PCIe Bifurcation Card Design
Budget: £20 – £250 GBP
I need a PCIe 16x card designed to implement x8/x8 bifurcation using the Microchip Technology PCI12000-I/ZUX switch chip (if this is the correct chip for splitting the lanes). The card should also include two OCU-Link connectors and heat-sink for the chip.
It is intended to connect to a dual gpu cradle, for pc's with one pcie 16x slot and the bios doesn't support splitting. I'm unsure if this makes any difference to the design, but I specifically want to be able to pick which gpu gets sent data (if that is doable - I realise that isn't just a function of the card itself, but software programming too)
I don't know if you also can design the mounting bracket, or fine-tune details about it, but I would like to be able to slot internal power supply power connections through it. It would be the same size as a typical gpu bracket, so I don't imagine space to be an issue. More a question of whether there are any problems that might be caused if done this way.
The idea is that a power supply already in the pc will provide power to two external gpu's in a cradle (exposed internal sockets from power supply, cable from socket to gpu in cradle). So if there is two split spaces that are the size of two 8-pin power connectors, and something on the inside for them to slot into place, it means not an needing extra power supply inside the cradle (?)
Finally: the cradle needs a pcb with similar features: horizontal base, 2 OCuLink connectors, switch chip (same chip as pci slot card) and heat-sink for chip, two pcie 16x slots and a power supply connection (only enough for the slots etc in the cradle - gpu's would get their power elsewhere) for whatever is the lowest power supply the board would need.
If the board needs a basic power supply that is more powerful than the board actually draws, then I would want to try and get power from the card to the cradle using the internal pc power supply. Perhaps usb if that is a possibility (cradle connects to usb socket on pc), or if not: then the internal pcie 16x card has a power socket for cradle and gets power from pc.
Ideally there should be a pathway between the two gpu's in the cradle that facilitates passing data between them. That might be a redundant point to make with the presence of a switch chip, but I'm emphasizing it if it does require extra consideration to achieve (assuming it is doable, of course)
Regarding the two pcie 16x slots in the cradle: They would be side by side with spacing appropriate for gpus such as a 1070 (standard size?) and I'm assuming that having them point in opposite directions would mean the air-flow for either isn't impeded.
I know that some of the functionality proposed here would be reliant on software support. Essentially it is external SLI / crossfire, or the gpu equivalent of a compute system, but as long as the card and cradle can be designed to best accommodate this then I will look at how to support it through software later.
This is both a personal project for my own needs, and one that is intended for consumer consumption if viable at a technical level. I'm aware that such cards already exist (internal pcie 16x to external 4 OCuLink slots) but not, as far I'm aware, for a dual-gpu cradle with a switch chip.
My pc doesn't have thunderbolt / oculink or bifurcation on the pcie 16x slot, so this would be (to the best of my knowledge) the only way to get two gpu's working with my motherboard (card and / or cradle - at least one of them has to have a switch chip?)
Maybe there would be a demand for such a set-up, so if you're confident you can design it and it would work as intended (bar the software to support it in practice) I'd like to hear from you with a quote and suggestions for refinements or notes on any redundant assumptions about the design etc.
For now I have put a modest limit on what I can pay, as it is purely at a hobbyist idea-level based off of not finding a consumer card / cradle that matches my needs. I know some of this exists in part already, but I need experienced advice regarding anything further.
If it is viable, and I have the right chip for switching purposes (hopefully so, as I found a load in stock for an affordable price), then I can look at proper investment and renumeration. Hopefully that's reasonable, as I've never done anything like this before. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Requirements:
- Design a PCIe 16x card with x8/x8 bifurcation capability.
- Integrate Microchip Technology PCI12000-I/ZUX switch chip (if I have the right chip for this purpose)
- Include two OCu-Link connectors.
- Design a cradle for two gpu's with the same switch chip and OcuLink connections, two pci 16x slots and power connection that covers draw of just the cradle
Ideal Skills and Experience:
- Proficiency in PCIe card design.
- Experience with Microchip switch chips.
