MaxLinear Unveils Rushmore™: Low-Power 1.6T PAM4 DSP for AI/ML and Data Center Networks

Rhea-AI Summary

MaxLinear (MXL) has announced the commercial availability of Rushmore, a 1.6T PAM4 SERDES and DSP built on Samsung's CMOS technology. The new product enables 1.6T optics and active copper cables for next-generation high-speed networking.

Rushmore builds on three generations of MaxLinear's DSP technology and offers key features including:

• 200G per lane speed capability
• Support for <25W DR/FR optical modules
• Low latency architecture for AI/ML clusters
• Advanced diagnostics with MPI detection
• Automated Digital Pre-Distortion
• Integrated driver option

The company will showcase Rushmore's performance at OFC 2025 in San Francisco, demonstrating its capabilities in enabling <25W optical modules. The technology will be featured across multiple partner booths including Infinera (Nokia) and OpenLight Photonics.

Positive

• New product launch addressing growing AI/ML market demand
• Built on Samsung's leading-edge CMOS technology
• Strategic partnerships with Nokia and OpenLight
• Improved power efficiency supporting <25W optical modules

Negative

• Market experiencing supply constraints
• Considerable time-to-market delays in the industry

Insights

Semiconductor Industry Analyst

MaxLinear's Rushmore DSP represents a strategic positioning in the high-growth AI/ML interconnect market. The 1.6T (200G/lane) PAM4 SERDES addresses a critical power-performance bottleneck in AI infrastructure scaling.

The timing is opportune as networks transition to 51.2T and 102.4T switches, which require 200G/lane connectivity solutions. The article's mention of "market supply constraints" and "time-to-market delays" suggests MaxLinear could capitalize on competitive gaps if they can execute efficiently.

Technically, Rushmore's focus on power efficiency (enabling 25W optical modules) aligns with data center operators' increasing prioritization of energy consumption metrics. The low-latency architecture specifically optimized for AI/ML workloads targets the fastest-growing segment of the data center market.

The partnerships with Nokia (which recently acquired Infinera) and OpenLight add significant validation. Nokia's position as a major optical networking equipment provider could potentially translate to meaningful volume if the performance claims materialize in production environments.

As data centers increasingly adopt AI infrastructure, the interconnect market is shifting from traditional telecom-driven cycles to AI-accelerated deployment timelines, potentially benefiting suppliers with ready solutions like MaxLinear.

Data Center Infrastructure Expert

Rushmore addresses a growing bottleneck in AI compute clusters where interconnect bandwidth and power consumption increasingly constrain system design. With AI/ML workloads driving exponential bandwidth demand, the leap to 200G/lane technology is becoming necessary rather than optional.

The sub-25W power target is particularly significant as power density limits are already constraining AI deployment scale. In hyperscale environments, each watt saved on interconnect can be reallocated to compute resources, creating a multiplicative effect on system efficiency.

MaxLinear's emphasis on advanced diagnostics (MPI detection, pre-FEC BER monitoring) addresses reliability concerns in densely packed environments where physical access is and downtime costs are enormous. These features can significantly reduce operational expenses for data center operators.

The co-designed approach with MaxLinear's Washington TIA creates a potential ecosystem advantage, as integrated solutions typically outperform mix-and-match components in boundary-pushing applications. The optional integrated driver further extends power optimization opportunities.

With networks upgrading to 51.2T and 102.4T switches, the demand for 1.6T connectivity solutions will accelerate rapidly, creating a substantial market opportunity that aligns perfectly with MaxLinear's product timing.

• Rushmore integrates our latest advancements in DSP technology to address power demands and drive performance in the rapidly expanding AI/ML space

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MaxLinear, Inc. (Nasdaq: MXL), a leading provider of high-speed interconnect ICs enabling data center, metro, and wireless transport networks, is excited to announce the sampling and commercial availability of its 1.6T (200G/lane) PAM4 SERDES (Serializer/Deserializer) and DSP, Rushmore. Built on Samsung’s leading-edge CMOS technology, this DSP delivers a substantial boost in performance, power efficiency and density, enabling 1.6T optics and active copper cables, and paves the way for the next generation of high-speed, efficient networking.

MaxLinear Rushmore Low Power 1.6T PAM4 DSP

Rushmore leverages three generations of MaxLinear's advanced DSP technology, encompassing 100G to 800G devices. This heritage of innovation ensures exceptional performance and reliability. Coupled with robust firmware, Rushmore delivers superior power-efficiency and functionality, while meeting the stringent performance requirements of 1.6TB highspeed optical connectivity solutions.

At OFC 2025 in San Francisco, MaxLinear will present live demonstrations of the new 1.6T Rushmore DSP, highlighting its performance and capabilities in enabling < 25W optical modules. “Rushmore was specifically optimized to address the next generation of 1.6T interconnects, featuring low power consumption, excellent link performance, and enhanced features to accelerate deployments and monitor link health,” said Kishore Seendripu, Chief Executive Officer at MaxLinear.

