PCI-SIG Unveils PCIe 7.0 Specification Featuring 128 GT/s Transfer Rate and First-Ever PCIe Optical Solution

P pci-SIG has made significant strides with the official launch of the PCIe 7.0 specifications, introducing groundbreaking advancements designed to accommodate the increasing demands for higher PCIe speeds.

PCI-SIG Announces PCIe 7.0: A Leap Towards Advanced AI Capabilities

Press Release: The PCI-SIG has officially unveiled the PCI Express (PCIe) 7.0 specification, which achieves an impressive data rate of 128.0 GT/s. This latest iteration is aimed at transforming data-intensive applications, particularly in sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), high-speed 800G Ethernet, cloud computing, and quantum computing. Preparation for the upcoming PCIe 8.0 specification is also underway, underscoring the industry’s continued commitment to advancing the PCIe technology framework.

Key Features of PCI Express 7.0 Specification:

Achieves a raw bit rate of 128.0 GT/s with bi-directional capabilities of up to 512 GB/s in an x16 configuration.
Incorporates PAM4 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation with 4 levels) signaling along with Flit-based encoding for enhanced performance.
Offers improved energy efficiency compared to previous standards.
Ensures back compatibility with earlier generations of PCIe technology, facilitating easier transitions for users.

“PCIe technology has served as the high-bandwidth, low-latency IO interconnect of choice for over two decades, and we are pleased to announce the release of the PCIe 7.0 specification, which continues our long-standing tradition of doubling the IO bandwidth every three years, ” said Al Yanes, PCI-SIG President and Chairperson.“As artificial intelligence applications continue to scale rapidly, the next generation of PCIe technology meets the bandwidth demands of data-intensive markets deploying AI, including hyperscale data centers, high performance computing (HPC), automotive, and military/aerospace.”

“It’s a special occasion when a PCIe specification hits the final version, ” observed Ian Cutress, Chief Analyst and CEO, More Than Moore. The rise in the demand for both compute and networking, enabled through PCIe technology, is at an all-time high, despite the complexities of creating standards in the industry around high-speed signaling. Datacenters are ready to start deploying networks built on PCIe 7.0 technology, and almost every ASIC company I talk to is already engaged with the IP providers and is set to take advantage. Even with the popularity and focus that went into PCIe 6.0 deployment, the PCIe 7.0 specification has more enthusiasm than any previous version.”

via PCI-SIG

Alongside the specification release, PCI-SIG has also introduced an innovative Optical Aware Retimer Engineering Change Notice (ECN), revising the PCIe 6.4 specification and enhancing the PCIe 7.0 specification. This development presents the first standardized optical solution for implementing PCIe technology through optical fiber, boosting performance capabilities.

Optical Aware Retimer ECN Highlights:

Facilitates diverse optical technologies for interconnections between existing PCIe 6.4 and 7.0 specification-compliant Switch, Root Complex, and Endpoint silicon components.
Enhances connectivity reach across different racks and data pods.
Enables efficient multiplexing and data mapping across both electrical and optical domains.
Supports more compact designs compared to traditional copper electrical solutions.

The Optical Retimer ECN is now accessible for PCI-SIG members for download along with the PCIe 6.4 and 7.0 specifications. PCI-SIG encourages stakeholders to join its technical workgroups to explore these advancements further.

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