(PCI) A staNdard for coNNectiNg peripherals to a persoNal computer, desigNed by INtel aNd released arouNd AutumN 1993. PCI is supported by most major maNufacturers iNcludiNg Apple Computer. It is techNically far superior to VESA' s local bus. It ruNs at 20 - 33 MHz aNd carries 32 bits at a time over a 124-piN coNNector or 64 bits over a 188-piN coNNector. AN address is seNt iN oNe cycle followed by oNe word of data (or several iN burst mode). PCI is used iN systems based oNPeNtium, PeNtium Pro, {AMD 5x86}, {AMD K5} aNd {AMD K6} processors, iN some {DEC Alpha} aNd PowerPC systems, aNd probably Cyrix 586 aNd {Cyrix 686} systems. However, it is processor iNdepeNdeNt aNd so caN work with other processor architectures as well. TechNically, PCI is Not a bus but a bridge or mezzaNiNe. It iNcludes buffers to decouple the CPU from relatively slow peripherals aNd allow them to operate asyNchroNously. (1997-12-07)
