![]()
Tuesday 20 May 2025
Montage Technology embraces CXL innovation to scale memory and bandwidth for enhanced data center performance
Montage Technology is a global fabless semiconductor design company specializing in data processing and interconnect chip solutions. Founded in 2004, the company is headquartered in Shanghai, with operations and partnerships spanning key international markets. The company focuses on DRAM memory modules and data processing solutions for cloud computing and data center markets, addressing the soaring demand for high-bandwidth and large-capacity memory driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and enterprise workloads. Its product portfolio includes Memory Interface chips, Memory Module Controller ICs, PCIe Retimer chips, and more.Driven by the increasing demand for generative AI, machine learning, big data analytics, datacenter construction, one of the recent product development trends of Montage Technology is aiming the Compute Express Link® (CXL®) technology, which enables high-speed interconnect between CPUs and DRAM memory, addressing memory challenges by enhancing system performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency. Built on the PCIe physical layer, CXL introduces innovative capabilities such as DRAM memory expansion, sharing, pooling, and dynamic configuration, effectively eliminating traditional data processing bottlenecks in data-intensive systems and data center servers.In this interview, Geof Findley, World Wide VP of Sales & Business Development at Montage Technology, discusses the recent advancements in memory technologies aimed at increasing datacenter performance. Montage delivers versatile memory solutions that unlock next-gen memory bandwidth and performance, specifically tailored for AI and data-intensive workloads. These solutions are already in use by major global DRAM manufacturers and electronics OEMs/ODMs, underscoring strong partnerships with companies such as SK hynix, Samsung Electronics and Micron Technology.Credit: Montage TechnologySpecialty memory buffers and MRDIMM modulesWith more than 20 years of experience in memory products, the company maintains stable profits and proven track records. According to Findley, there are three key product lines driving growth for Montage, the first being specialty DRAM buffers. Montage started to develop its DRAM module buffer technologies very early. Given the buffer chip's critical role between the processor and DRAM memory, Montage collaborates with major CPU giants such as Intel and AMD, leading silicon IP vendors, as well as the world's top three memory manufacturers -- Micron, Samsung and SK hynix.Currently, Montage attributes its strong growth to the rapidly increasing demand for DDR5 memory used in data centers. Shipments of its DDR5 Registering Clock Driver (RCD) chips have grown substantially. Its 4th-gen DDR5 RCD chips deliver data rates of up to 7200 MT/s, a 50% increase over the 1st-gen products. Alongside its RCD portfolio, the company also provides DDR5 Data Buffers (DB) and other essential DDR5 module supporting chips like SPD EEPROM with Hubs, Temperature Sensors, and Power Management ICs.Considering the high throughput and low latency data processing use cases, MRDIMM (Multiplexed Rank Dual In-Line Memory Modules) are particularly useful to handle larger datasets such as large-scale databases, virtualization, and real-time analytic operations. In January 2025, Montage has successfully sampled its Gen2 Multiplexed Rank Registering Clock Driver (MRCD) and Multiplexed Rank Data Buffer (MDB) chipset to global leading memory manufacturers in South Korea, Japan and North America. These series IC solutions ensure interoperability and system-level performance for customers seeking to leverage the DDR5 MRDIMM Gen2 standard in high-throughput data-intensive applications. Montage's MRCD and MDB chips are fundamental to MRDIMM operationCredit: Montage TechnologyCXL adoption in data centers has moved from crawling to toddlingThe second product focus for Montage is CXL memory. CXL memory expansion is particularly valuable in scenarios where high DRAM capacity is required with only one DIMM per channel, or when servers lack available DIMM slots. Montage delivers the CXL Memory eXpander Controller (MXC) chips supporting the CXL 1.0, 2.0 and 3.1 specifications. These MXC chips comply with JEDEC specifications for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The mass-produced MXC Gen1 chips support CXL 2.0 with DDR4-3200/DDR5-5600, while the MXC Gen2 chips support CXL 2.0 and are compatible with DDR5-6400 memory.The development of CXL controllers is closely tied to PCIe interface technology. Current CXL 1.0 and 2.0 specifications primarily align with PCIe 5.0, while future CXL 3.x specifications are expected to align with PCIe 6.x to support even higher-speed memory channels. As memory pooling becomes more ambitious and widely adopted, the industry anticipates a surge in CXL deployment and volume scaling starting in 2026.The MXC product line is designed for use in Add-in Cards (AICs), backplanes or EDSFF memory modules to enable significant scalability in both memory capacity and bandwidth. Montage's MXC controllers are currently deployed by the world's top 3 memory manufacturers in E3.S form factor CXL memory modules. In parallel, Montage has launched several new product development projects in collaboration with Taiwan OEM/ODM partners. One such project involves working with a Taiwanese memory module manufacturer to develop CXL expansion card solutions. Another involves co-designing CXL memory AICs with major Taiwanese motherboard and server manufacturers, targeting OEM/ODM opportunities with global cloud data center providers.Credit: Montage TechnologyAs the second largest PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 Retimer supplierThe third product line for Montage is its Retimer chips, originally designed to enhance connectivity performance between GPUs, AI accelerators, CPUs, and other components within server systems. Retimer chips regenerate high-speed digital signals to extend reach and improve signal integrity in high-speed data processing systems. Currently, a typical AI server – often equipped with 8 GPUs -- requires 8 or even 16 PCIe 5.0 Retimer chips.Montage started delivering its PCIe 5.0/CXL 2.0 Retimer chips in January 2023, putting massive effort to extensive interoperability testing with a variety of compute, storage and networking components, such as CPUs, PCIe switches, SSDs, GPUs and NICs. As a result, Montage is now the second-largest PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 Retimer supplier globally and is dominating the market in China.Montage's Retimer chips are integrated into a variety of systems, including AI accelerator baseboards, server motherboards and riser cards. Montage is now providing the customer samples of its 16-lane PCIe 6.x/CXL 3.x Retimer chips as part of its new product roadmap.Activities in COMPUTEX Taipei 2025Montage has a global team of over 700 employees. During the trade show season and COMPUTEX Taipei 2025, Montage and its Taiwan partners will showcase a series of silicon products in a hotel suite showroom at the Place Taipei Hotel in the Nangang district. Findley describes this initiative as a strategic marketing campaign focused on highlighting the company's latest products -- including Retimer chips -- and introducing Montage brand to attract new customers from Taiwan's electronics supply chain and server manufacturing sector. In addition, the company will host advanced product training sessions to capture new business opportunities.AI applications are rapidly increasing in computational demands, doubling every few months, and now represent the primary driver of the PCIe roadmap–making PCIe Gen 6 a key requirement for the next generation of data centers. Meanwhile, CXL technology is reshaping the industry with its innovative memory architecture. Montage looks forward to working with Taiwan-based electronics OEMs/ODMs, server manufacturers and ecosystem partners to unlock the transformative potential of CXL technology and drive future success.
