PHY Interface For The PCI Express Architecture

PHY Interface
for the
PCI Express* Architecture
PCI Express 3.0

Revision 0.5 August 2008
©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

PHY Interface for the PCI Express* Architecture
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Table of Contents
1 Preface...................................................................................................................................... 7
1.1 Scope of this Revision ...................................................................................................... 7
1.2 Revision History ............................................................................................................... 7
2 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 8
2.1 PCI Express PHY Layer ................................................................................................... 9
3 PHY/MAC Interface .............................................................................................................. 10
4 PCI Express PHY Functionality............................................................................................. 12
4.1 Transmitter Block Diagram (2.5 and 5.0 GT/s) .............................................................. 13
4.2 Transmitter Block Diagram (8.0 GT/s)........................................................................... 14
4.3 Receiver Block Diagram (2.5 and 5.0 GT/s) .................................................................. 15
4.4 Receiver Block Diagram (8.0 GT/s) ............................................................................... 16
4.5 Clocking.......................................................................................................................... 17
5 PIPE Interface Signal Descriptions ........................................................................................ 17
5.1 PHY/MAC Interface Signals .......................................................................................... 17
5.2 External Signals .............................................................................................................. 25
6 PIPE Operational Behavior .................................................................................................... 26
6.1 Clocking.......................................................................................................................... 26
6.2 Reset................................................................................................................................ 26
6.3 Power Management ........................................................................................................ 27
6.4 Changing Signaling Rate ................................................................................................ 28
6.4.1 Fixed data path implementations ............................................................................. 29
6.4.2 Fixed PCLK implementations ................................................................................. 29
6.5 Transmitter Margining .................................................................................................... 30
6.6 Selectable De-emphasis .................................................................................................. 31
6.7 Receiver Detection.......................................................................................................... 31
6.8 Transmitting a beacon..................................................................................................... 32
6.9 Detecting a beacon.......................................................................................................... 32
6.10 Clock Tolerance Compensation .................................................................................. 33
6.11 Error Detection............................................................................................................ 34
6.11.1 8B/10B Decode Errors............................................................................................. 34
6.11.2 Disparity Errors ....................................................................................................... 35
6.11.3 Elastic Buffer Errors ................................................................................................ 35
6.12 Loopback..................................................................................................................... 36
6.13 Polarity Inversion ........................................................................................................ 38
6.14 Setting negative disparity ............................................................................................ 39
6.15 Electrical Idle .............................................................................................................. 39
6.16 Implementation specific timing and selectable parameter support ............................. 40
6.17 Control Signal Decode table........................................................................................ 42

6.18 Required synchronous signal timings.......................................................................... 42

7 Sample Operational Sequences .............................................................................................. 43
7.1 Active PM L0 to L0s and back to L0.............................................................................. 43
7.2 Active PM to L1 and back to L0..................................................................................... 44
7.3 Receivers and Electrical Idle .......................................................................................... 46
7.4 Using CLKREQ# with PIPE........................................................................................... 47
8 Multi-lane PIPE...................................................................................................................... 49

Table of Figures
Figure 1: Partitioning PHY Layer ........................................................................................................ 9
Figure 2: PHY/MAC Interface........................................................................................................... 10
Figure 3: PHY Functional Block Diagram .......................................................................................... 12
Figure 4: Transmitter Block Diagram ........................................................................................... 13
Figure 5: Receiver Block Diagram................................................................................................ 15
Figure 6: Clocking and Power Block Diagram ............................................................................. 17
Table of Tables
Table 5-1: Transmit Data Interface Signals................................................................................... 17
Table 5-2: Receive Data Interface Signals .................................................................................... 18
Table 5-3: Command Interface Signals ......................................................................................... 20
Table 5-4: Status Interface Signals................................................................................................ 21
Table 5-5: External Signals ........................................................................................................... 25

1 Preface
1.1 Scope of this Revision

Revision .5 of the PCI Express* 3.0 PHY Interface Specification defines the intended architecture
for updating the PCI Express PHY Interface Specification to support PCI Express 3.0. This
revision includes support for PCI Express* implementations conforming to the PCI Express Base
Specification, Revision 3.0.
1.2 Revision History

