Simplify PCIe® 5.0 Receiver Testing for Faster Compliance

Introduction

The Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe®) 5.0 high-speed I/O bus is the interface between a computer’s motherboard and other peripherals, such as graphics cards and data storage devices. PCIe 5.0 doubles the data bitrate of PCIe 4.0 up to 32 GT/s. PCIe 5.0 technology encompasses the Base specification for chip-level development and the card electromechanical (CEM) specification for motherboard and add-in cards

Use Case Summary

PCIe 5.0 devices must pass receiver compliance tests for certification by the PCI-Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG®) to ensure device interoperability. The PCIe 5.0  Base and CEM specifications are complex and contain many test requirements

The faster data speeds of PCIe 5.0 make receiver testing more challenging, with new stress signal calibration requirements and tuning processes. Digital developers must calibrate a bit error ratio tester’s (BERT) pattern generator using highly accurate tools to transmit a worst-case stress test signal. This process involves adding precise impairments, such as incremental loss-induced intersymbol interference, to the stress signal

Performing the mandatory compliance, jitter tolerance, and sensitivity tests for speeds from 2.5 GT/s up to 32 GT/s with repeatability and precision is time-consuming without process automation. After hours of testing, a failed test without any additional analysis tools makes debugging a guessing game

Solution Overview

The Keysight PCIe 5.0 receiver compliance test solution provides all the tools developers need to calibrate and test the PCIe device’s receiver performance to PCI-SIG standards. The software features a guided setup with fast stress signal calibration and automated compliance measurement functions. The solution also features two modes: compliance mode for quick reassurance that the device passes interoperability tests, and characterization mode for more in-depth analysis and debugging

The platform includes the Keysight M8040A high-performance BERT running the Keysight N5991PC5A receiver test automation compliance software, as well as the Keysight Infiniium UXR-Series oscilloscope running the Keysight D9120ASIA InfiniiSim advanced signal integrity software package

Summary

• PCIe 5.0 introduces faster bit rates to the popular I/O standard.

• Faster speeds require more accurate measurement to meet compliance standards.

• The PCIe 5.0 automated receiver compliance test solution simplifies receiver testing to PCI-SIG specifications.