PCIe 6.0 and 7.0 deployment encounters delays
PCIe 6.0 and 7.0 deployments are delayed due to new roadblocks, pushing their implementation timelines back by a year.
The PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG) has announced delays in the deployment of PCIe 6.0 and 7.0, shifting their implementation timelines back by a year. While version 0.5 draft specifications for PCIe 7.0 have been released, the compliance programs for both standards face setbacks.
Originally, hardware supporting PCIe 6.0 was expected to enter enterprise markets in March 2024, with PCIe 7.0 to follow in 2027. Now, a preliminary live compliance program for PCIe 6.0 is set for the second quarter of 2024, with a more advanced launch pushed to 2025. The compliance program for PCIe 7.0 has been delayed to 2028, although final specifications remain scheduled for 2025.
The delay predominantly impacts data centers, with industrial, automotive, aerospace, military applications, and consumer electronics further down the line. The PCI-SIG is also progressing on upgrading to optical connections for future standards, with an Engineering Change Request (ECR) due by December 2024. Optical standards will support PCIe 6.0 and 7.0, enhancing current electrical layers rather than replacing them.