In this guide I’ll tell you all about PCI Express, the standard that allows you to expand the capabilities of your computer with various expansion cards.
A graphics card connected to a PC via PCI Express.
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In this guide I will explain it to you What is PCI Express and what are they for? These ports are usually included on the computer’s motherboard. Furthermore, I show you a summary with all the existing types, both by size and by version launched on the market. You can not miss it!
- What is PCI Express and what is it for?
- PCI Express connector types
What is PCI Express and what is it for?
PCI Express (Interconnection of Express peripheral components), abbreviated to PCIe, is a hardware connection technology used for high-speed communication between different components of computer equipment. This standard has become the most common interface for connecting expansion cards, such as graphics cards used to run games, sound cards, network cards, and high-speed storage devices.
Those who have been in the computing world longer may remember PCI expansion cards. The PCIe version, which arrived on the market in 2004, is an evolution of this type of connector and has been implemented in all motherboards to expand the capabilities of equipment using cards.
Nowadays PCI Express is a very well known connection, especially for those who are interested in their computer hardware and want to manage it. All desktop personal computer motherboards include it, as do those used in servers. Allows the installation of sound cards, graphics cards or internal SSD storage (not the same as an external SSD hard drive).
How a PCIe slot is structured
PCI Express slots (from top to bottom: x4, x16, x1, and x16), compared to a traditional 32-bit PCI slot (bottom). Source: Wikipedia
One of the notable advantages of PCI Express is its channel independent architecture, which allows Simultaneous data transfer in both directions. Each lane has a specific transfer rate, measured in gigabits per second (Gbps), and the capacity of a PCIe slot is expressed as the number of lanes it has. This results in higher total bandwidth, making it easier to connect devices that require high transfer speeds, such as modern graphics cards or next-generation storage devices.
Versatility is another great feature of PCI Express slots, as it allows you to use the same connection various applications. For example, PCIe slots can be found in different physical sizes, from x1 to x16, allowing the connection of devices with different bandwidth requirements.
PCI Express connector types
Below is a comprehensive table showing the different types of PCI Express slots based on their size. There are also some notes on the type of use it is normally used for:
First nameNumber of lanesNumber of pinsTypical usePCIe x1118Sound cards, NICs, wireless adapters, TV tuners, low-end graphics cardsPCIe x4432SSD, RAID controllers, high-end NICsPCIe x8849High-end RAID controllers, professional audio and video capture cards, high-performance NICsPCIe x161682High-performance graphics cards
Source: ElectronicsHub
Furthermore, it is also interesting to look at the different versions released since PCIe was launched on the market:
VersionBandwidthTransfer speedFrequencyPCIe 1.08 GB/s2.5 GT/s2.5 GHzPCIe 2.016 GB/s5 GT/s5 GHzPCIe 3.032 GB/s8 GT/s8 GHzPCIe 4.064 GB/s16 GT/s16 GHzPCIe 5.0128 GB/s32 GT/s32 GHzPCIe 6 ,0256 GB/s64 GT /s32GHz
Source: Trenton Systems
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2023-12-31 23:33:28
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