Intel Ponders Feasibility of PCI Express x2 Interface

Posted 07/20/2011 at 9:37am | by Paul Lilly

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Could the PCI Express interface beneft from a new, two-lane (x2) solution? That's the question Intel engineers are reportedly kicking around, according to VR-Zone.com's LG Nilsson. The reason is pretty simple. PCI-E x1 lacks sufficient bandwidth for data intensive devices, and PCI-E x4 is too wide for many peripheral chips, Nilsson says. Hence why Intel is at least considering an in-between.

News and rumor site Fudzilla proposes another reason why Intel might make a push for PCI-E x2. It could be that Intel wants to inch its Thunderbolt technology closer to consumers, and PCI-E x2 could prove a sweet sport for Thunderbolt controllers.

Whatever the reason, Intel faces certain challenges, one of those being the PCI-SIG consortium tasked with specifying PCI Express standards. As it stands, PCI-SIG isn't mulling a PCI-E x2 spec, even if Intel is, though this probably wouldn't present a major roadblock. The bigger hurdle might be in getting peripheral chip makers to redesign their chips to support the added bandwidth PCI-E x2 would provide.