Revision Date Description
Number
0.1 7/31/02 Initial Draft
0.5 8/16/02 Draft for industry review
0.6 10/4/02 Provides operational detail
0.7 11/4/02 Includes timing diagrams
0.8 11/22/02 More operational detail. Receiver detection sequence changed.
0.9 12/16/02 Minor updates. Solid enough for implementations to be finalized.
0.95 4/25/03 Updates to reflect 1.0a Base Spec. Added multilane suggestions.
1.00 6/19/03 Stable revision for implementation.
1.70 11/6/05 First pass at Gen. 2 PIPE
1.81 12/4/2005 Fixed up areas based on feedback.
1.86 2/27/2006 Fixed up more areas based on feedback. Added a section on how
to handle CLKREQ#.
1.87 9/28/2006 Removed references to Compliance Rate determination. Added
sections for TX Margining and Selectable De-emphasis. Fixed up
areas (6.4) based on feedback.
1.90 3/24/2007 Minor updates, mostly editorial.
2.00 7/21/2007 Minor updates, stable revision for implementation.
3.0 Rev .5 8/11/2008 Initial draft with PCI Express 3.0 support.

2 Introduction
The PHY Interface for the PCI Express Architecture (PIPE) is intended to enable the
development of functionally equivalent PCI Express PHY's. Such PHY's can be delivered as
discrete IC's or as macrocells for inclusion in ASIC designs. The specification defines a set of
PHY functions which must be incorporated in a PIPE compliant PHY, and it defines a standard
interface between such a PHY and a Media Access Layer (MAC) & Link Layer ASIC. It is not
the intent of this specification to define the internal architecture or design of a compliant PHY
chip or macrocell. The PIPE specification is defined to allow various approaches to be used.
Where possible the PIPE specification references the PCI Express base specification specification
rather than repeating its content. In case of conflicts, the PCI-Express Base Specification shall
supersede the PIPE spec.
This spec provides some information about how the MAC could use the PIPE interface for
various LTSSM states and Link states. This information should be viewed as guidelines for or
‘one way to implement’ base specification requirements. MAC implementations are free to do
things in other ways as long as they meet the corresponding specification requirements.
One of the intents of the PIPE specification is to accelerate PCI Express endpoint device
development. This document defines an interface to which ASIC and endpoint device vendors
can develop. Peripheral and IP vendors will be able to develop and validate their designs,
insulated from the high-speed and analog circuitry issues associated with the PCI Express PHY
interface, thus minimizing the time and risk of their development cycles.
Figure 2-1 shows the partitioning described in this spec for the PCI Express Base Specification.

To higher link,
transaction layers
State machines for

Media Access Layer Link Training and Status
(MAC) State Machine (LTSSM)
lane-lane deskew
Logical
Sub-block PHY/MAC Interface
Physical Layer
Specification
(Chapter 4
of base spec) Physical Coding 8b/10b code/decode
Sublayer elastic buffer
(PCS) Rx detection
Physical Physical Media Analog buffers

Sub-block Attachment Layer SERDES
(PMA) 10-bit interface or
130-bit interface (8 GT/s)
Rx Tx
Channel
Figure 2-1: Partitioning PHY Layer for PCI Express
2.1 PCI Express PHY Layer

The PCI Express PHY Layer handles the low level PCI Express protocol and signaling. This
includes features such as; data serialization and deserialization, 8b/10b encoding, 128b/130b
encoding (8 GT/s), analog buffers, elastic buffers and receiver detection. The primary focus of
this block is to shift the clock domain of the data from the PCI Express rate to one that is
compatible with the general logic in the ASIC.
Some key features of the PCI Express PHY are:

• Standard PHY interface enables multiple IP sources for PCI Express Logical Layer and
provides a target interface for PCI Express PHY vendors.
• Supports 2.5GT/s only or 2.5GT/s and 5.0 GT/s, or 2.5 GT/s, 5.0 GT/s and 8.0 GT/s serial
data transmission rate
• Utilizes 8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit parallel interface to transmit and receive PCI Express data
• Allows integration of high speed components into a single functional block as seen by the
endpoint device designer
• Data and clock recovery from serial stream on the PCI Express bus
• Holding registers to stage transmit and receive data
• Supports direct disparity control for use in transmitting compliance pattern(s)

• 8b/10b encode/decode and error indication

• 128b/130b encode/decode and error indication
• Receiver detection
• Beacon transmission and reception
• Selectable Tx Margining, Tx De-emphasis and signal swing values
3 PHY/MAC Interface
Figure 3-1 shows the data and logical command/status signals between the PHY and the MAC
layer. These signals are described in Section 5. Full support of PCI Express at all rates requires
15 control signals and 6 Status signals.
CLK
32, 16 or 8
TxData
TxDataK 4, 2 or 1
TxStartBlock (8.0 GT/s) 4, 2 or 1
TxDataSkip (8.0 GT/s) 4, 2 or 1 Tx+,Tx-

