Architectural Flexibility: High-Density Integration Without Limits

HighPoint offers a comprehensive ecosystem of NVMe storage and connectivity solutions that enable AI Architects to overcome the physical and thermal constraints of modern server chassis.

Our M.2 AIC solutions were designed to operate as Versatile Integration Hub, enabling the consolidation of up to 16 NVMe devices or AI Accelerator modules into a single PCIe slot.

This high-density architecture is purpose-built for compute and GPU servers, streamlining high-bandwidth data paths to reduce GPU idle time and maximize inference performance.

Solving Installation & Server Constraints

HighPoint provides three distinct hardware architectures to address specific system limitations:

1. Universal Switch-Based AICs (No Bifurcation Required)

Ideal for systems where the motherboard lacks bifurcation support or where maximum device density is required.

· Technology: The integrated Broadcom 48-lane PCIe Switch engine manages resource allocation independently.

· Benefit: Intelligent "Synthetic Hierarchy" manages x4 lanes for each M.2 port and enables enterprise-class storage features.

· Recommended Models:

Product	Host PCIe Interface	Port Type/Count	Device Support
Rocket 1608A	PCIe 5.0 x16	8x M.2 Gen5 x4	NVMe SSD / AI Modules
Rocket 7608A	PCIe 5.0 x16	8x M.2 Gen5 x4	NVMe SSD / RAID
Rocket 1604A	PCIe 5.0 x16	4x M.2 Gen5 x4	NVMe SSD / AI Modules
Rocket 7604A	PCIe 5.0 x16	4x M.2 Gen5 x4	NVMe SSD / RAID
SSD7749M2 (dual-width)	PCIe 4.0 x16	16x M.2 Gen4 x2	NVMe SSDs / RAID
SSD7540	PCIe 4.0 x16	8x M.2 Gen4 x2	NVMe SSDs / RAID
SSD7505	PCIe 4.0 x16	4x M.2 Gen4 x2	NVMe SSDs / RAID

2. Performance-First Retimer AICs (Bifurcation Required)

Designed for AI Edge architects who prioritize deterministic, near-zero latency for dense accelerator clusters.

· Technology: Active Retimer technology re-clocks and regenerates signals to ensure bit-perfect Gen5 32GT/s transmission.

· Benefit: Essential for both High-TOPS AI Accelerator modules and Gen5 NVMe SSDs. The retimer ensures "clean" signal integrity, eliminating data drop-outs and ensuring a stable, high-speed data feeder for power-hungry GPUs.

· Recommended Model:

Product	Host PCIe Interface	Port Type/Count	Device Support
Rocket 1604L	PCIe 5.0 x16	4x M.2 Gen5 x4	NVMe SSD / AI Modules

3. MCIO Bridge Expansion (Mechanical & Thermal Flexibility)

For dense servers facing thermal bottlenecks or "slot starvation," HighPoint offers remote integration via their MCIO Bridge card; the MCIO-PCIEX16-G5.

· Technology: Translates PCIe Switch or Host MCIO ports into a remote PCIe x16 slot.

Benefit: 

o Mechanical Freedom: Position M.2 AICs or GPUs in available chassis bays or high-airflow zones, away from the crowded CPU/RAM area.

o Massive Scalability: Using a HighPoint PCIe Switch Adapter with 4x MCIO expansion ports, users can scale up to 32 M.2 devices (NVMe or AI Accelerators) or up to 4x x16/x8 GPU cards from a single host slot.

The Modular Integration Blueprint

To implement remote expansion, the solution utilizes a high-signal-integrity “Host-to-Bridge” pathway:

1. The Host Source: Connects directly to native Motherboard MCIO/SlimSAS ports or HighPoint’s Rocket 1600 and Rocket 1528D expansion adapters.

2. High-Speed Fabric Cabling: Maintains Gen5 signal integrity using dedicated cables:

a. HighPoint CIO8-CIO8-110: For native Host MCIO to Bridge connections.

b. HighPoint 8654-CIO8-110: For SlimSAS Host Port to Bridge connections.

3. The Remote PCIe x16 Slot: The bridge card provides a native PCIe Gen4/Gen5 x16 slot, supporting full-height GPUs, FPGA cards, or HighPoint NVMe RAID AICs.

a. HighPoint MCIO-PCIEX16-G5: Bridge card that enables MCIO ports to function as a native PCIe Gen5/Gen5 x16 slot.

Advanced Integration Modes: Accelerating the GPU Ecosystem

 

Traditional architectures often leave powerful GPUs "starving" for data due to PCIe congestion and CPU overhead. HighPoint’s M.2 AIC architecture allows for three distinct deployment strategies on a single physical fabric:

· High-Speed GPU Feeder (NVMe Storage): Fully populate the AIC with high-performance NVMe SSDs to form a massive, localized storage pool. This configuration maximizes throughput to feed the GPU at Gen5 speeds, effectively eliminating the "starvation" delays that hinder processing.

· High-Density Inference Cluster (AI Accelerators): Fully populate the AIC with AI Accelerator modules (such as Hailo-8) to create a high-speed inference cluster within a single PCIe slot. This is ideal for edge compute servers where space is limited but high TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) performance is required.

· Hybrid Compute & Storage Hub: Mix AI Accelerators and NVMe SSDs on a single physical card. By localizing the data (NVMe) next to the compute (AI modules), architects create a "Direct-In-Fabric" data pool that streamlines bandwidth and significantly reduces latency for real-time AI workloads.

Tailored Storage Configurations

HighPoint provides the flexibility for architects to choose the RAID, Switch or Expansion solution that best fits their specific environment:

Requirement	Product Series	Optimized For
High-Performance RAID	Rocket 7600 / 7000 / 7100	Maximum transfer potential (up to 56GB/s) for NVMe-only storage arrays.
Connectivity & IT-Managed RAID	Rocket 1600L / 1600A / 1500	Supports OS-based RAID (ZFS, mdadm) or 3rd-party RAID solutions; ideal for boot drives and AI accelerators.
Extreme Density	SSD7749M2	Maximize a single slot with up to 16 industry-mainstream M.2 devices.

Designed for Industrial SIs and Architects

 

Whether you are building a dedicated AI inference cluster, a fast NVMe storage array to feed power-hungry GPUs, or a hybrid compute-storage hub, HighPoint’s extensive M.2 AIC portfolio will meet the demands of your unique industrial server platform. Our comprehensive PCIe Gen5 and Gen4 product lines provide the electrical "muscle" and mechanical flexibility to push high-performance storage and compute performance to their absolute limit without compromising on reliability.