AI and ML workloads are rewriting the rules of data center design. Memory demands are reaching an unprecedented level due to growing LLM sizes, expanding context windows and growing KV-cache requirements. Traditional servers are not architected to meet this surge. Memory has become the primary bottleneck constraining AI performance and infrastructure efficiency. CXL-based memory expansion has emerged as one of the definitive architectural answers, and Marvell is raising the bar.

Building on the strong market adoption of the first-generation Structera® X CXL controllers, the second-generation Structera X 3406 and Structera X 3506, co-developed and co-architected with leading hyperscalers, address the most demanding AI infrastructure requirements.

Modern AI inference workloads, from LLM serving to deep learning recommendation models (DLRM), are memory bound. KV-cache capacity determines time-to-first-token (TTFT), throughput and XPU utilization. When memory runs out, performance collapses.

Structera X 3406/3506 directly addresses these challenges with the following features and respective benefits:

• Industry-first six-channel DDR4/DDR5 CXL memory expansion: Delivers 50% more channels than the previous generation, up to 18 DDR4 RDIMM slots supporting 9TB for Structera X 3406 and 12 DDR5 RDIMM slots supporting 6TB for Structera X 3506, so AI servers can sustain larger models and longer context windows.
• Industry-first four host connectivity: Enables memory capacity sharing with up to four hosts and up to 256GB/s PCIe 6.0 x16 of host bandwidth, improving memory utilization and efficiency across AI clusters.
• 5x higher LZ4 compression throughput from previous generation: Up to 250GB/s compression/decompression throughput unlocks up to 2– 3x more effective memory capacity, depending on workloads. 
• StructGuard™ enterprise-grade RAS: Error correction architecture that protects against chip-kill events while delivering higher net capacity gain over traditional ECC. 
• Industry-first post-quantum security: Combines post-quantum cryptography, Caliptra 2.0, CXL IDE and AES-256 memory encryption to provide advanced data protection. 

The global DDR5 supply crunch is upending data center expansion plans. Structera X 3406/3506 provides a two-pronged solution:

1. DDR4 reuse at scale: The Structera X 3406 enables hyperscalers to redeploy decommissioned DDR4 DIMMs, millions of which are becoming available annually as DDR5 server transitions accelerate and turn sunk costs into active memory capacity at near-zero incremental cost.
2. DDR5 efficiency maximization: The Structera X 3506 squeezes maximum capacity from available DDR5 supply, with 6 channels and 12 DIMMs per controller delivering the highest DDR5 density in the industry.

Marvell is the only provider with a complete end-to-end CXL portfolio spanning memory expansion (Structera X), near-memory acceleration (Structera A), and Photonic Fabric™ Technology (Photonic Fabric Memory Appliance, PFMA), giving customers a single, integrated architecture from controller to fabric.

Structera X 3406/3506 builds directly on this foundation—same proven software stack and ecosystem integrations with accelerated ramp. Customers already deploying Gen 1 have a clear, low-friction upgrade path to Gen 2 performance and capacity. The Marvell® CXL ecosystem continues to expand across the full data center stack through close partnership with CPU and memory vendors, OEMs, ODMs and system integrators.

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