Blog de la compañía Supply and Recycling of ASMedia ASM2812—PCIe Gen3 12-Channel/6-Port Packet Switch (LFBGA-492, Low Latency, Low Power)

Mingjiada Electronics Supplies and Recycles the ASMedia ASM2812—a 12-Lane/6-Port PCIe Gen3 Switch (LFBGA-492, Low Latency, Low Power)

The ASM2812 is a 12-channel/6-port packet switch in ASMedia’s PCIe Gen3 switch chip family. Its function is not simply to “split one channel into two,” but rather to establish a routable, manageable switching link between limited PCIe upstream bandwidth and multiple high-speed peripherals—dynamically allocating the upstream Gen3 x4 bandwidth from the root port dynamically distributed across up to 6 downstream ports, enabling servers, NAS devices, storage expansion cards, and communication platforms to connect to additional NVMe SSDs, network cards, or acceleration devices beyond the native number of lanes provided by the chipset.

I. ASM2812 Specifications

Product Category: PCIe Gen3 Packet Switch

Manufacturer: ASMedia

Total Lanes: 12

Number of Downstream Ports: Up to 6 PCIe ports

Upstream Interface: PCIe Gen3 x1 / x2 / x4; automatically detects lane configuration at startup

Downstream Interface: 8-lane PCIe 3.1 interface, supporting up to 6 ports

Per-Lane Data Rate: 2.5 Gb/s (250 MB/s), 5 Gb/s (500 MB/s), 8 Gb/s (1 GB/s)

Maximum Payload: 512 bytes

Power-Saving States: L0s / L1 / L23 / L3; L1 sub-state for deep power saving; S3/S4 wake-up

Reliability/Management Features: LTR, AER, SRIS (Upstream/Downstream Independent Reference Clock, SSC), port-independent disable, hot-swap, accidental removal

Package: LFBGA 21 × 21 mm, 492 pins

Operating Temperature (ASM2812 Commercial Grade): 0°C ~ 70°C

Industrial Grade Version: ASM2812I, same switching architecture, designed for wide-temperature industrial environments

RoHS: Compliant

II. ASM2812 Core Features

1. “Switching” Rather Than “Expansion”: The Routing Value of Gen3 Bandwidth

Within ASMedia’s PCIe product portfolio, the ASM2812 belongs to the Gen3 packet-switching tier, occupying a distinct functional category from Gen2 port expansion chips (such as the ASM1182E) and SATA port multipliers (such as the ASM1092). The ASM1182E splits a single Gen2 x1 lane into two, with a maximum single-port bandwidth of approximately 500 MB/s; whereas the ASM2812 routes a single Gen3 x4 uplink to up to six downlink ports, with a per-channel speed of up to 8 Gb/s. The fundamental difference between the two is that the former addresses “insufficient port count,” while the latter addresses “the need to allocate bandwidth” . For storage and server scenarios requiring the simultaneous connection of multiple NVMe SSDs or high-speed network cards, the ASM2812 provides link-layer switching capabilities rather than simple physical-layer splitting.

2. Adaptive x1/x2/x4 Uplink Support Reduces Platform Adaptation Costs

The ASM2812’s upstream ports support 1-, 2-, or 4-lane PCIe connections and automatically detect the lane configuration at startup. This means a single chip can adapt to motherboard or backplane designs with varying root port bandwidths: when only x1 or x2 is available for the upstream link, the chip still functions normally, with downstream ports sharing bandwidth proportionally; When all x4 uplink lanes are available, the chip unleashes its full 12-lane switching capacity. This adaptability reduces the rigid requirement in hardware design to “provide x4 uplink” and enables a single part to support a wide range of platform configurations, from entry-level to mid-range.

3. Comprehensive Power-Saving and Reliability Feature Set for 24/7 Operation

The ASM2812 supports L0s, L1, L23, and L3 power-saving states, as well as deep power-saving modes in L1 sub-states, while retaining wake-up capability in S3 and S4 states. For systems such as NAS, servers, and communications equipment—which remain online for extended periods but have strict idle power consumption requirements—link-level power-saving mechanisms can reduce PCIe link power consumption when downstream devices are idle. In terms of reliability, LTR (Latency Tolerance Reporting), AER (Advanced Error Reporting), SRIS (Standalone Reference Clock SSC) supported by both upstream and downstream devices, and support for hot-swapping and accidental removal provide the hardware foundation for hot maintenance of multiple devices and link diagnostics. The maximum payload setting of 512 bytes aligns with the positioning of Gen3 switch chips.

4. Dual Versions: Commercial-Grade and Industrial-Grade, Covering Diverse Environmental Requirements

The ASM2812 is available in two versions: Commercial-Grade (0°C to 70°C) and Industrial-Grade ASM2812I. The core switching architecture is identical for both—12 lanes, 6 downstream ports, and Gen3 x4 upstream—with the distinction being that the ASM2812I is designed for more demanding industrial temperature environments. For applications such as storage expansion cards, edge computing boxes, and industrial PCs, designers can choose between the commercial-grade and industrial-grade versions based on the actual deployment environment, without having to change the chip architecture or redesign the PCB.

III. ASM2812 Typical Applications

Multi-M.2 NVMe Storage Expansion Cards

This is one of the most common use cases for the ASM2812. In PCIe 3.0 x4-to-dual-M.2 NVMe adapter cards, the ASM2812 distributes the upstream x4 bandwidth to two M.2 slots, enabling the motherboard to connect two NVMe SSDs even when only a single x4 slot is available. Products such as the GLOTRENDS PA20 utilize the ASM2812 to implement PCIe branching functionality.

NAS Motherboards and Storage Servers

NAS and storage servers require connecting multiple hard drives, network cards, and management controllers despite the limited number of PCIe lanes provided by the chipset. With its 6 downstream ports and 12-lane switching capability, the ASM2812 enables a single chip to handle routing tasks for multiple devices, while features such as LTR and AER ensure long-term stable operation.

High-Speed I/O for Servers and Communication Platforms

ASMedia officially positions the ASM2812 for use in servers, system storage, and communication platforms. In communication equipment, this chip can be used to distribute Gen3 x4 uplink traffic from the processor to multiple network interface cards, accelerator cards, or storage devices; in servers, it can serve as a switching node in the board-level PCIe topology to expand the number of connectable peripherals.

Industrial PCs and Edge Computing

The ASM2812I industrial-grade version is designed for industrial control and edge computing scenarios requiring wide temperature ranges and high reliability. It is suitable for embedded platforms that require PCIe device expansion but have higher environmental tolerance requirements.

Mingjiada Electronics (Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd.) has been deeply involved in the electronic components supply chain for nearly 30 years and provides both supply and recycling services for the ASMedia ASM2812 and ASM2812I.

On the supply side, we provide original ASM2812 chips to manufacturers of servers, storage devices, industrial control systems, and communications equipment, supporting both sample testing and bulk orders. On the recycling side, we specialize in handling factory inventory, project surplus, obsolete inventory, and dismantled clearance materials, covering categories such as original ICs, memory chips, and communications chips. We offer inventory assessment, tiered pricing, and cash settlement channels.

Contact Information

Mobile: +86 13410018555

Email: saled@hkmjd.com

Website: www.integrated-ic.com