To Data Link Layer
Command 16 Channel
32, 16 or 8 RxData PHY
MAC Layer
Layer Rx+,Rx-
4, 2 or 1
RxDataK
6 Status
PCLK
Figure 3-1: PHY/MAC Interface
This specification allows several different PHY/MAC interface configurations to support various
signaling rates. For PIPE implementations that support only the 2.5 GT/s signaling rate
implementers can choose to have 16 bit data paths with PCLK running at 125 MHz, or 8 bit data
paths with PCLK running at 250 MHz.
PIPE implementations that support 5.0 GT/s signaling and 2.5 GT/s signaling in PCI Express
mode, and therefore are able to switch between 2.5 GT/s and 5.0 GT/s signaling rates, can be
implemented in several ways. An implementation may choose to have PCLK fixed at 250 MHz
and use 8-bit data paths when operating at 2.5 GT/s signaling rate, and 16-bit data paths when
operating at 5.0 GT/s signaling rate. Another implementation choice is to use a fixed data path
width and change PCLK frequency to adjust the signaling rate. In this case, an implementation
with 8-bit data paths could provide PCLK at 250 MHz for 2.5 GT/s signaling and provide PCLK
at 500 MHz for 5.0 GT/s signaling. Similarly, an implementation with 16-bit data paths would
provide PCLK at 125 MHz for 2.5 GT/s signaling and 250 MHz for 5.0 GT/s signaling. The full
set of possible widths and PCLK rates is shown in Table 3-1.

Mode PCLK Data Width
2.5 GT/s PCI Express 250 Mhz 8 bits

2.5 GT/s PCI Express 62.5 Mhz 32 bits

8.0 GT/s PCI Express 3.0 250 Mhz 32 bits
Table 3-1. Possible PCLK rates and data widths

While outside the scope of this specification, there may be PIPE implementations that support
multiples of the above configurations. The mechanism for choosing the configuration to be used
is implementation specific.

4 PCI Express PHY Functionality

Figure 4-1 shows the functional block diagram of the PHY. The functional blocks shown are not
intended to define the internal architecture or design of a compliant PHY but to serve as an aid for
signal grouping.
CLK
PCLK
PLL
32, 16 or 8
TxData
4, 2 or 1
TX BLOCK Tx+, Tx-
TxDataK
Command 15
6 Status
32, 16 or 8
RxData
4, 2 or 1
RX BLOCK Rx+, Rx-
RxDataK
Figure 4-1: PHY Functional Block Diagram

Sections below provide descriptions of each of the blocks shown in Figure 4-1: PHY Functional
Block Diagram. These blocks represent high-level functionality that is required to exist in the
PHY implementation. These descriptions and diagrams describe general architecture and
behavioral characteristics. Different implementations are possible and acceptable.

4.1 Transmitter Block Diagram (2.5 and 5.0 GT/s)
Data
X32 or x16
or x8
Optional 32,16->8 PCLK
x8
TxDataK
Scrambling (D Only)
x8
Bit rate clk / 10

TxCompliance 8b10b encoding
Loopback path x 10
from receiver
Bit rate clk
Parallel to Serial (2.5G or 5G)
TxMargin
TxElecIdle Transmitter Differential
TxDeemph (PCI Express Only
TxDetectRx Driver TxSwing (PCI Express Only)
D+ D-
Figure 4-2: Transmitter Block Diagram (2.5 and 5.0 GT/s)

4.2 Transmitter Block Diagram (8.0 GT/s)
Data
X32 or x16
or x8
TxDataSkip Optional 32,16->8 PCLK
x8
TxDataK
Scrambling (D Only)
x8
TxSyncHeader Bit rate clk / 10

128b130b encoding
TxStartBlock
Loopback path x130
from receiver
Parallel to Serial Bit rate clk (8

GT/s)
TxMargin
TxElecIdle Transmitter Differential
TxDeemph (PCI Express Only
TxDetectRx Driver TxSwing (PCI Express Only)
D+ D-
Figure 4-3: Transmitter Block Diagram (8.0 GT/s)

4.3 Receiver Block Diagram (2.5 and 5.0 GT/s)
D+ D-
Differential Receiver RxElecIdle
2.5 or 5.0 GHz

Clock Recovery
Circuit
Recovered
Bit Clock
Data Recovery
Circuit (DRC)
RxPolarity Serial to Parallel K28.5 Detection

