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PCI Express

PCI Express® Compliance Testing

The PCI-SIG provides PCI Express compliance tests that are utilized for testing PCI Express systems and add-in cards at each PCI-SIG Compliance Workshop. The PCI-SIG also publishes an Integrators List.  For a PCI Express system, add-in card, or other device to be placed on the Integrators List, the system or device must pass interoperability and compliance testing, and the vendor must also submit a Product Listing Request Form for the system or device tested.

PCI Express Compliance Testing

There are five different test areas that make up PCI Express compliance testing.

For a summary of the tests that are utilized at PCI-SIG Compliance Workshops for testing PCIe 2.0  and PCIe 3.0 products please see the PCIe Workshop Testing Summary (77kb pdf)

PCI Express Electrical Testing Toolkit

The PCI Express Electrical Testing Toolkit was developed to help verify product compliance to the PCI Express Base Specification(s). The PCI Express Electrical Testing Toolkit consists of a series of tests used to evaluate PCI Express systems/motherboards and PCI Express add-in card products. The test tool kit contains the following components:

  • PCI Express Electrical Test Specifications
  • PCI Express Signal Quality Test Procedure, Receiver Test Procedure, Link Equalization Test Procedure, and Transmitter De-emphasis Test Procedure documentation
  • SIGTEST Post Capture Analysis Software
  • PCI Express Compliance Load Board  and Compliance Base Board Test Fixtures
  • Sample PCI Express Test Data

Follow this link to download the PCI Express Electrical tests.

PCI Express Configuration Space Testing

The PCI Express configuration test is a standalone SW tool that examines the configuration space of devices on add-in cards and checks it for compliance with the spec.  The tool runs on Windows 7.  The test kit consists of the following components:

  • PCI Express Configuration Test Specification
  • PCI Express Configuration Test SW (PCIe-CV)
  • PCI Express Configuration Test Procedures Document

Follow this link to download the PCI Express Configuration tests.

PCI Express Link Protocol Testing

The PCI Express Link Layer protocol testing was developed to test Add-in Card compliance to the Link protocol specification requirements. 

The test kit consists for either PTC consists of the following components:

  • PCI Express Link Layer Test Consideration
  • PCI Express Link/Transaction Test Procedure document
  • PCI Express Protocol Test Card (PTC)
  • PCI Express Link Layer Test Software

Follow this link to download the current level PTC Link Layer test software.

PCI Express Transaction Protocol Testing

The PCI Express Transaction testing was developed to test Add-in Card compliance to the Link Transaction protocol specification requirements. 

The test kit consists of the following components:

  • PCI Express Transaction Layer Test Consideration
  • PCI Express Link/Transaction Test Procedure document
  • PCI Express Protocol Test Card (PTC)
  • PCI Express Transaction Layer Test Software

Follow this link to download the current level PTC Transaction Layer test software.

PCI Express Platform BIOS Testing

The PCI Express Platform BIOS test exercises a platform BIOS to make sure it properly detects and initializes PCI Express devices. 

The downloadable tests and information on how to order the test cards is included below. The test kit consists of the following components:

  • PCI Express Platform BIOS Test Consideration
  • PCI Express Platform BIOS Test Procedure document
  • PCI Express Platform Bios Test Software v.90: Software package that implements the tests. The software must be run on Windows 7 and use a specialized protocol test card (PTC).

Follow this link to download the PCI Express BIOS tests.

Interoperability Testing - Test Procedures for doing the Interoperability testing during a workshop.