PCI Express 7.0 Is Coming Soon With A Speed Bump We Still Can't Use

Graphics Card PCIe Version: Bandwidth Concerns Overblown

Contrary to popular belief, graphics cards don't require the massive bandwidth offered by the latest PCIe standards.

This article explores the advancements in PCIe 6.0 and 7.0, focusing on their practical impact on graphics card performance. PCIe 6.0 utilizes PAM4 signaling, doubling data rates compared to previous generations by transmitting two bits per symbol. This addresses signal integrity challenges associated with higher bandwidths. PCIe 7.0 continues this approach, suggesting a significant lifespan for PAM4 technology.

Beyond bandwidth, PCIe 7.0 boasts power efficiency improvements and, crucially, maintains backward compatibility. A PCIe 7.0 card will function in older PCIe 6.0, 5.0, or 4.0 slots, albeit at the older generation's speed. This backward compatibility is a consistent feature of the PCIe standard.

The PCI Express Standard: A Look at x16, x8, x4, and x1 Slots

The PCI Express standard is a cornerstone of modern computing, yet the rapid evolution of the standard might seem confusing. While PCIe 7.0 is already in development, PCIe 6.0 devices are yet to become widespread. This isn't unusual; PCIe 5.0's final specification was released in 2019, while PCIe 4.0 devices were already emerging. Similarly, PCIe 6.0 devices (specified in 2022) are expected to appear soon, but PCIe 7.0 devices may not hit the market until 2028 or 2029 – by which time PCIe 8.0 might be on the horizon.

The final PCIe 7.0 specification is anticipated later this year, but widespread adoption remains several years away.

Source: PCI-SIG via Phoronix

The above is the detailed content of PCI Express 7.0 Is Coming Soon With A Speed Bump We Still Can't Use. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!