Şirket Blog About ASMedia ASM2806I Industrial-Grade PCIe Gen3 Switch Chip: Technical Specifications, Application Scenarios, and Mingjiada’s Supply and Recycling Services

Abstract: The ASM2806I is a PCIe Gen3 packet switch chip for industrial environments developed by ASMedia. With a 6-lane/4-port architecture and a wide temperature range of -40°C to 85°C, it serves as a high-speed I/O expansion solution in the server, storage, embedded, and industrial control sectors. Mingjiada Electronics provides two-way supply chain services for this model, including the supply of genuine, in-stock products and inventory buyback.

I. ASM2806I Product Positioning: The Industrial-Grade Variant of the ASM2806 Series

The ASMedia ASM2806 series comprises three models: ASM2806, ASM2806A, and ASM2806I. All three share a 6-lane architecture and PCIe Gen3×2 upstream bandwidth, with differences primarily in the number of ports and operating temperature range. The ASM2806 is a commercial-grade general-purpose model with up to 4 downstream ports; the ASM2806A is a commercial-grade streamlined model with downstream ports reduced to a maximum of 2; the ASM2806I matches the ASM2806 in functionality but extends the operating temperature range to -40°C to 85°C, targeting harsh industrial environments such as factory automation, edge computing, and outdoor communication equipment.

The significance of this model differentiation lies in the fact that, when selecting industrial equipment, the 0°C to 70°C temperature range of commercial-grade chips often fails to cover real-world operating conditions such as un-air-conditioned cabinets, in-vehicle applications, and outdoor enclosures. The ASM2806I’s wide-temperature specifications directly address this pain point without requiring users to compromise on feature completeness.

II. Core Technical Features

Regarding the upstream interface, the ASM2806I provides a root port with 1 to 2 PCIe lanes. It automatically detects the lane configuration upon startup and supports three speed tiers per lane: 2.5 Gb (250 MB/s), 5 Gb (500 MB/s), and 8 Gb (1 GB/s). This means that in a PCIe Gen3×2 configuration, the upstream link can provide approximately 2 GB/s of available bandwidth, which is sufficient to support the aggregation requirements of multiple NVMe SSDs or high-speed network controllers.

On the downstream side, the chip provides a 4-lane PCIe interface that can be allocated to up to four downstream ports. It is important to note that ASMedia’s official specification page lists the downstream interface as PCIe 2.0. This means the ASM2806I typically handles Gen3 bandwidth on the upstream side while using four independent ports on the downstream side to enable device fan-out and isolation—rather than operating at full Gen3 speeds on every downstream port. For scenarios such as M.2 NVMe expansion and multi-port network expansion, this architecture is sufficient to meet actual throughput requirements.

Low-power management is another key design focus. The ASM2806I supports L0s, L1, L23, and L3 power-saving states, as well as deep power-saving modes in L1 sub-states. It supports S3 and S4 wake-up, and features LTR (Latency Tolerance Report) and AER (Advanced Error Reporting) capabilities, with both upstream and downstream ports supporting SRIS. For industrial and server equipment requiring 24/7 operation, these features directly impact the feasibility of system power consumption budgets and thermal design. Additionally, the chip supports hot-swapping and accidental removal, with a maximum payload of 512 bytes, and is packaged in a 10×10 mm QFN88 package.

III. Typical Application Scenarios

Embedded systems and single-board computer expansion are among the areas where the ASM2806I has recently garnered attention. On platforms such as the Raspberry Pi 5 that feature PCIe FFC interfaces, the ASM2806 series is used to expand a single PCIe Gen3×1 upstream lane into multiple M.2 interfaces, overcoming the bandwidth limitations of PCIe Gen2 switch chips. The ASM2806I’s industrial temperature range makes it particularly well-suited for industrial control gateways and edge AI boxes based on single-board computers.

In server and storage platforms, the ASM2806I can be used for PCIe lane fan-out on motherboards or backplanes, connecting multiple NVMe solid-state drives or network controllers to achieve port expansion with low latency. In telecommunications equipment applications, the chip handles the flexible allocation of high-speed I/O lanes, making it suitable for link splitting and aggregation on space-constrained communication boards. Industrial control is the core application area where the ASM2806I distinguishes itself from commercial-grade models in the same series—factory automation controllers, machine vision capture cards, and edge computing nodes often face requirements for wide temperature ranges, vibration resistance, and long-term supply stability. The -40°C to 85°C operating temperature range covers the temperature limits of the vast majority of industrial environments.

IV. Mingjiada Electronics: Two-Way Support for ASM2806I Supply and Recycling

Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd. has long specialized in the supply and recycling of the full range of ASMedia chips; the ASM2806, ASM2806A, and ASM2806I are all included in its available product lineup.

On the supply side, Mingjiada leverages its dual-warehouse coordination between Shenzhen and Hong Kong to maintain a constant stock of in-stock items, supporting both small-batch sample orders and bulk purchases. For industrial-grade part numbers such as the ASM2806I, the availability of genuine, in-stock items directly impacts industrial control customers’ production line scheduling and maintenance inventory planning. For scarce part numbers and end-of-life (EOL) parts, Mingjiada also has corresponding response and delivery channels in place.

On the recycling side, Mingjiada offers recycling services for the ASM2806 series and the full range of ASMedia chips, targeting factory inventory, distributor dead stock, and surplus materials from solution providers. The buyback process consists of four stages: online preliminary evaluation, on-site inspection, purchase quotation, and rapid payment. The technical team is equipped with X-ray inspection devices and XRF spectrometers for component identification. We accept both bulk warehouse inventory and small quantities of leftover stock; priority is given to original, unopened packages, as well as reel, tube, and palletized stock. For industrial customers, the practical value of this two-way capability lies in the fact that, as an industrial-grade part number, the ASM2806I often has fewer disposal channels for surplus inventory—compared to commercial-grade part numbers—once a project is completed or a design change occurs. Mingjiada’s recycling channel provides a compliant, traceable path to monetization, rather than allowing idle inventory to accumulate in warehouses.

To obtain a supply quote for ASM2806I or an inventory buyback evaluation, please contact Mingjiada Electronics directly. Provide the part number, package type, lot number, and quantity to receive a tailored solution. When selecting and stocking industrial-grade chips, the time window is often a more critical consideration than price flexibility.