Peripheral Component Interface

(P-C-I)

A high-speed expansion architecture. PCI allows multiple devices fast access between external devices and the computer.

PCI is an Intel design released late in 1993 and is now supported by major PC manufacturers. PCI runs at 20-33MHz and carries either 32 bits using a 124-pin connector or 64 bits using a 188-pin connector.

While often called a bus, PCI is really more of a bridge or mezzanine which decouples the peripherals connected to PCI from the CPU. The slower peripherals are allowed to operate asynchronously so everything runs at closer to its optimum speed.

More Information

• BIOS FAQ