PCIeversion

PCIe version refers to the specific revision of the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) interface standard. PCIe is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard used to connect components like graphics cards, solid-state drives, and network cards to a motherboard. Each new version of the PCIe standard introduces improvements over its predecessor, primarily focusing on increased data transfer speeds and enhanced features.

The evolution of PCIe has seen significant jumps in bandwidth. PCIe 1.0, introduced in 2003, offered a per-lane transfer rate of 250 MB/s. PCIe 2.0 doubled this to 500 MB/s per lane. PCIe 3.0 further increased the speed to approximately 985 MB/s per lane, representing a substantial improvement. PCIe 4.0 doubled the per-lane bandwidth again to about 1.969 GB/s. The most recent major revision, PCIe 5.0, offers approximately 3.938 GB/s per lane, effectively doubling the performance of PCIe 4.0. Future versions like PCIe 6.0 and 7.0 are expected to continue this trend of doubling bandwidth with each iteration.

Beyond raw speed, newer PCIe versions also incorporate features like improved power management, enhanced signal integrity, and better error detection and correction mechanisms. The version of PCIe a component supports, and the version of the slot it is installed in, determines the maximum data transfer rate achievable between that component and the system. Compatibility is generally backward, meaning a newer card can work in an older slot, but it will operate at the older slot's speed limitations.