Maximum PC Magazine via Getty Images
We've been hearing about a new PCIe specification since 2011. That seems like an eon ago in technology time. PCI-SIG, the community responsible for maintaining these peripheral input/output (I/O) specifications has finally released the specs for PCI Express 4.0, which will give PCs twice the throughput speed (up to 16 GT/s) as previous 3.0 connections while maintaining backward compatibility as well.
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express, or PCIe, is the current standard type of connection protocol for internal devices in your computer. It refers both to the expansion slots on a computer's motherboard that accept expansion cards as well as the cards themselves. Most motherboards today only include this type of connection slot.
It isn't just for PCs, either. Devices that use the PCIe protocol can be found in server, storage and even mobile devices. It could make a big difference in faster video cards, SSDs, and other internal configurations, speeding up entire systems. Backward compatibility means that manufacturers won't have to redesign older systems, either. Any new PCIe devices will be able to play nicely with current PCs as well as new ones. As PCI-SIG members have already been testing the new 4.0 specifications, we could see new products with the faster speeds on shelves as soon as PCIe 4.0 has undergone a final IP review.
According to The Tech Report, PCI-SIG also teased an upcoming PCIe 5.0 specification, which could be ready by 2019. Future PCIe devices could see a throughput of up to 32 GT/s, doubling that available from 4.0 devices. Such speed could work very well in high-end networking environments, allowing for up to 128 GB/s network bandwidth.
DARPA has been trying to develop tiny spy drones for years. Once perfected, they will be a powerful new weapon against groups like ISIS, but they'll also mark the end of ever being able to go offline.
These 27 young entrepreneurs prove that age is just a number.
A new report suggests 99 percent of counterfeit Apple chargers bought online are unsafe.
A solid-state drive, or “SSD”, is much faster than a traditional hard disk drive (or “HDD”). SSDs have been around for awhile, but a new breed of SSD, called PCIe SSDs, are slowly starting to rise. But how are they different than normal SSDs?
Are you a frequent user of PowerShell, but always find yourself wishing you had a great quick reference sheet available? Then you will definitely love this bit of news! Microsoft has released an updated set of PowerShell quick reference guides so that you always have the information you need within
The latest Windows 10 Insider preview build offers a bunch of new features that writers will appreciate, including the ability to see where you were when you last used your pen.
The privacy-minded browser will keep your IP address safe by running in a sandbox.
Fusion shoots in 360, but its killer app might be the flat videos it makes.
The IOGear USB-C 3-Slot Card Reader delivers fast, consistent speeds, and supports SD, microSD and CF cards.
Arcade modes are no longer the end-all, be-all in fighting games. Drama, customization, and wow-factor push the genre forward.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo is next week, and that means lots of announcements about video games and gaming hardware. Here are some of the possibilities.
Major auto makers and startups like Lyft, Uber, and Waymo might hog the self-driving car headlines, but Delphi is one to watch, too, as evidenced by a new partnership with France's Transdev.
Since its launch 7 years ago, Instagram has become one of the leading social media platforms for image-based content, with over 600 million active monthly users.
The Indie Megabooth is a staple at video game conventions, but now it's trying to break into the art world.
Initially Microsoft reserved 4GB of RAM for the interface, but they've now got that down to 3GB meaning more RAM for games.