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PCI-X: A New Standard for High-Performance I/O Systems

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Compaq, HP, and IBM today announced a joint development initiative to deliver significant improvements in the PCI bus technology standard, introducing PCI-X, a new standard that provides unmatched performance for high-end business-critical applications. PCI-X is an extension of the existing PCI bus, running at speeds up to 133 MHz and offering backward compatibility with existing systems. This new technology is designed to meet the demanding computing requirements of enterprise customers, reducing customer ownership costs by extending the life of today's PCI bus technology.

Key Takeaways:

  • PCI-X is a new standard that provides unmatched performance for high-end business-critical applications, with speeds up to 133 MHz and backward compatibility with existing systems.
  • The 64-bit PCI-X bus operates at speeds up to 133 MHz, providing burst transfer rates above 1 gigabyte per second, eight times the rate of the most common PCI implementations today.
  • PCI-X features an enhanced protocol to increase the efficiency of data transfer and simplify electrical timing requirements, an important factor at higher clock frequencies.
  • The technology is designed to remain backward compatible with the current PCI bus and is intended to reduce customer ownership costs by extending the life of today's PCI bus technology.
  • Adobe, Hewlett-Packard Company, IBM, and Compaq are major promoters of the technology.
  • Leading Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs) including 3Com, Adaptec and Mylex also support PCI-X and will introduce products when platforms become available.
  • PCI-X is expected to be available in enterprise-class products in the second half of 1999.

Statistics:

  • PCI-X will provide burst transfer rates above 1 gigabyte per second.
  • The technology is designed to operate at speeds up to 133 MHz.
  • PCI-X will reduce customer ownership costs by extending the life of today's PCI bus technology.
  • OpenGL, X-11 and TCP/IP are expected to be used in further PCI-X implementations.

Sources:

  • Compaq Computer Corporation's press release, "Broad Industry Support Drives PCI-X as Open Industry Standard," September 9, 1998
  • IBM press release, "IBM, Compaq and HP Collaborate on PCI-X to Deliver Higher Performance," September 9, 1998
  • HP press release, "HP, Compaq and IBM Introduce PCI-X, Extends Industry Standard PCI Bus Technology," September 9, 1998

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