The HLink-G3 card is used to provide a high bandwidth PCI Express link from an upstream host to a downstream expansion unit. Used with the SLink-G3 and Datapath expansion backplanes, this card allows the construction of larger systems comprising of many more PCI Express card slots than can be accommodated in a single chassis.
The Gen.3 PCI Express technology and supoprt for 8 lanes, allows for very high data rates to be supported between system components, which has applications wherever there is a need for distributed computing across a PCI Express fabric. For data wall systems, this bandwidth equates to very high pixel transfer speeds, ensuring smooth, full frame rate video distribution between chassis. Peak bandwidths of up to 8GB/s can be achieved on both upstream and downstream links simultaneously.
When unplugged into an Express9 backplane, the extended PCI Express bus will link at PCIe 2.1 (Gen.2) signalling rates, providing a peak line bandwidth of 4GB/s both upstream and downstream.
To benefit from the full performance, we recommend that the SLink-G3 is used in conjunction with the Datapath family of Gen.3 backplanes which allows the full 8GB/s link speed, assuming the host slot (that accepts the HLink-G3 card) is capable of Gen.3 operation.
