PCIe Network Card Guide

The PCI Express (PCIe) standard was developed to fulfill the need for increased bandwidth and improved networking device performance. PCIe has been completely developed in numerous network devices since its introduction, particularly for PCIe cards. This guide provides comprehensive insights into PCIe network cards, covering the basics of PCIe, its evolution, the features of different versions and considerations for selecting the right network card for your networking needs.

PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) is a computer bus that connects or inserts peripheral devices into a computer. PCI standard was developed by Intel in 1990 and was widely implemented in computers five years later. As a general-purpose connection standard, it supports various devices, including graphics hardware, audio hardware, and network gear. Throughout years of technological advancement, modifications to the PCI standard have added new features and performance benefits, such as varied bus speeds and bus widths. For more details about PCI, please read the post-PCI vs PCI-X vs PCI-E, Why Choose PCI-E Card?

PCIe (PCI Express) is the more recently introduced standard for connecting devices to computers, replacing older standards like PCI, PCI-X, and AGP. Compared to PCI, PCIe offers higher bandwidth and greater flexibility. The PCIe standard has undergone multiple updates to enhance performance and introduce new features. Currently, there are five different versions of PCIe: PCIe 1.0, PCIe 2.0, PCIe 3.0, PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0.

PCIe (PCI Express) network cards are network adapters with a PCIe interface that are utilized as expansion card interfaces in motherboard-level connections. PCIe-based expansion cards are intended to fit into PCIe-based slots on the motherboards of devices such as hosts, servers, and network switches. Furthermore, expansion cards can take many different forms, including network adapters, graphic cards, USB port expansion, and a variety of other interfaces. 

PCIe network cards come in five physical size types: x1, x4, x8, x16, and x32, corresponding to the transmission line count in the PCIe slot. The larger the count of transmission lines, the larger the card's dimensions (the last one x32 is not widely used). PCIe network cards are designed to fit into larger slots (up to x16 in size), but they cannot fit into smaller slots; for instance, an x8 card cannot fit into an x4 slot. 

The manufacturing sizes of PCIe network cards also vary, such as full-height brackets, low-profile brackets, full-length, and half-length. Double and triple PCIe network cards are also available. These network adapters occupy the appropriate number of PCIe slots (bracket height) on the equipment interface panel.

The data transfer rates of PCIe depend on the version. For instance, PCIe 5.0 achieves a data transfer rate of 32 GT/s, providing a corresponding bandwidth of 64 GB/s.

FS.COM offers PCIe slot-compatible network adapters. A network interface card (NIC) can be inserted into a PCIe slot to enable network connectivity for computer systems and network storage devices. Its primary function is establishing a connection between an end node and the network. The end node can refer to various devices such as PCs, workstations, laptops, servers, and storage arrays. In addition, the NIC subsystem also includes driver software running on the host OS. The driver implements the software to control the behavior of the NIC for functions such as send and receive.

When selecting an appropriate PCIe network card, several factors need to be considered.

PCIe network cards are essential components for achieving high-performance network connectivity in modern computer systems. By leveraging the advantages of PCIe technology, these cards offer enhanced bandwidth, reduced CPU overhead, and flexibility for network expansion. When selecting a PCIe NIC, consider your speed requirements, interface compatibility, and any advanced features that align with your networking needs. With the right PCIe network cards, you can optimize network performance and maximize the efficiency of data transfer in your system.