Is compatibility with the base of Raid and network interface cards [NICs] the key advantage for PCI-X?
PCI-X 2.0 maintains backward compatibility with PCI-X adapter cards as well as software. As customers move towards [faster PCI-X speeds] they are easily able to adapt their migration. [Backward compatibility protects investments and this is especially important] in the economic environment that we have today. There is an additional level of manpower and admin needed to employ brand-new I/O technologies. Despite PCI-X’s advantages, some people predict that Intel will be able to drive IT vendors to adopt PCI Express – for example by gaining board-level support for it… PCI Express is delivered in a core chipset. It’s not the microprocessor; it’s the economic complement. ServerWorks is number one [in server chipsets today] and is not using PCI Express in the near term. We have our own chipset, HP has its own chipset. Is your faith in PCI-X based on that technology’s strengths or perceived weaknesses in PCI Express? I think PCI Express is a good technology – IBM co-invented it and co-deve
