Both switches offer 32×400G ports and 12.8 Tbps capacity — but the ASIC underneath defines everything. A complete comparison of Marvell Teralynx 7 vs. Falcon for AI training, NVMe-oF storage, multi-tenant cloud, and HPC.
12.8T
SWITCHING CAPACITY
32×
400G PORTS
500ns
MIN LATENCY (TERALYNX)
10ns
PTP PRECISION (FALCON)
UNIFIED OS PLATFORM
Same Ports. Same Bandwidth. Fundamentally Different Networks.
The explosive growth of AI large models, high-performance computing (HPC), and NVMe-oF distributed storage has driven data center networks rapidly toward 400G. In core (spine) and high-density leaf-spine architectures, 32-port 400G switches with 12.8 Tbps switching capacity have become the standard configuration for serious deployments.
But here's what the spec sheet doesn't tell you: two switches can share identical port counts, bandwidth, and even operating software — and still perform fundamentally differently in your environment, depending entirely on the ASIC underneath.
In this guide, we compare two leading 12.8 Tbps Marvell switch ASICs — Teralynx 7 and Falcon (Prestera 98CX8500). Both belong to Marvell's portfolio. Both power 32×400G platforms. But their design philosophies are strikingly different, and choosing the wrong one for your workload has real consequences: wasted GPU cycles in AI training, storage I/O instability, routing table exhaustion in multi-tenant cloud, or timing drift in financial or media systems.
Teralynx 7 vs. Falcon: Design Philosophy First
Marvell Teralynx 7
CX732Q-N
Performance-First Fabric
"If Falcon is a versatile midfielder, Teralynx is a 100m sprint champion — every architectural decision sacrifices complexity for speed."
~500ns
End-to-End Latency
7600
MPPS Forwarding
70MB
Packet Buffer
256
LAG Groups
→
Ultra-Low Latency:
~500 ns end-to-end — roughly one-third of Falcon's ~1,500 ns — with highly consistent performance under load
→
True Lossless Networking:
Optimized for RoCEv2, with strong microburst absorption to ensure zero packet loss under extreme throughput
→
Flashlight™ Hardware Telemetry:
In-band network telemetry (INT) with nanosecond-level visibility, zero forwarding impact
→
Advanced Buffer & Congestion Handling:
70MB buffer handles incast and microbursts — ideal for AI and RDMA-based traffic patterns
→
24 Mirror Sessions:
Comprehensive traffic capture without dedicated monitoring ports
AI TRAINING
HPC / ROCEV2
GPU CLUSTERS
CLOUD FABRIC
Marvell Falcon (CX8500)
CX732Q-N-V2
Intelligence-First Network Core
"Falcon is a versatile midfielder with exceptional tactical intelligence — it orchestrates complex traffic with precision no pure-performance chip can match."
~1500ns
End-to-End Latency
5600
MPPS Forwarding
128K
MAC Table
4K
VRF Support
→
SAFE Storage-Aware Flow Engine:
Deeply identifies RoCEv2-based RDMA flows, detects which storage node is congested, and ensures storage traffic SLA at the network layer
→
Massive Routing Tables:
288K IPv4 routes, 128K MAC, 92K ARP — fully supports complex VXLAN/EVPN, sophisticated QoS, and multi-tenant environments
→
Class C High-Precision PTP:
Hardware clock synchronization with 10-nanosecond accuracy — the only 12.8T ASIC with this capability
→
Advanced Traffic Shaping & QoS:
Fine-grained bandwidth fairness in networks mixing elephant flows and mouse flows
→
512 BFD Sessions:
4× more than Teralynx, with 3×1ms intervals for faster failure detection
MULTI-TENANT CLOUD
NVME-OF STORAGE
HFT / MEDIA
ENTERPRISE CORE
CX732Q-N vs. CX732Q-N-V2: Full Specification Matrix
Every table entry that matters for real-world network design decisions — with winners called out per category.
