PCI Express
PCI Express architecture is a state-of-the-art serial interconnect technology that keeps pace with recent advances in processor and memory subsystems.
From its initial release at 0.8V, 2.5GHz, the PCI Express technology roadmap will continue to evolve, while maintaining backward compatibility, well into the next decade with enhancements to its protocol, signaling, electromechanical and other specifications.
The PCI Express architecture retains the PCI usage model and software interfaces for investment protection and smooth development migration. The technology is aimed at multiple market segments in the computing and communication industries, and supports chip-to-chip, board-to-board and adapter solutions at an equivalent or lower cost structure than existing PCI designs.
PCI Express currently runs at 5Gbps, or 500MBps per lane in each direction, providing a total bandwidth of 16GBps in a 16-lane configuration. PCI Express provides I/O attach points for high-performance graphics, 1394b, USB 2.0, InfiniBand™ Architecture, Gigabit networking and so on.