PCI-SIG has released version 0.3 of the PCIe 8.0 specification to its members, outlining the goals for the next-generation standard, designed to support future data-intensive workloads such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
The PCIe 8.0 specification aims to achieve a raw bit rate of 256.0 GT/s and support up to 1.0 TB/s of bi-directional bandwidth in an x16 configuration, continuing to use Pulse Amplitude Modulation 4-level (PAM4) signaling, as seen in PCIe 6.0 and 7.0. The final version is scheduled for completion by 2028.
Key development goals for PCIe 8.0 include reducing latency and improving Forward Error Correction (FEC) performance. The group is also exploring new connector technologies to accommodate higher speeds and ensuring reliability targets are met, while maintaining backward compatibility with previous PCIe generations. Additionally, the development focuses on enhancing protocol efficiency and reducing power consumption.
The new specification is not intended for immediate consumer or gaming applications, as current PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 standards remain sufficient. Current consumer-grade Gen4 SSDs offer speeds over 7 GB/sec, and Gen5 SSDs deliver more than 14 GB/sec, exceeding typical requirements for gaming and general user tasks.
