Agilent/Keysight U4324A

The Keysight U4324A is a flying lead solder-down probe designed for direct capture of PCI Express differential signals where standard PCIe slot connectors or mid-bus footprints are inaccessible. The probe consists of five cables: four dedicated to PCIe signal acquisition and one for optional external reference clock connection. It integrates with the U4301A PCIe Gen3 Protocol Analyzer module to enable silicon, system, and embedded PC connector testing across PCIe Gen1, Gen2, and Gen3 standards.

– Technical Specifications

• Probe Type: Flying lead solder-down probe with low capacitive loading
• Signal Architecture: Five cables total—four for PCI Express differential signals, one for optional external reference clock
• Connector Tips: Replaceable N5426A ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) tips soldered directly to DUT channels
• Pod Interface: Connects to U4301A PCIe3 Protocol Analyzer port
• Reference Clock: 3-pin header, compatible with U4322A Mid Bus 3.0 probe reference clock connection
• Supported Data Rates: PCIe 2.5 Gb/s, 5.0 Gb/s, and 8.0 Gb/s
• Operating Temperature: 0 °C to +55 °C
• Traceability: Unique serial number per probe

– Key Features

• Single probe supports x1, x2 (unidirectional or bidirectional), or x4 unidirectional lane configurations
• Two probes required for x4 bidirectional or x8 unidirectional probing
• Provides 4 channels per probe with full customizable per-channel mapping
• Bidirectional capability on every channel—independently selectable upstream or downstream direction
• Replaceable ZIF tips minimize testing costs through non-destructive tip exchange
• Modular protocol analyzer software enables remapping of any available probe wire

– Typical Applications

• Silicon validation and bring-up where standard PCIe connectors unavailable
• System-level embedded PC and connector testing
• Multi-lane protocol capture in constrained form-factor designs

– Compatibility & Integration

The U4301A PCIe Gen3 Protocol Analyzer accommodates up to four U4324A probes simultaneously, delivering maximum capacity of 16 unidirectional channels or 8 bidirectional channels when fully populated.