What does PCIe stand for?

PCIe stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect Express. This term reflects the evolution of the PCI standard, designed to provide high-speed communication between various components in a computer, such as graphics cards, SSDs, and other peripherals. The "Express" in the name signifies the advancements made over the previous PCI standards, enabling faster data transfer rates and improved bandwidth.

The PCIe architecture allows for multiple lanes connecting components, which is essential for modern computing demands due to the increasing speed and performance requirements of hardware. The term "Peripheral Component Interconnect" indicates that it is intended for use with peripheral components, and the addition of "Express" highlights its capability of handling data more rapidly than earlier iterations of the PCI standard.

Understanding PCIe is crucial for anyone involved in IT support or hardware configuration, as it directly impacts system performance and compatibility with various devices.