Key Features and Benefits of Rushmore:

• High-Speed: Capable of up to 200G per lane, compatible with Ethernet and InfiniBand® protocols.
• Power Efficiency: Designed to support the next generation of <25W DR/FR optical modules, adhering to OIF, IEEE, and IBTA standards.
• Low Latency Architecture: Optimized for the low latency demands of AI/ML clusters.
• Low Power Modes: Includes special features and modes to optimize link power budgets.
• Advanced Diagnostics: Equipped with MPI detection and localization, full 8x8 crossbar, and pre-FEC BER monitor for comprehensive link health monitoring.
• Automated DPD (Digital Pre-Distortion): Optimizes transmitter performance across all laser technologies, including EMLs and silicon photonics.
• Integrated Driver Option: Offers an integrated driver optimized for high-output swing and reduced system power consumption.
• Best-in-Class DSP + TIA: Co-designed to partner with MaxLinear’s Washington TIA to provide the best performance on the market.

“The market is experiencing supply constraints, along with considerable time-to-market delays. As networks upgrade to 51.2T & 102.4T class switches, 200G/lane connectivity ecosystems will be necessary to support these network upgrades,” said Adam Carter, Chief Executive Officer of OpenLight. “OpenLight’s silicon photonics solution is uniquely positioned to support this collaboration with MaxLinear PAM4 DSP technology to address the need for 1.6T connectivity - marking a significant step forward in the development of high-performance, low-power solutions.”

“As network demands accelerate, the need for energy-efficient photonic interconnects becomes critical. At OFC 2025, Nokia and MaxLinear will demonstrate a co-optimized solution built on our integrated InP PIC platform—setting a new benchmark for performance and power efficiency in next-generation optical systems,” said Robert Maher, Subsystems CTO, Nokia.

Rushmore DSP will be Featured at Multiple Partner Booths at OFC 2025

MaxLinear will be highlighting the performance of Rushmore across multiple applications in its private demo area at the Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) conference (North Hall, Booth 5961) in San Francisco from April 1-3, 2025.

In addition to the MaxLinear demo, Rushmore will also be showcased at the following partners’ booths:

• Infinera, now part of Nokia, Booth #1818
• OpenLight Photonics, Booth #4321

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 Carlsbad, California. For more information, please visit https://www.maxlinear.com/.

MaxLinear, the MaxLinear logo, any other MaxLinear trademarks are all property of MaxLinear, Inc. or one of MaxLinear's subsidiaries in the U.S.A. and other countries. All rights reserved.

All third-party marks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders/owners.

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 relating to MaxLinear’s Rushmore product and the functionality, performance, benefits of use of such product and market opportunity for such product and statements by our Chief Executive Officer. 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. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: risks relating to the development, testing, and commercial introduction of new products and product functionalities; risks relating to our terminated merger with Silicon Motion and related arbitration and class action complaint and the risks related to potential payment of damages; the effect of intense and increasing competition; impacts of global economic conditions; the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry; a significant variance in our operating results and impact on volatility in our stock price, and our ability to sustain our current level of revenue, which has previously declined, and/or manage future growth effectively, and the impact of excess inventory in the channel on our customers’ expected demand for certain of our products and on our revenue; the geopolitical and economic tensions among the countries in which we conduct business; increased tariffs, export controls or imposition of other trade barriers; our ability to obtain or retain government authorization to export certain of our products or technology; risks associated with international geopolitical and military conflicts; risks related to the loss of, or a significant reduction in orders from major customers; costs of legal proceedings or potential violations of regulations; information technology failures; a decrease in the average selling prices of our products; failure to penetrate new applications and markets; development delays and consolidation trends in our industry; inability to make substantial research and development investments; delays or expenses caused by undetected defects or bugs in our products; substantial quarterly and annual fluctuations in our revenue and operating results; failure to timely develop and introduce new or enhanced products; order and shipment uncertainties; failure to accurately predict our future revenue and appropriately budget expenses; lengthy and expensive customer qualification processes; customer product plan cancellations; failure to maintain compliance with government regulations; failure to attract and retain qualified personnel; any adverse impact of rising interest rates on us, our customers, and our distributors and related demand; risks related to compliance with privacy, data protection and cybersecurity laws and regulations; risks related to conforming our products to industry standards; risks related to business acquisitions and investments; claims of intellectual property infringement; our ability to protect our intellectual property; risks related to security vulnerabilities of our products; use of open source software in our products; and failure to manage our relationships with, or negative impacts from, third parties.

In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as the information to be set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in MaxLinear's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. All forward-looking statements are based on the estimates, projections and assumptions of management as of the date of this press release, and MaxLinear is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331159317/en/

MaxLinear, Inc. Press Contact:

Debbie Brandenburg

Sr. Marketing Communications Manager

Tel: +1 669.265.6083

dbrandenburg@maxlinear.com

Source: MaxLinear, Inc.

FAQ

What are the key features of MaxLinear's (MXL) new Rushmore DSP?

Rushmore offers 200G per lane speed, <25W power efficiency, low latency for AI/ML, advanced diagnostics, automated DPD, and integrated driver options.

When and where will MaxLinear (MXL) demonstrate the Rushmore DSP?

MaxLinear will showcase Rushmore at OFC 2025 in San Francisco from April 1-3, 2025, at Booth #5961 in the North Hall.

What technology partnership has MaxLinear (MXL) announced for Rushmore?

MaxLinear has partnered with Samsung for CMOS technology and collaborates with OpenLight for silicon photonics solutions.

How does Rushmore address the power efficiency demands in data centers?

Rushmore supports next-generation <25W DR/FR optical modules and includes special power modes to optimize link power budgets.