PCI Express has in a relatively short while gained a strong position on the PC market and we mainly know it from the new graphics card interface, PCIe x16. PCI-SIG, which is responsible for the PCI Express interface, has considerably greater plans than that and the fact is that since the interface is an overall good technology for transferring data fast and securely offers a considerably broader usage. PCI-SIG has now presented a new specification for its interface, which is all about external cables, which makes it possible to connect systems, not just circuit boards, externally through cables.
PCI Express External Cabling 1.0 is the name of the new specification which through cables can handle channels at x1, x4, x8 and x16 bandwidth. Usage includes external graphics processors, but that’s far from all.
“This specification helps the industry create new products that will take PCIe technology out of the box – enabling PCIe solutions for IO expansion drawers, external graphics processors, tethered mobile docking, communications equipment and embedded applications,”
