Intel has released a discipline-programmable gate array—Agilex 7 with R-Tile—that characteristics PCIe 5. and CXL abilities for processing networking workloads.

The Agilex FPGA is mostly applied in smartNICs that offload the processing of network traffic from the CPU, as a result freeing up CPU capacity for other tasks. Intel sees Agilex actively playing a function in info centers, telecommunications, and financial solutions, between other substantial-visitors industries.

Agilex is a rebranding of Intel’s Stratix and Arria FPGA traces that includes renumbering, with Agilex 3 currently being the small-close and Agilex 9 the significant-conclude. So Agilex 7 is not the seventh technology of the chip but is the second most strong processor in the spouse and children.

With this release, Agilex has gone through pretty a change. The past version was a PCI Specific 4. item, built on a single chip design and style at 14nm. This new version supports PCI Convey 5., and works by using a chiplet style and design that breaks down the silicon into various lesser chips on the 7nm approach.

Agilex 7 with R-Tile has 116Gbps of transceiver bandwidth, the swiftest throughput nonetheless amongst Intel FPGAs. It also supports tough IP, which signifies functions like memory controllers and digital signal processors are tricky coded into the silicon, somewhat than soft IP, which is programmed. The IP can not be modified, but it also performs a great deal a lot quicker and minimizes style and design time for acquiring and deploying goods.

The R-Tile is aspect of the new chiplet structure exactly where the chiplets are linked by a superior-pace interconnect. R-Tile is a companion chip to the FPGA that precisely supports significant-pace PCI Specific connections and integrates with CPUs to speed up substantial-functionality computing workloads.

Agilex 7 also supports CXL 1.1 and ultimately 2. when it ships. CXL is a high-speed interconnect that lets direct memory-to-memory communication for data sharing with no getting to go as a result of CPUs and buses. Intel is expressing that Agilex 7 builds now support CXL 1.1, and will guidance selected CLX 2. characteristics pending validation, interoperability, and qualification with foreseeable future CPUs.

Agilex 7 is shipping and delivery to OEM buyers now.