Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution and significance of PCI-Express technology, particularly the upcoming PCI-Express 6.0, which aims to enhance bandwidth and reduce latency for AI and HPC systems. The transition to this new standard is crucial for meeting the demands of modern computing environments, especially in AI server architectures [1][2][3]. Group 1: PCI-Express Evolution - PCI-Express bandwidth increases every three years, with the latest version, PCI-Express 6.0, expected to double the data rate while maintaining latency [1][2]. - The transition to PAM-4 encoding in PCI-Express 6.0 allows for higher data rates but introduces challenges such as increased error rates, necessitating advanced error correction techniques [3][4]. - Broadcom has been a key player in the development of PCI-Express switches and retimers, with their latest products supporting both PCI-Express 5.0 and 6.0 standards [6][7]. Group 2: Market Demand and Applications - The demand for PCI-Express switches and retimers has surged, driven by the need for higher bandwidth in AI servers, which often require multiple GPUs and accelerators [7][8]. - A typical AI server equipped with eight GPUs utilizes four PCI-Express switches, highlighting the importance of high channel counts for performance [7]. - The complexity of AI server architectures necessitates robust PCI-Express solutions to facilitate communication between various components without a central CPU [8][9]. Group 3: Future Prospects - The introduction of PCI-Express 6.0 is seen as a pivotal step for the industry, with expectations for widespread adoption in AI server manufacturing by late 2024 [6][11]. - There is speculation about the potential for new architectures that could further enhance bandwidth beyond current PCI-Express capabilities, possibly resembling Nvidia's NVLink technology [9][10][11]. - The article emphasizes the need for a coherent telemetry system to support the growing complexity of AI ecosystems, which Broadcom aims to address through its interoperability development platform [8].