In an interesting turn for the accelerated computing industry, AMD is gearing up to close the technological gap with NVIDIA by introducing its Infinity Fabric, also known as XGMI, in a new initiative alongside Broadcom. This joint effort aims to leverage the next generation of PCIe links, specifically PCIe Gen7, to scale accelerated computing architectures more efficiently with something called AFL or Accelerated Fabric Link.
AFL: AMD’s Bet for the Future of Accelerated Computing
AFL, or Accelerated Fabric Link, is AMD’s response to NVIDIA’s established NVLink and NVSwitch technology. While NVIDIA has led the way in interconnecting up to 16 GPUs within AI servers, AMD recognizes the need to offer a competitive solution. AFL will operate over PCIe Gen7 links, promising a more scalable accelerated computing architecture.
Broadcom: The Vehicle for AMD’s AFL
Broadcom, known for its innovations in the field of PCIe switches and retimers, has partnered with AMD to bring this vision to life. Broadcom is expected to begin offering samples of its 144-lane PCIe Gen6 switches in the second half of this year, aiming for server implementation by 2025. These high-capacity switches will enable direct device-to-device communication, essential for accelerated computing. Additionally, Broadcom has confirmed that their future switches from the Atlas 4 lineup will expand AMD Infinity Fabric / XGMI through a switched architecture using AFL.
The Promise of AFL in the PCIe Gen7 Era
With the arrival of PCIe Gen7, AFL promises to support accelerator fabrics, offering a robust and scalable solution for interconnecting accelerated devices. This development not only represents a significant advancement for AMD in its direct competition with NVIDIA but also highlights Broadcom’s commitment to technological innovation in the field of accelerated computing.
An Accelerated and Connected Future
The transition to faster interconnection speeds is crucial to support emerging computing and networking technologies. AMD’s AFL, in collaboration with Broadcom’s switches, promises to be a game-changer in how accelerated computing systems are built and scaled.
Final Thoughts
While anticipation for these AFL systems is high, the tech community will need to exercise patience. This collaboration between AMD and Broadcom still has several quarters ahead before AFL systems reach users’ hands. In the meantime, the Atlas 3 family with support for PCIe Gen6 and CXL 3.1 is on the way, and we look forward to reviewing products based on this technology in 2025. The union of AMD and Broadcom signals an exciting future for accelerated computing, challenging NVIDIA’s dominance and opening up new possibilities for technological innovation.