HighPoint Technologies, a pioneer in high-performance PCIe storage and connectivity solutions for over three decades, is proud to announce the Rocket 1604L, our first Retimer-based PCIe M.2 Add-In-Card (AIC). This 4-M.2 PCIe Gen5 x16 solution is powered by Astera Labs’ industry-leading Gen5 Retimer technology, specifically engineered to meet the extreme signal integrity demands of next-generation AI and high-velocity compute environments.
Strategic Performance for the AI Edge
The Rocket 1604L defines a new “Performance-First” category in HighPoint’s ecosystem. While HighPoint’s established PCIe Switch-based solutions lead the market in universal connectivity and enterprise storage management, the Rocket 1604L is a specialized tool for architects who prioritize deterministic, near-zero latency and uninterrupted data velocity for dense accelerator clusters.
By focusing on Physical-Layer (Layer 1) optimization, the 1604L provides a streamlined and cost-effective path to harness the full 32GT/s bandwidth of PCIe Gen5 for specialized AI processing and high-frequency data acquisition.
“The Rocket 1604L represents a strategic expansion of our Gen5 portfolio,” said May Hwang, VP of Marketing at HighPoint Technologies, Inc. “While our Switch-based solutions continue to lead in universal compatibility and advanced storage management, the Rocket 1604L is engineered for a different mission: pure data velocity. By leveraging Astera Labs’ Retimer technology, we provide AI Architects with a streamlined, near-zero latency path that is ideal for high-density accelerator clusters where every nanosecond of inference performance is critical.”
Architectural Flexibility Without Compromise
As industrial chassis become more compact and high-speed accelerators like GPUs drive thermal loads to new heights, the need for architectural flexibility has never been greater. The Rocket 1604L can be directly integrated into a standard bifurcated (x4/x4/x4/x4) PCIe slot to host up to four high-speed M.2 modules within its compact 167mm footprint, or serve as a high-integrity signal hub for remote MCIO connectivity.
“As AI workloads move from the data center to the industrial edge, maintaining signal integrity at 32GT/s becomes the primary barrier to performance,” said Aanchal Sharma, Senior Director of Product Management, Signal Connectivity Group at Astera Labs. “We are pleased to see HighPoint utilize our Aries PCIe/CXL Smart DSP Retimers to overcome these physical-layer challenges.”
The Intelligence Layer: Smart Firmware Management
HighPoint’s Smart Firmware Layer transforms the Rocket 1604L from a “black box” into a self-aware infrastructure hub, providing critical oversight for mission-critical deployments:
Precision Telemetry: IT Architects can monitor power consumption and thermal health in real-time, ensuring the stability of the entire AI data path.
Lane Verification: Instantly confirms that every AI accelerator or NVMe drive has successfully negotiated its full Gen5 x4 bandwidth. This ensures your TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) never drop due to link-training issues or signal degradation.
Active Signal Conditioning: Performance Meets Efficiency
Unlike passive AICs that act as simple pass-through devices, the Rocket 1604L features an Active Signal Conditioning Engine that solves the conflict between distance and speed:
Remote Reach, Full Speed: Whether your M.2 AIPUs or NVMe drives are mounted directly or situated remotely via MCIO cables to avoid GPU heat zones, the Rocket 1604L’s Retimer architecture re-clocks and regenerates the signal. This ensures zero performance degradation and absolute signal integrity at 32GT/s.
Compact Industrial Footprint: Measuring only 167mm in length, the 1604L is 50% shorter than standard 4-port cards, providing the physical flexibility to fit into tight industrial enclosures.
Thermally Insured: By combining our field-proven PCIe Gen5 active cooling solution with the ability to “disaggregate” storage and compute from heat-heavy zones via MCIO connectivity, the Rocket 1604L eliminates thermal throttling in 24/7 AI server environments.
Product Positioning: A New Category of Power
The Rocket 1604L defines a “Performance-First” category. It is a streamlined, cost-effective alternative to our feature-rich Switch-based series, designed specifically for AI-heavy workloads that prioritize Phy-level latency and uninterrupted data velocity over complex storage management. By bridging the gap between raw power and signal stability, HighPoint continues to lead the frontier of PCIe Gen5 infrastructure.
