PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) has undergone significant changes since its inception in 2003. The technology has continued to evolve, offering higher speeds and improved performance for various applications. In this article, we will explore the different generations of PCIe, their key features, and how they have impacted the industry.
PCIe 1.0/1.1
Released in 2003 (1.0) and 2005 (1.1), PCIe 1.0/1.1 introduced higher speeds than its predecessor, PCI interface. The maximum bandwidth per lane was 250 MB/s, while the maximum bandwidth for a 16-lane slot was 4 GB/s.
PCIe 2.0
Launched in 2007, PCIe 2.0 doubled the data rate per lane compared to PCIe 1.0/1.1, resulting in improved overall bandwidth. The maximum bandwidth per lane was increased to 500 MB/s, while the maximum bandwidth for a 16-lane slot reached 8 GB/s.
PCIe 3.0
Released in 2010, PCIe 3.0 further doubled the data rate per lane compared to PCIe 2.0, providing higher performance for demanding applications. The maximum bandwidth per lane was increased to 1 GB/s, while the maximum bandwidth for a 16-lane slot reached 16 GB/s.
PCIe 4.0
Launched in 2017, PCIe 4.0 doubled the data rate per lane again compared to PCIe 3.0, offering even more bandwidth for high-performance graphics cards and storage solutions. The maximum bandwidth per lane was increased to 2 GB/s, while the maximum bandwidth for a 16-lane slot reached 32 GB/s.
PCIe 5.0
Released in 2019, PCIe 5.0 doubled the data rate per lane again compared to PCIe 4.0, reaching impressive bandwidth levels suitable for emerging data-intensive applications. The maximum bandwidth per lane was increased to 4 GB/s, while the maximum bandwidth for a 16-lane slot reached 64 GB/s.
PCIe 6.0
Launched in 2022, PCIe 6.0 doubled the data rate per lane again compared to PCIe 5.0, pushing the boundaries of high-speed data transfer for future systems. The maximum bandwidth per lane was increased to 8 GB/s, while the maximum bandwidth for a 16-lane slot reached 128 GB/s.
Newer generations of PCIe have continued to offer higher bandwidth, enabling faster data transfers and better support for technologies such as advanced graphics, high-speed storage, and data-intensive applications. As the industry continues to demand more performance, it is likely that future generations of PCIe will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible.
At Crystal Group, we are committed to providing high-performance servers that can take advantage of the latest PCIe technology. Our current servers use PCIe Gen 5 bus speeds for the lane, which is double the speed from Gen 4 and is quickly being adopted by the industry. Intel's Sapphire Rapids and AMD's EPYC use PCIe Gen 5 to communicate between functions on the board as well as to other peripheral cards plugged into the boards. These platforms are available today in our FG2 rugged servers.
The big consumers of these faster bus speeds are SSDs (solid-state drives) and GPUs (graphics processing units), as storage and acceleration become more prevalent in the industry. We expect PCIe Gen 6 to be around the corner, although we may have to wait a few months.
M.2 NVMe to PCIe x4/x8/x16 Expansion Adapter
For those looking to upgrade their systems with newer PCIe technology, there are expansion adapters available that can convert M.2 NVMe SSDs to PCIe x4/x8/x16 interfaces. The NX-M2-PX4A model from Nexi offers a PCI-Express V3.0 x4 interface and supports various operating systems such as Windows 10, 8.1, 8, and Linux.
PCI-E X1/X4/X8/X16 Dual PCIe Slot Adapter
For those who need to add more PCIe slots to their systems, there are adapters available that can provide dual PCIe slots. The PCI-E X1/X4/X8/X16 Dual PCIe Slot Adapter offers two separate PCIe slots that can be used for different peripherals or devices., the evolution of PCIe has been remarkable, offering higher speeds and improved performance with each new generation. As the industry continues to demand more performance, it is likely that future generations of PCIe will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible.