PCI-X

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PCI-X

PCI-X is an abbreviation for Peripheral Component Interconnect Express, a high-speed expansion bus interface that connects peripheral devices to a computer’s motherboard. It offers improved data transfer rates and reduced latency compared to previous PCI standards.

What does PCI-X Mean?

PCI-X (Peripheral Component Interconnect Extended) is a high-performance, 64-bit expansion bus standard for personal computers. It was developed as an extension to the popular PCI bus and offers significantly improved performance over its predecessor. PCI-X operates at clock speeds of up to 133 MHz and supports data transfer rates of up to 1.06 GB/s. Additionally, it features advanced features such as burst mode operation, sideband signaling, and improved signal integrity.

PCI-X was primarily designed for use in high-end servers, workstations, and networking equipment. It provides a high-bandwidth, high-speed connection between the host system and various expansion cards, such as graphics cards, network interface cards, and storage devices. The improved performance of PCI-X over PCI makes it ideal for demanding applications that require fast data transfer rates, such as video editing, 3D rendering, and Database management.

Applications

PCI-X has played a crucial role in the advancement of technology. Its key applications include:

  • High-Performance Computing (HPC): PCI-X is used in HPC systems to connect high-speed components, such as graphics processing units (GPUs) and compute accelerators. It enables rapid data transfer between these components and the host system, allowing for efficient processing of large and complex datasets.

  • Data Centers: PCI-X is deployed in data centers to connect servers and storage devices. It provides fast and reliable data access, ensuring efficient operation of enterprise applications and databases.

  • Networking Equipment: PCI-X is used in network switches and routers to connect high-speed network interface cards (NICs). This enables fast and reliable data transfer between network devices, supporting high-bandwidth applications such as streaming media and Cloud computing.

  • Embedded Systems: PCI-X is employed in embedded systems, such as industrial control systems and military equipment, to provide reliable and high-speed connectivity between the host system and peripherals.

History

The development of PCI-X was initiated by Intel in 1998 as a response to the increasing demand for higher performance expansion buses. The first PCI-X specification, revision 1.0, was released in 1999 and defined a 64-bit, 66 MHz bus architecture. Subsequent revisions, including 2.0 and 2.1, introduced additional features and increased the clock speed to 133 MHz.

PCI-X gained widespread adoption in the early 2000s as a high-performance interconnect solution for demanding applications. However, with the ADVENT of newer technologies such as PCIe (PCI Express), PCI-X has gradually been phased out in favor of more advanced and efficient bus standards. PCI-X remains in use in some legacy systems and specialized applications, but it has largely been replaced by PCIe in mainstream computing.