name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"Teralynx 7 vs Falcon CX8500 — Full Spec Comparison Tables name="description" content="Complete specification tables comparing Marvell Teralynx (CX732Q-N) (CX732Q-N-V2): latency, buffer, routing tables, PTP, and deployment decision matrix." /* ── YOUR ADDITIONAL CSS GOES HERE */ :root { --bg: #ffffff; --surface: #f5f7fa; --surface2: #eaf0f6; --border: #d6dde8; --border2: #b5c2d4; --ink: #0d1321; --ink2: #1a2b45; --ink3: #3d4f68; --ink4: #6b7f99; --blue: #0099cc; --blue-lt: #e0f5fb; --orange: #e8500a; --orange-lt: #fff2ea; --green: #00875a; --green-lt: #e3f5ef; --red: #c0152a; --grid-line: rgba(0,153,204,0.06); } *, *::before, *::after box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: html scroll-behavior: smooth; body background: var(--bg); color: var(--ink3); font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; overflow-x: hidden; body::before content: ''; position: fixed; inset: background-image: linear-gradient(var(--grid-line) 1px, transparent 1px), linear-gradient(90deg, var(--grid-line) 1px); background-size: 40px 40px; pointer-events: none; z-index: ─── LAYOUT .container max-width: 880px; 0 auto; 28px; relative; 1; .container-wide 1080px; TOP NAV .topnav var(--ink); border-bottom: 2px solid var(--blue); sticky; top: 100; .topnav-inner display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; height: 54px; .topnav-brand Mono', monospace; 14px; font-weight: 600; white; text-decoration: letter-spacing: 0.5px; em font-style: normal; .nav-links gap: 20px; a 12px; 500; rgba(255,255,255,0.55); transition: color 0.2s; a:hover .nav-cta var(--blue) !important; white 7px border-radius: 2px; 600 @media (max-width: 640px) PAGE HERO .page-hero 56px 48px; overflow: .page-hero::before absolute; right: 60px; 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); width: 280px; border: 1px rgba(0,153,204,0.15); .hero-tag inline-flex; 8px; rgba(0,153,204,0.35); #5ee0ff; 11px; 5px 13px; margin-bottom: text-transform: uppercase; 1.5px; .hero-tag::before 6px; animation: blink 1.8s ease-in-out infinite; @keyframes 0%,100% opacity:1; 50% opacity:0.3; h1 Serif', serif; clamp(26px, 3.8vw, 46px); 700; 1.12; -1px; 660px; 2; span p 300; 560px; 1.7; .hero-meta 24px; rgba(255,255,255,0.3); margin-top: SPEC BANNER .spec-banner 20px .spec-banner-inner grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(5, 1fr); .spec-pill text-align: border-right: rgba(255,255,255,0.2); .spec-pill:last-child .spec-pill-num 4px; .spec-pill-label 10px; rgba(255,255,255,0.65); 1px; 768px) repeat(3, SECTION COMMON .section 68px .section-alt var(--surface); .section-dark .section-tag .section-tag::before '//'; var(--border2); h2 clamp(24px, 2.8vw, 36px); -0.8px; 1.15; p:last-child strong var(--ink2); FULL TABLE .spec-table-wrap var(--border); 32px; box-shadow: 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.05); table 100%; border-collapse: collapse; 13.5px; thead tr th 14px left; rgba(255,255,255,0.7); white-space: nowrap; th.col-a th.col-b #ffba80; td 11px vertical-align: middle; td.group-label var(--ink4); td.col-a td.col-b td.winner-a td.winner-b var(--orange); td.spec-name tr:last-child tr:hover td:not(.group-label) rgba(0,153,204,0.02); .win-badge inline-block; 9px; margin-left: 5px; .wb-blue var(--blue-lt); .wb-orange var(--orange-lt); DECISION MATRIX .decision-wrap .decision-head 1fr 1fr; rgba(255,255,255,0.6); .decision-row .decision-row:last-child .decision-row:hover > div div:last-child .d-scenario .d-winner .d-winner.blue .d-winner.orange .d-reason 12.5px; span:last-child PRODUCT CARDS .product-grid 36px; .product-card box-shadow 0.2s, transform .product-card:hover 8px 32px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); translateY(-2px); .product-head 24px 26px .product-model 22px; -0.5px; .product-silicon .product-body 22px 26px; 18px; .product-spec-table td:first-child 52%; td:last-child .btn-blue block; 3px; opacity .btn-blue:hover opacity: 0.85; .btn-outline-blue background .btn-outline-blue:hover CTA BAND .cta-band 60px rgba(255,255,255,0.75); 500px; auto .btn-white .btn-white:hover 0.92; translateY(-1px); FOOTER footer 28px rgba(255,255,255,0.25); ANIMATIONS fadeUp from translateY(20px); to translateY(0); * 0.5s ease both; *:nth-child(2) animation-delay: 0.08s; *:nth-child(3) 0.16s; *:nth-child(4) 0.24s; ASTERFUSION.NETWORKS class="nav-links"> href="#full-specs">Full Specs href="#decision">Decision Matrix href="#products">Products href="#products" class="nav-cta">Shop 400G Switches → class="container"> class="hero-tag">Spec · 2025Teralynx vs. Falcon CX8500
Full Specification Tables
A complete side-by-side breakdown of the CX732Q-N (Marvell 7) CX732Q-N-V2 Falcon) every metric that matters for real-world network design decisions.
class="hero-meta"> // 12.8 Tbps Switching Capacity 32× Ports Enterprise SONiC class="spec-banner"> class="spec-banner-inner"> class="spec-pill"> class="spec-pill-num">12.8T class="spec-pill-label">Switching Capacity class="spec-pill-num">32× class="spec-pill-label">400G Ports class="spec-pill-num">500ns class="spec-pill-label">Min Latency (Teralynx) class="spec-pill-num">10ns class="spec-pill-label">PTP Precision (Falcon) class="spec-pill-num">SONiC class="spec-pill-label">Unified OS Platform 1 SPECIFICATION class="container-wide"> class="section-tag">Complete Hardware ComparisonCX732Q-N CX732Q-N-V2: Matrix
Every entry decisions with winners called out per category.
class="spec-table-wrap">| Group | style="width:24%">Specification class="col-a" style="width:29%">CX732Q-N-V2|||
|---|---|---|---|
| // Capacity | Switching Bandwidth | 12.8 Tbps | class="col-b">12.8 class="spec-name">Packet Forwarding Rate class="col-a">5,600 Mpps class="winner-b">7,600 Mpps +36% class="spec-name">Forwarding Latency class="col-a">~1,500 ns class="winner-b">~500 ns wb-blue">3× Lower Buffer class="col-a">48 MB class="winner-b">70 MB wb-blue">+46% Table class="spec-name">MAC Table class="winner-a">128K wb-orange">2.9× class="col-b">44K class="spec-name">L2 Multicast (L2MC) class="winner-a">16K wb-orange">Winner class="col-b">14K class="spec-name">ARP / ND class="winner-a">92K 64K wb-orange">2.5× class="col-b">36K class="spec-name">IPv4 Host class="winner-a">288K wb-orange">3× class="col-b">96K class="spec-name">IPv6 class="winner-a">144K class="col-b">47K Prefix Routes wb-orange">4× class="col-b">72K wb-orange">24× class="col-b">12K class="spec-name">VRF class="winner-a">4K class="col-b">1K class="spec-name">LAG Groups × Members class="col-a">128 64 class="winner-b">256 128 Members wb-blue">2× class="spec-name">ECMP class="col-a">4K 256 class="col-b">4K class="spec-name">IPv4/v6 ACL Tables class="winner-a">10 ingress/egress tables|
The One-Page Decision
For architects who need justify choice in document or vendor evaluation:
class="decision-wrap"> class="decision-head"> Workload Scenario Recommended ASIC Primary Reason class="decision-row"> class="d-scenario">AI ML GPU Training (RoCEv2) class="d-winner blue">Teralynx 7 class="d-reason">500ns 70MB zero-loss RoCEv2 class="d-scenario">HPC Clusters (All-Reduce MPI) class="d-reason">Lowest consistent latency under collective communication class="d-scenario">NVMe-oF All-Flash Storage orange">Falcon class="d-reason">SAFE engine prevents storage incast collapse class="d-scenario">Live Streaming Broadcast class="d-reason">Class PTP (10 ns) has no support class="d-scenario">High-Frequency Trading (HFT) class="d-reason">10 clock precision + nanosecond-stable forwarding class="d-scenario">Multi-Tenant Core class="d-reason">4K VRF, 288K IPv4, complex routing class="d-scenario">Large-Scale VXLAN EVPN Fabric class="d-reason">128K MAC, 4× more routes, VRF headroom class="d-scenario">Hyperscale-Style Flat Cloud class="d-reason">Max throughput, minimal complexity, SONiC-native class="d-scenario">Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) class="d-reason">Mix storage, compute, VM traffic needs SAFE QoS class="d-scenario">Traffic Monitoring SPAN class="d-reason">24 mirror sessions Falcon's 6 3 id="products"> class="section-tag">Our Switch PortfolioChoose Your Platform
Both models ship Asterfusion SONiC pre-installed, production-certified, ready leaf-spine deployment.
class="product-grid"> class="product-card"> class="product-head"> class="product-model">CX732Q-N class="product-silicon">Marvell Performance-First class="product-body">The go-to platform AI training fabrics, HPC clusters, high-performance cloud spines. Built environments where nanosecond translates directly utilization job completion time.
| Switching Capacity | 12.8 Tbps |
| Port Configuration | 32× 400GbE QSFP-DD |
| Packet Forwarding | 7,600 Mpps |
| Forwarding Latency | ~500 ns | 70 MB |
| MAC Table | 44K |
| IPv4 Routes | 72K Prefix |
| VRF | 1K |
| LAG | 256 Members |
| Mirror Sessions | 24 |
| PTP Support | Not Supported |
| Operating System | Enterprise SONiC | 5,600 Latency | ~1,500 Buffer | 48 Table | 128K | Routes288K |
| VRF | 4K |
| LAG | 128 |
| BFD Sessions | 512 @ 3×1ms | Class class="btn-outline-blue">Request class="cta-band"> class="section-tag" style="color:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);justify-content:center;">// Ready Deploy
Right 12.8T Silicon Every Workload Talk our architecture team. We'll map your specific patterns workload requirements right ASIC make sure you get it before rack it. class="btn-white">Request Technical Consultation// Networks Data Center Silicon |
