CXL DDR4 expansion.
For CXL-ready servers.
Explore AIC-CXL-D44 host-memory expansion using qualified DDR4 capacity on CXL-ready servers via PCIe 5.0 x16. CPU, BIOS, OS, firmware and DIMM compatibility require validation; a PCIe slot alone is insufficient.
A side door for established DDR4.
The AIC-CXL-D44 is designed as a host-memory expansion card. DDR4 modules sit behind the card’s onboard CXL controllers while the host system accesses the added capacity through CXL.
PCIe 5.0 x16 host link
PCIe 5.0 x16 host interface. Link negotiation and CXL memory operation require separate host-platform validation; a PCIe slot does not establish CXL support.
Four DDR4-3200 RDIMM slots
Four DDR4-3200 RDIMM slots arranged as a flexible 2DPC expansion layout.
Independent control plane
Dual CXL controllers with a RISC-V microprocessor and onboard firmware storage.
Exact module support, capacity, firmware and platform compatibility are confirmed during qualification. This card expands CPU host memory; it is not a replacement for GPU HBM.
A clear starting point for qualification.
| Product | AIC-CXL-D44 |
|---|---|
| Host interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| Memory interface | 4 × DDR4-3200 RDIMM slots |
| Controller | Dual CXL controllers |
| Management | RISC-V microprocessor, UART, JTAG and I2C interfaces |
| Firmware storage | 128Mb SPI NOR Flash |
- Data-center memory pools
- Elastic capacity for cloud and virtualization
- In-memory databases and big-data analytics
- CXL memory tiering and cache layers
Keep hot data close.
Give cold data room.
A slower capacity tier can still be useful when a workload is limited by total memory rather than peak bandwidth. Operating-system page placement can keep performance-sensitive pages local while moving colder pages to expanded capacity.
CXL deployment depends on platform hardware, BIOS, operating system support and workload policy. A PCIe slot alone does not guarantee CXL memory support.
Make existing memory part of the next system.
A single card is planned for up to 256 GB with four DDR4 RDIMM slots, subject to validated modules and platform configuration. A server with 768 GB of local DDR5 could reach a 1 TB planning target when the host platform, installation space and software stack support the expansion.
- Confirm CXL Type-3 platform support
- Validate DDR4 module population and thermals
- Profile hot and cold page behavior
- Review lifecycle, qualification and supply terms
Can DDR4 expand the memory of a DDR5 server?
Qualified DDR4 can form an additional host-memory capacity tier through a compatible CXL expansion card. It does not become DDR5. The AIC-CXL-D44 uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, and requires validation of the CPU platform, BIOS, operating system, firmware and DDR4 modules. A PCIe slot alone does not establish CXL memory support.
| Question | Planning answer |
|---|---|
| Is a PCIe slot enough? | No. Validate CXL support and the complete host, firmware and software configuration. |
| Does the card replace GPU HBM? | No. It expands CPU host memory and does not replace GPU-local HBM. |
| Is 256 GB guaranteed? | No. Up to 256 GB is a planning target, subject to validated modules and platform configuration. |
| Will every workload improve? | No. Memory tiering, latency, bandwidth and application behavior require workload testing. |
Technical references
These references explain CXL technology and software requirements. They do not certify the AIC-CXL-D44 or establish compatibility with a particular server.
Discuss AIC-CXL-D44 qualification.
Share the workload, constraints and timeline. We’ll help identify a practical next step.