Microchip showcased a 160-lane PCIe Gen6 switch with XpressConnect retimer at FMS 2026.

At FMS 2026, Microchip displayed a comprehensive lineup of data center connectivity solutions, including a new family of Switchtec PCIe Gen6 switches with up to 160 lanes, the XpressConnect PCIe Gen6 retimer chip in operation, and an Everpure DirectFlash module.

The centerpiece was Microchip's Switchtec PFX 160xG6 switch, a 160-lane PCIe Gen6 switch chip mounted on a test PCB. This new generation is designed to compete with offerings from Broadcom, Astera Labs, and Marvell. Broadcom has dominated the PCIe switch space since its acquisition of Avago-PLX over a decade ago, though Microchip has maintained its Switchtec line. The market has shifted significantly in recent years, with PCIe switches evolving from niche components in storage servers and deep learning systems to critical elements in modern AI infrastructure.

Microchip also showcased its PSX line, which serves as a more programmable offering for storage platforms. These switches can support up to 20 ports, though they typically use far fewer due to prevalent x16 GPU and NIC connections. While other vendors are focusing on both PCIe and CXL switches in the Gen6 generation, Microchip is emphasizing PCIe.

The company's XpressConnect PCIe Gen6 retimer was demonstrated live on the show floor. Retimers remain critical in current architectures despite NVIDIA's efforts to design around them, particularly because PCIe Gen6 signaling has shorter reach while systems continue growing in physical size due to component density and cooling requirements. A PCIe retimer extends effective link reach by retiming signals. Microchip's XpressConnect also supports CXL 3.1 retiming, positioning it competitively against offerings like Astera Labs' Aries 6 in an increasingly crowded market that includes Broadcom, Marvell, and Phison.

The booth also featured an Everpure DirectFlash module. This timing is significant following Everpure's recent announcement that a second top-5 hyperscaler will adopt its DirectFlash technology, following Meta's earlier deployment—a major win for the company.