RxValid
x 10 Recovered
Symbol Clock
Buffer Overflow/Underflow
Elastic Buffer
SKP added/removed Receiver RxStatus
Status
Loopback path
to transmitter x 10
Decode Error
125 or 250 8b10b Decode Disparity Error

MHz RxDataK
x8
Descrambler
x8
PCLK Optional 8->16, 32

Data
X32 or X16 or x8
Figure 4-4: Receiver Block Diagram (2.5 and 5.0 GT/s)

4.4 Receiver Block Diagram (8.0 GT/s)
D+ D-
Differential Receiver RxElecIdle
8.0 GHz
Clock Recovery
Circuit
Recovered
Bit Clock
Data Recovery
Circuit (DRC)
RxPolarity Serial to Parallel K28.5 Detection

RxValid
x 10 Recovered
Symbol Clock
Buffer Overflow/Underflow
Elastic Buffer
SKP added/removed Receiver RxStatus
Status
Loopback path
to transmitter x130
Decode Error
128b 130b Decode Disparity Error
400 MHz
RxDataK
x128
Descrambler
x8
PCLK Optional 8->16, 32

Data
X32 or X16 or x8
Figure 4-5: Receiver Block Diagram (8.0 GT/s)

4.5 Clocking
Bit Rate Clk
2.5, 5.0 or
8.0 GT/s
CLK
PLL
PCLK
Figure 4-6: Clocking and Power Block Diagram
5 PIPE Interface Signal Descriptions
5.1 PHY/MAC Interface Signals

The PHY input and output signals are described in the following tables. Note that Input/Output is
defined from the perspective of a PIPE compliant PHY component. Thus a signal described as an
“Output” is driven by the PHY and a signal described as an “Input” is received by the PHY. A
basic description of each signal is provided. More details on their operation and timing can be
found in following sections. All signals on the ‘parallel’ side of a PIPE implementation are
synchronous with PCLK, with exceptions noted in the tables below.
Table 5-1: Transmit Data Interface Signals
Active
Name Direction Description
Level
Tx+, Tx- Output N/A The PCI Express differential outputs from the
PHY. All transmitters shall be AC coupled to the
media. See section 4.3.1.2 of the PCI Express
Base Specification.
TxData[31:0] Input N/A Parallel PCI Express data input bus. For the 16-
for 32-bit bit interface, 16 bits represent 2 symbols of
interface transmit data. Bits [7:0] are the first symbol to
TxData[15:0] be transmitted, and bits [15:8] are the second
for 16-bit symbol. For the 32-bit interface, 32 bits
interface represent the 4 symbols of transmit data. Bits
TxData[7:0] [23:16] are the third symbol to be transmitted,
for 8-bit and bits [31:24] are the fourth symbol.
interface

TxDataK[3:0] Input N/A Data/Control for the symbols of transmit data.

for 32-bit For 32-bit interfaces, Bit 0 corresponds to the
interface low-byte of TxData, Bit3 corresponds to the
TxDataK[1:0] upper byte. For 16-bit interfaces, Bit 0
for 16-bit corresponds to the low-byte of TxData, Bit 1 to
interface the upper byte. A value of zero indicates a data
TxDataK for byte, a value of 1 indicates a control byte. Data
8-bit bytes are scrambled and control bytes are not.
interface
TxDataSkip[3 Input N/A Only used at the 8.0 GT/s signaling rate. These
:0] for 32-bit signals allow the MAC to instruct the PHY to
interface ignore one or more bytes on the data interface.
TxDataSkip[1 For 32-bit interfaces, Bit 0 corresponds to the
:0] for 16-bit low-byte of TxData, Bit3 corresponds to the
interface upper byte. For 16-bit interfaces, Bit 0
TxDataSkip corresponds to the low-byte of TxData, Bit 1 to
for 8-bit the upper byte. A value of one indicates the phy
interface will use the byte, a value of zero indicates the
phy will not use the byte.
TxStartBlock[ Input N/A Only used at the 8.0 GT/s signaling rate. These
3:0] for 32-bit signals allow the MAC to tell the PHY the
interface starting byte for a 130b block. For 32-bit
TxStartBlock[ interfaces, Bit 0 corresponds to the low-byte of
1:0] for 16-bit TxData, Bit3 corresponds to the upper byte. For
interface 16-bit interfaces, Bit 0 corresponds to the low-
TxStartBlock byte of TxData, Bit 1 to the upper byte. A value
for 8-bit of one indicates byte is the start of a 130b block,
interface a value of zero indicates the byte is not the start
of a 130b block.
Table 5-2: Receive Data Interface Signals

