PCIe 7.0 development signals future SSD speed improvements

PCIe 7.0 is on the verge of completion but has not yet been adopted widely. The development group, PCI-SIG, has announced that the specification is in its final draft stage. If no changes are proposed, it could be ready for launch soon. The PCI-SIG is a consortium formed in 1992 to develop PCI connections used in computers. This includes connections for components such as graphics cards and solid-state drives (SSDs). Most modern computers use PCIe, with many new systems in 2025 featuring PCIe 5.0. Older versions like PCIe 4.0 are still common, and each version doubles the data transfer speeds of its predecessor. Faster PCIe standards allow for quicker SSD speeds. For example, PCIe 4.0 SSDs reach speeds up to 7,000MB/s, while PCIe 5.0 SSDs can achieve 14,000MB/s or more. However, many are now asking where PCIe 6.0 is, as it has not been widely adopted yet. Despite the wait for PCIe 6.0, it is in development. Recently, Micron showcased a prototype SSD with impressive read speeds of 27GB/s. Looking ahead, PCIe 7.0 may push speeds beyond 50GB/s. While PCIe 7.0 is exciting, it may take years before consumers see it in their devices. The advancement of specifications is crucial for industry standards, allowing companies to keep improving without needing new interfaces. This standardization helps ensure compatibility across various components in computer systems.