Info on PCI Express?

[Riddil]

I've heard a good bit about PCI express from the technology/conceptual side...

But does anyone know when we'll actually SEE PCI Express systems or cards? I think I saw some release dates for 4Q04, but if anyone has any real info that'd be great...

(I'm waiting to buy my next PC until PCI-x comes out...)

[Bitman]

I was gonna question what you really need, but that's dumb - all new tech is cool. But you should evaluate your need .. odds are, current tech will fill your needs for alot less money, especially after PCIX arrives. And especially if you don't like to buy version 1.0 of anything.

Most pragmatic answer I found is here. If you must have the latest, you'll probably want to wait until summer. But we probably won't see a good variety at affordable prices until 2005.

As far as I'm concerned, the best thing that BTX and PCIX will bring are lower prices for current tech.

[Riddil]

Well, I actually have a high level of faith in PCI-x. It's a whole new format, granted, but I don't think the problems will be as severe as they were when ISA was up'd to PCI. (famous last words)

Anyhow, right now my need of anything particular isn't that great. The only card I'd have in my system that would benefit from PCI-x would be the vid card. The only other cards will be a wireless card and a recording-quality sound card. (Life is easier now that everything is USB/firewire)

It's just that I typically try to go long hauls b/w system upgrades. I've had my current system for near 3.5 years now. And 3 years from today everything will likely be PCI-x. It'd be a lot easier to make it through those years if I have a system that can support all the new hardware/options that come out.

Plus PCI-x is just so cool, have you seen how tiny those cards are?? It's amazing! :p

Ah well, thanks for the link Bit. Odds are I'll just wait til early '05 to ensure PCI-x stability.

[Bitman]

I agree, odds are PCIX will be stable very early. But reletively few cards will be available. And even though the tiny 1-bit slot is designed to be cheap and easy, regular PCI will still be cheaper.

There are only two reasons to get PCIX this early: You must have the latest tech, or you have massive bandwidth needs (gigabit ether and multiple hard disks.) Video cards don't count; they have enough on-board RAM that hi bus speeds will only shorten the "loading level" stage. The game itself runs full speed on all cards.

If you stick with PCI/AGP, you'll get all the features you want, and all the speed you want. PCI and AGP will be around for years -- all the machines being sold now are PCI, and 3 years from now they'll be upgrading. But as the world shifts to PCIX, you'll feel increased pressure to buy a whole new box sooner than usual. And with the money you saved, you won't feel bad about it.

[mbpark]

I'm actually putting off buying another desktop until this comes out.

This is because they'll be mixing PCI Express and PCI cards in the same machines, and because Intel's going to be introducing yet another motherboard form factor in BTX.

That, and I suspect that the new PowerMacs this summer will be running it, and that's what I want to get.

Yes, I am one of those users with needs and requirements that indicate I'd be better off with this. I will be running Oracle 10g on this machine, PC or not .

I will also be hopefully doing much other work on it.