market often responds favorably to technological advancements that promise enhanced performance and energy efficiency. However, the long-term financial impact will hinge on MaxLinear's ability to convert this technological edge into market share gains and sustainable profit margins. The company's past success with the Keystone family of DSPs bodes well, but investors should monitor the adoption rate and feedback from early deployments to gauge the potential financial success of the Rushmore family.
It is also essential to consider the capital expenditure required for such R&D initiatives and the time-to-market for new technologies. While R&D can strain short-term earnings, the investment in innovation can secure long-term competitiveness. MaxLinear's collaboration with Samsung Foundry could potentially streamline the development process and reduce time-to-market, thereby optimizing R&D spend.
The technical specifications of MaxLinear's Rushmore DSPs suggest a notable leap in the semiconductor industry's push towards higher data rates and lower latency, which are critical for AI/ML workloads. The move from 100G/lane to 200G/lane is not just an incremental improvement; it's a doubling of bandwidth that could have profound implications for data center infrastructure and high-performance computing applications.
Understanding the significance of PAM4 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation with 4 levels) technology is essential. PAM4 allows for higher data rates over the same physical medium compared to older NRZ (Non-Return to Zero) signaling. This is particularly important as the industry seeks to maximize existing infrastructure capabilities without incurring the prohibitive costs of laying new fiber or overhauling current systems.
The integration of homegrown co-optimized SERDES (Serializer/Deserializer) with the DSPs is a strategic technical decision. SERDES technology is important in converting data between serial data and the parallel interfaces in chip-to-chip communication. A co-optimized SERDES can lead to better overall system performance and power efficiency, which are paramount in high-speed data transfer applications. MaxLinear’s expertise in this area could therefore provide them with a competitive edge in the market.
- Samsung Foundry leading-edge-CMOS-based DSP family developed in conjunction with MaxLinear homegrown co-optimized SERDES to achieve overall best-in-class power and performance.
MaxLinear announces the development of the Rushmore family of 200G/lane PAM4 Digital Signal Processors (DSP)
The Rushmore family encompasses a diverse array of variants tailored to meet the evolving needs of modern data centers and telecommunications networks. This includes support for fully re-timed optical modules, half re-timed optics, and active electrical cables (AECs). Moreover, MaxLinear is introducing both 8x200G-to-8x200G re-timers and 8x100G-to-4x200G gearbox variants, providing customers with a comprehensive suite of solutions to address their specific requirements.
“The AI/ML revolution has accelerated the pace of innovation across the industry, and that is also the case at MaxLinear,” said Drew Guckenberger, Vice President of High Speed Interconnect at MaxLinear. “Starting from our highly successful Keystone 5nm 100G/lane DSP family, the amount of additional innovation that has gone into the new Rushmore 200G/lane DSP family is incredible. The impacts on power and performance our partners will see are expected to be significant for the industry as a whole as we scale into the new AI/ML world.”
Building on the technical and commercial success of the Keystone family of 5nm 100G/lane DSPs, Rushmore doubles the data rates and significantly reduces latency for Big Data and AI/ML applications, while simultaneously adding significant additional functionality and performance extensions. The Rushmore family of DSP has been developed in conjunction with homegrown co-optimized SERDES to achieve overall best-in-class power and performance.
"We are excited to collaborate closely with MaxLinear on this industry-leading achievement. Their proven expertise in high-speed interconnect solutions, combined with their strong development approach, made them an ideal partner for developing this next generation PAM4 SERDES IP and DSP using our most advanced manufacturing CMOS process technology,” said Marco Chisari, Executive Vice President and Head of US Foundry Business, Samsung Electronics. “This collaboration signifies our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that empower our customers to build next-generation data center and high-performance computing applications."
AI and ML have emerged as key drivers for the growth of the global high-performance computing market, which is directly linked to the need for faster data processing and transfer for AI workloads. Training AI models can be computationally expensive and time-consuming. Higher data rates, enabled by technologies like 200G/lane SERDES and DSPs, allow for faster data movement between processing units and memory, accelerating the training process. Similarly, faster inference speeds are crucial for real-time applications like autonomous vehicles or image recognition, requiring efficient data transfer through high-bandwidth connections.
“Shipments of PAM4 DSPs will grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of
MaxLinear will be exhibiting at the Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) conference in
About MaxLinear, Inc.
MaxLinear, Inc. (Nasdaq: MXL) is a leading provider of radio frequency (RF), analog, digital, and mixed-signal integrated circuits for access and connectivity, wired and wireless infrastructure, and industrial and multimarket applications. MaxLinear is headquartered in
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Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning or implying future financial performance, anticipated product performance and functionality of our products or products incorporating our products, and industry trends and growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, in particular statements relating to the partnership between MaxLinear and Samsung and statements relating to certain of MaxLinear’s technologies and products, including the functionality, performance and benefits of such products and statements relating to the potential growth in the AI/ML market and shipments of PAM4 DSPs. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We cannot predict whether or to what extent these new and existing products will affect our future revenues or financial performance. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current, preliminary expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may contain words such as “will be,” “will,” “expected,” “anticipate,” “continue,” or similar expressions and include the assumptions that underlie such statements. 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In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in MaxLinear’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including risks and uncertainties arising from other factors affecting the business, operating results, and financial condition of MaxLinear, including those set forth in MaxLinear’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as applicable. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. MaxLinear is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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MaxLinear, Inc. Press Contact:
Matthew Lea
Head of Public Relations
Tel: +1 760.415.2529
mlea@maxlinear.com
Source: MaxLinear, Inc.
FAQ
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What are some variants included in the Rushmore family to address customer requirements?
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