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Rocket 7638D – The Foundational Platform for GPU-Direct NVMe Dataflow
- yuetianqi
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
The HighPoint Rocket 7638D is a revolutionary external Gen5 PCIe Expansion Adapter engineered to eliminate one of the most critical performance barriers in modern AI, ML, and data-intensive computing — data starvation.
The Rocket 7638D innovative hardware architecture leverages PCIe switching technology to establish a direct data path between GPUs and NVMe storage and eliminate CPU related bottlenecks. The pathway provides x16 lanes of dedicated Gen5 bandwidth and allows NVIDIA® GPUs to access massive datasets in real time, significantly accelerating training, inference, and other high-throughput workloads while avoiding the latency and overhead of host CPU involvement.
The Rocket 7638D: Versatile GPU-Direct Fabric with Tunable Performance
The HighPoint Rocket 7638D transcends the role of a standard PCIe Switch Adapter; it is the industry’s most cost-effective and flexible hardware platform for GPU-Direct NVMe storage connectivity. Engineered to act as the central switch hub for external PCIe Gen5 infrastructure, it strategically consolidates compute and storage resources through a unified, single-adapter design, ensuring continuous, ultra-low-latency data flow - essential for maximizing the utilization of today’s high-performance accelerators.
HighPoint solutions are powered by industry-leading switch silicon (such as the Broadcom PEX89048), and augmented by our customizable firmware services. This allows the entire product line to be precisely tuned to meet the unique workflow requirements and stringent security demands of diverse vertical applications, from AI training farms to massive HPC clusters.
Direct GPU-NVMe Access: Bypasses the CPU and system DRAM, dramatically reducing I/O latency and freeing up host resources.
Dedicated Gen5 x16 Bandwidth: Guarantees full PCIe Gen5 x16 performance for direct communication between the GPU and storage devices.
Simplified Hardware Stack: Offers a cost-effective and easy-to-deploy hardware architecture for advanced AI/ML, High-Performance Computing (HPC), and media processing applications."
Port Connectivity and Accessory Components
The Rocket 7638D’s robust, hybrid external + internal port connectivity and optional accessories were designed to accommodate diverse range of hardware platforms and integration requirements.
Hybrid External/Internal Port Configuration:
1 × External CDFP Gen5 x16 Port – Supports CopprLink PCIe Gen5 cabling for external JBOF enclosures or eGPU chassis interconnect.
2 × Internal MCIO Gen5 x8 Ports – High-density downstream connections for PCIe-based GPUs or NVMe devices.
Optimized for Direct GPU-NVMe Dataflow – Ensures predictable low latency and non-blocking throughput across all connected endpoints.
Connectivity & Expansion Accessories:
To empower integrators, OEMs, and administrators with maximum flexibility, HighPoint provides a comprehensive suite of modular accessories that support a wide range of GPU and NVMe configurations - ideal for diverse range of AI, edge, and data-center workflows.
Accessory | Function & Key Benefit | Configuration Use Case |
MCIO-PCIEX16-G5 | Converts Dual MCIO 8i ports into a full-sized PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. | Integrating an external PCIe device (e.g., a capture card or accelerator) directly via the switch adapter. |
RocketStor 8631C | PCIe Gen5 x16 eGPU Expansion Enclosure (Includes Gen5 x16 Cable). | Expanding the system with an external, high-bandwidth GPU or Accelerators. |
CIO8-CI08-110 Cable | Gen5 x8 MCIO Cable for host or storage connection. | Connecting the adapter to a single MCIO port on a host or storage device. |
CIO8-8639-110 Cable | Splits a single MCIO x8 port to 2x U.3 Drives. | Direct connectivity to a pair of high-performance U.3 NVMe SSDs. |
CIO8-1002-110 Cable | Splits a single MCIO x8 port to 2x E3.s Drives. | Direct connectivity to a pair of Enterprise and Data Center SSD Form Factor (E3.s) NVMe SSDs. |
RocketStor 6624C | 8-Bay Gen5 x16 CDFP/CopprLink Storage NVMe JBOF Enclosure. | Massive, high-speed external storage capacity expansion with direct x16 connectivity for maximum throughput. |
Engineered for Vertical Application Flexibility
The Rocket 7638D is designed for modular expansion and vertical scalability, allowing administrators to tailor direct dataflow topologies to their specific workflows - ranging from AI/ML model training and real-time inference to 8K media production and scientific visualization.
External GPUs / Internal Storage Expansion Solutions:
External Storage Devices / Internal GPU Expansion Solutions
Together with its accessory ecosystem, the Rocket 7638D forms a versatile, cost-efficient GPU-Direct NVMe platform that simplifies high-performance system design, and guarantees sustained Gen5 throughput for the next generation of data-driven computing.
The Competitive Edge: Tunable Performance & Future-Proof Fabric
By offering direct GPU-to-NVMe communication over a dedicated PCIe Gen5 x16 fabric, and by integrating customizable, hardware-level firmware, the Rocket 7638D delivers a fundamental competitive advantage:
Maximized GPU Utilization: Keep high-cost GPUs saturated with data, achieving higher training and inference throughput by eliminating CPU bottlenecks.
Precision-Tuned Workflows: Leverage the tunable firmware to precisely configure the PCIe fabric topology, guaranteeing predictable low latency and optimal data paths tailored to your unique AI, HPC, or media processing demands.
Future-Proof Scalability: Seamlessly integrate and scale next-generation PCIe Gen5 NVMe storage and compute-hardware while maintaining peak efficiency.
Optimized Data Pipelines: Streamline the data path for real-time processing, large-scale simulation, and complex data analytics, ensuring performance consistency across all connected endpoints.
The HighPoint Rocket 7638D is the essential foundation for any organization looking to scale its AI/ML capabilities and unlock the true performance potential of its NVIDIA GPU investment.
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