PCI Express*, the third generation input/output (I/O) standard for desktop and servers
improves network performance beyond that of older PCI and PCI-X desktop and server bus
architectures. The higher performance of PCI Express derives from its faster, scalable
serial-I/O interconnect, which provides a dedicated, bi-directional I/O with 2.5-GHz
clocking, versus the slower 133-MHz parallel bus of PCI-X.
The venerable first-generation PCI standard and its second-generation relative, the PCI-X
bus, have served well over the years as Input/Output (I/O) architectures for PCs and network
servers. While PCI and PCI-X will continue to provide service for some years to come, their
usefulness will continue to diminish. The reasons are quite simple-PCI and PCI-X are too
bandwidth and scalability limited for much of today's computing and networking needs.
The PCI bandwidth pinch and latency bottlenecks are now being felt in enterprise networks,
especially those that have migrated to Gigabit Ethernet. The advent of multi-processor servers
amplifies the need for higher bandwidth I/O even more. Fortunately, this need is being answered
by a third-generation PCI I/O architecture, formerly known as 3GIO and now referred to as PCI
Express* or PCIe*.
Intel has launched a family of Intel® PRO Network Adapters for the PCI Express I/O standard.
These new PCI Express adapters from Intel are built on Intel Lead Free Technology and provide
either copper or fiber optic Gigabit Ethernet connectivity for desktops and servers built with
PCI Express slots.
Intel offers a broad line of Intel PRO/1000 Network Adapters for both fiber and copper
connectivity using the PCI Express slot interface. Learn more ›
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