Vitesse delivers industry’s highest density Gigabit Ethernet PHY for green system designs

CAMARILLO, USA: Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. has introduced the VSC8512, the industry’s first 12-port Gigabit Ethernet PHY device with dual media copper and fiber support, integrated with Vitesse’s new EcoEthernet 2.0.

EcoEthernet 2.0 delivers unprecedented energy efficiency with unique features such as ActiPHY automatic link-power down and PerfectReach intelligent cable algorithm, along with IEEE 802.3az idle power savings, temperature monitoring, smart fan control, and adjustable LED brightness.

Part of the widely adopted SimpliPHY family of Vitesse ICs, the VSC8512 boasts 50-percent higher density than the leading transceiver competitor, and 66-percent greater density than other suppliers.

The VSC8512 achieves its breakthrough power dissipation of 370 mW/port for 1000BASE-T copper and 150 mW for fiber, not only through optimal design techniques in a 65-nm CMOS process, but also through support of both low pin count SGMII and QSGMII interfaces.

While SGMII is the most popular interface to multiport switch and processor devices, the addition of QSGMII allows easier routing between PHY and switch/processor devices in very high density Ethernet routers and switches. Support of both interfaces means simpler board design, more cost-effective packaging, lower overall power, and better support for legacy devices.

“The unprecedented density of Vitesse’s new 12-port VSC8512, combined with its EcoEthernet 2.0 technology, simplifies designing next-generation green Enterprise switches and Carrier Ethernet switch and routers with 24-, 48-, and even 96-ports in a single line card,” said Jason Rock, product marketing manager at Vitesse.

“While this might have been possible using older quad- or octal-port chips, system design is now greatly simplified with the VSC8512’s level of integration complemented by its unique energy-efficiency and thermal management feature set.”

Samples of the VSC8512 will be generally available in the second quarter of calendar 2010. Unit price in quantities of 10,000 is $26.76.