- Knowledge of CU-Link connectivity.
- Strong background in hardware design and schematics.
- Electrical engineering
Please provide relevant experience and a portfolio if available.
It is intended to connect to a dual gpu cradle, for pc's with one pcie 16x slot and the bios doesn't support splitting. I'm unsure if this makes any difference to the design, but I specifically want to be able to pick which gpu gets sent data (if that is doable - I realise that isn't just a function of the card itself, but software programming too)
I don't know if you also can design the mounting bracket, or fine-tune details about it, but I would like to be able to slot internal power supply power connections through it. It would be the same size as a typical gpu bracket, so I don't imagine space to be an issue. More a question of whether there are any problems that might be caused if done this way.
The idea is that a power supply already in the pc will provide power to two external gpu's in a cradle (exposed internal sockets from power supply, cable from socket to gpu in cradle). So if there is two split spaces that are the size of two 8-pin power connectors, and something on the inside for them to slot into place, it means not an needing extra power supply inside the cradle (?)
Finally: the cradle needs a pcb with similar features: horizontal base, 2 OCuLink connectors, switch chip (same chip as pci slot card) and heat-sink for chip, two pcie 16x slots and a power supply connection (only enough for the slots etc in the cradle - gpu's would get their power elsewhere) for whatever is the lowest power supply the board would need.
If the board needs a basic power supply that is more powerful than the board actually draws, then I would want to try and get power from the card to the cradle using the internal pc power supply. Perhaps usb if that is a possibility (cradle connects to usb socket on pc), or if not: then the internal pcie 16x card has a power socket for cradle and gets power from pc.
Ideally there should be a pathway between the two gpu's in the cradle that facilitates passing data between them. That might be a redundant point to make with the presence of a switch chip, but I'm emphasizing it if it does require extra consideration to achieve (assuming it is doable, of course)
Regarding the two pcie 16x slots in the cradle: They would be side by side with spacing appropriate for gpus such as a 1070 (standard size?) and I'm assuming that having them point in opposite directions would mean the air-flow for either isn't impeded.
I know that some of the functionality proposed here would be reliant on software support. Essentially it is external SLI / crossfire, or the gpu equivalent of a compute system, but as long as the card and cradle can be designed to best accommodate this then I will look at how to support it through software later.
This is both a personal project for my own needs, and one that is intended for consumer consumption if viable at a technical level. I'm aware that such cards already exist (internal pcie 16x to external 4 OCuLink slots) but not, as far I'm aware, for a dual-gpu cradle with a switch chip.
My pc doesn't have thunderbolt / oculink or bifurcation on the pcie 16x slot, so this would be (to the best of my knowledge) the only way to get two gpu's working with my motherboard (card and / or cradle - at least one of them has to have a switch chip?)
Maybe there would be a demand for such a set-up, so if you're confident you can design it and it would work as intended (bar the software to support it in practice) I'd like to hear from you with a quote and suggestions for refinements or notes on any redundant assumptions about the design etc.
For now I have put a modest limit on what I can pay, as it is purely at a hobbyist idea-level based off of not finding a consumer card / cradle that matches my needs. I know some of this exists in part already, but I need experienced advice regarding anything further.
If it is viable, and I have the right chip for switching purposes (hopefully so, as I found a load in stock for an affordable price), then I can look at proper investment and renumeration. Hopefully that's reasonable, as I've never done anything like this before. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Requirements:
- Design a PCIe 16x card with x8/x8 bifurcation capability.
- Integrate Microchip Technology PCI12000-I/ZUX switch chip (if I have the right chip for this purpose)
- Include two OCu-Link connectors.
- Design a cradle for two gpu's with the same switch chip and OcuLink connections, two pci 16x slots and power connection that covers draw of just the cradle
Ideal Skills and Experience:
- Proficiency in PCIe card design.
- Experience with Microchip switch chips.
- Knowledge of CU-Link connectivity.
- Strong background in hardware design and schematics.
- Electrical engineering
Please provide relevant experience and a portfolio if available.