PCI Express (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard designed to replace older standards such as PCI, PCI-X, and AGP. It is the common motherboard interface for personal computers graphics cards, sound cards, hard disk drive host adapters, SSDs, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet hardware connections. Here are some key points about PCI Express:
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Point-to-Point Topology: Unlike the shared parallel bus architecture of PCI, PCI Express is based on point-to-point topology, with separate serial links connecting every device to the root complex (host).
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High-Speed Data Transfer: PCIe provides lower latency and higher data transfer rates than parallel busses such as PCI and PCI-X. Every device connected to a motherboard with a PCIe link has its own dedicated point-to-point connection, which means that devices are not competing for bandwidth because they are not sharing the same bus.
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Versions: PCIe has seen several versions, including PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0, each offering increased throughput and new features. For example, PCIe 4.0 debuted in 2017 and offers 64 GBps of throughput, while PCIe 5.0, which came out in May 2019, offers 128 GBps of throughput.
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Compatibility: PCIe is not compatible with PCI, as the two protocols use completely different interfaces with different pin configurations, bus speeds, and features.
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Use Cases: PCIe is commonly found in desktop and mobile computers, server systems, set-top boxes, gaming consoles, and other devices that require high-speed data transfer between electronic components.
PCI Express is a crucial technology that enables high-speed communication between various components within a computer, facilitating the seamless operation of modern computing systems.
