👉 PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) engineering refers to the design, development, and implementation of high-speed communication interfaces used to connect various peripheral components, such as network cards, storage devices, and sensors, directly to a computer's motherboard. PCI technology enables faster data transfer rates compared to older interfaces like ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) by utilizing a dedicated, high-bandwidth bus system. This interface supports multiple devices on a single lane, significantly increasing the overall bandwidth and performance of the system. PCI engineering involves careful consideration of signal integrity, power delivery, and thermal management to ensure reliable and efficient communication between the host CPU and peripheral devices. Over time, PCI has evolved through various generations, including PCI-X for high-speed networking and newer standards like PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) that offer even greater bandwidth and flexibility, catering to the increasing demands of modern computing environments.
