Technology Standards & Interfaces

When the next generation of PCI Express is released, the initial focus is usually on speed. Talk typically centers on “doubled transfer speeds,” “support for faster graphics cards,” or “support for next-generation storage devices.” While these improvements are certainly welcome, they represent only the most visible results of a massive engineering effort. PCI Express has…

Even a device with excellent specifications at launch can become unusable a few years later. For instance, a laptop with a brand-new interface, a storage device featuring a popular interface design, or a professional system built for a specific workflow might eventually encounter compatibility issues. This happens not because the hardware itself suddenly stops working,…