PCIe 7.0 achieves impressive 128 GT/s in optical connection demonstration

Cadence demonstrated a PCIe 7.0 optical connection achieving 128 GT/s at DevCon 2024, a key milestone for future hyper-fast data transfer.

: Cadence showcased a PCIe 7.0 connection reaching 128 GT/s using optical technology at DevCon 2024. This marks a significant step towards replacing CopperLink with optical connectors for future PCIe standards. The demonstration ran uninterrupted for over two days, showcasing the reliability and potential of optical PCIe connections.

Cadence demonstrated a PCIe 7.0 connection achieving an impressive 128 gigatransfers per second (GT/s) using readily available parts at PCI-SIG DevCon 2024. This test is a significant milestone in the transition from CopperLink to optical connections for future PCIe implementations.

The demonstration lasted continuously for over two days, underscoring the reliability of the new technology. With a pre-FEC BER of approximately 3E-8, the setup provided a robust margin of RS FEC, showcasing the future potential for enterprise applications like hyperscale and cloud computing.

Optical PCIe connectors are seen as crucial for the massive speed increases expected from PCIe 6.0 and 7.0. While CopperLink supports bandwidths suitable for PCIe 5.0 and 6.0, only optical technology can achieve the impressive 128 GT/s necessary for PCIe 7.0, as demonstrated by Cadence.

PCIeOptical ConnectionCadence