A new connector may be on the cards, too
The PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG) has confirmed that version 8.0 of the PCI Express (PCIe) specification will allow up to 256 gigatransfers per second, which equates to up to 1 TB/s bi-directionally in a x16 configuration.
The SIG’s announcement of the spec follows the June completion of the PCIe 7.0 spec, which allows for devices that handle 128 GT/s and up to 512 GBps bi-directionally in an x16 lane configuration.
The SIG also said it will achieve stated goals for latency and forward error correction but didn’t enumerate them. The org will also continue to “emphasize techniques to reduce power”, an entirely understandable endeavor given datacenters’ vast appetite for energy.
