PCI Express 4.0 (PCIe 4.0) is the fourth generation of the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) interface, which is used to connect computer components such as graphics cards, network cards, and storage devices to the motherboard. PCIe 4.0 was released in 2017 and is designed to provide higher bandwidth and faster data transfer speeds than its predecessor, PCIe 3.0.
One of the key improvements of PCIe 4.0 is its doubled data transfer rate compared to PCIe 3.0, providing a maximum bandwidth of 16 GT/s (gigatransfers per second) per lane, and a total of 64 GB/s for a x16 slot. This increased bandwidth allows for faster data transfer rates and improved performance for high-end applications such as gaming, video editing, and virtual reality.
PCIe 4.0 also provides other features such as improved power management, lane margining, and advanced error reporting, which enhance reliability and system stability.
However, PCIe 4.0 is only supported by newer computer systems and components, so it may not be compatible with older hardware. Additionally, while PCIe 4.0 offers improved performance, the actual benefits depend on the specific use case and may not be noticeable for all applications.