[ GLOSSARY DEFINITION ]
Performance
PCI Express
The high-speed bus connecting CPU to GPU, SSDs, and other components.
Also known as:
PCIe
PCI-E
PCI Express Gen 4
Full Definition & Technical Explanation
PCI Express (PCIe/PCI-E) links the CPU to GPUs, NVMe SSDs, and expansion cards. Each new generation doubles bandwidth — PCI Express 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 — and lanes (e.g., 20 lanes) set how many devices can run at full speed.
See PCI Express Version in CPU specs and Bus: PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) for laptop SSDs.
Related Technical Terms
CPU Socket
The physical slot a CPU plugs into; the socket determines which motherboards a CPU supports.
Performance
GPU
Specialized chip for rendering, gaming, and image processing — key to gaming scores.
Performance
NVMe
Fast flash storage protocol over PCIe; much quicker than eMMC/UFS in phones and laptops.
Storage