Playing the Slots
So what about your current 64/66 PCI and PCI-X 133 cards? Don't worry--server-hardware manufacturers will include PCI-X slots as an interim to PCI-E. Look for PCI-E-compliant servers by year's end, probably at first with more PCI-X slots than PCI-E. Subsequent models will come with more PCI-E slots as PCI-E cards become more common. It'll take about three years for server vendors drop their PCI-X slots altogether.
Most early PCI-E cards will include a PCI-to-PCI-E bridge chip, since today's silicon designs are centered around PCI and PCI-X. Most native PCI-E cards are slated for the first quarter of next year.
Meanwhile, the only bus that comes close to the bandwidth of PCI-E is the AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 8x bus. AGP is an Intel spec for handling the huge data-movement requirements of the graphics card industry, namely CAD workstations and 3-D modeling. The AGP 8x port's throughput is 2 GB per sec.
Eventually, most graphics cards will go in PCI-E 16x slots, which will eliminate a special-purpose slot and connector. PCI-E 16x should fill the needs of high-end graphics cards, providing three times the power of AGP 8x. So beware: The AGP cards you buy today for your CAD workstations and other advanced graphic workstations may be obsolete in the future.
Discover the benefits of scalable backbone and network services for application and cloud providers.
Network automation is gaining momentum. Here's how you can drive this powerful technology to its full potential.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
