This document covers external cabling solutions for PCI Express. Its purpose is to define
electromechanical specifications for the complete interconnect, including cables and cable
connectors. Some of the projected usage models for such solutions are:
5 Expansion I/O
Split-system desktopTethered docking for mobile platforms
External graphics controllersThe focus of this document is on copper-based cabling. Optical-based solutions might be covered in 10 subsequent revisions. Other than providing signaling compliant with the PCI Express Base Specification, and any erratea thereof that might exist, this cable specification makes no assumptions as to the source and destination thereoff. For instance, a source could be the Root Complex, Switch or other PCI
Express device and the destination could be a Switch, end-point or other PCI Express compliant 15 device. Contained within this specification are the cable, connector and board side requirements for providing a reliable cabled PCI Express solution.