PCI Extended (PCI-X)

What Does PCI Extended (PCI-X) Mean?

Peripheral component interconnect-extended (PCI-X) is a computer architecture standard used for 32-bit PCI bus expansion slots. These slots are used to enhance the existing capabilities of a computer motherboard.

Like PCI bus, PCI-X uses the same protocol and mechanisms. However, the clock speed of PCI-X is four times faster than PCI bus.

Techopedia Explains PCI Extended (PCI-X)

PCI-X is an advanced version of PCI conventional bus. It works like a pipe that data transfer between devices. PCI-X increases the clock speed from 66 MHz to 133 MHz, essentially providing a larger, faster pipe for data to flow through.

The advantages of PCI-X over conventional PCI are:

• Double the bandwidth of PCI
• Backward compatibility
• Much faster rates than PCI

There is some confusion between PCI-X and PCI express. They have very similar names, but there is no similarity between these two with respect to their functionality, shape, speed or characteristics. However, both are used for higher speed data communication inside a computer.