Active
Level
Rx+, Rx- Input N/A The PCI Express differential inputs to the PHY.
RxData[31:0] Output N/A Parallel PCI Express data output bus. For 16-bit
for 32-bit interface, 16 bits represents 2 symbols of
interface receive data. Bits [7:0] are the first symbol
RxData[15:0] received, and bits [15:8] are the second symbol.
for 16-bit For the 32 bit interface, 32 bits represent the 4
interface or symbols of receive data. Bits [23:16] are the
RxData[7:0] third symbol received, and bits [31:24] are the
for 8-bit fourth symbol received.
interface

RxDataK[3:0] Output N/A Data/Control bit for the symbols of receive data.
for 32-bit For 32-bit interfaces, Bit 0 corresponds to the
interface low-byte of RxData, Bit3 coresponds to the
RxDataK[1:0] upper byte. For 16-bit interface, Bit 0
for 16-bit corresponds to the low-byte of RxData[15:0], Bit
interface 1 to the upper byte. A value of zero indicates a
RxDataK for data byte; a value of 1 indicates a control byte.
8-bit
interface

Table 5-3: Command Interface Signals

Active
Level
TxDetectRx/ Input High Used to tell the PHY to begin a receiver
Loopback detection operation or to begin loopback.
Refer to Section 6.17 for details on the
required values for all control signals to
perform loopback and receiver detection
operations.
TxElecIdle Input High Forces Tx output to electrical idle when
asserted in all power states.
• When deasserted while in P0 (as
indicated by the PowerDown signals),
indicates that there is valid data
present on the TxData[..] and
TxDataK[..] pins and that the data
must be transmitted.
• When deasserted in P2 (as indicated
by the PowerDown signals), indicates
that a PCI Express PHY should begin
transmitting beacon signaling.
TxElecIdle must always be asserted
while in power states P0s and P1.
See section 6.3 for the definitions of PHY
power states.
TxCompliance Input High Sets the running disparity to negative. Used
when transmitting the PCI Express compliance
pattern.
RxPolarity Input High Tells PHY to do a polarity inversion on the

received data.
0 PHY does no polarity inversion.
1 PHY does polarity inversion.
Reset# Input Low Resets the transmitter and receiver. This
signal is asynchronous.
PowerDown[1:0] Input N/A Power up or down the transceiver. Power
states
[1] [0] Description
0 0 P0, normal operation
0 1 P0s, low recovery time latency,
power saving state
1 0 P1, longer recovery time
latency, lower power state
1 1 P2, lowest power state.
When transitioning from P2 to P1, the
signaling is asynchronous (since PCLK is not
running).

Rate[1:0] Input N/A Control the link signaling rate.

0 Use 2.5 GT/s signaling rate
1 Use 5.0GT/s signaling rate
2 Use 8.0 GT/s signaling rate
3 Reserved
PIPE implementations that only support one
signaling rate do not implement this signal.
TxDeemph Input N/A Selects transmitter de-emphasis.
0 -6dB de-emphasis
1 -3.5dB de-emphasis
PIPE implementations that only support a
single de-emphasis level do not implement
this signal.
TxMargin[2:0] Input N/A Selects transmitter voltage levels.
[2] [1] [0] Description
0 0 0 TxMargin value 0 = Normal
operating range
0 0 1 TxMargin value 1 = 800-
1200mV for Full swing* OR
400-700mV for Half swing*
0 1 0 TxMargin value 2 = required
and vendor defined
and vendor defined
and 200-400mV for Full swing*
OR 100-200mV for Half swing*
if the last value or vendor
defined
1 0 1 TxMargin value 5 = optional
if the last value OR vendor
defined OR Reserved if no
other values supported
if the last value OR vendor
defined OR Reserved if no
other values supported
if the last value OR Reserved if
no other values supported
PIPE2 implementations that only support PCI

Express at the 2.5GT/s signaling rate do not
implement this signal.

TxSwing Input N/A Controls transmitter voltage swing level

0 – Full swing
1 – Low swing (optional)
Implementation of this signal is optional if only
Full swing is supported.
TxSyncHeader[1:0 Input N/A Provdes the sync header for the PHY to use in
] the next 130b block. The PHY reads this
value when the TXStartBlock signal is
asserted.

Table 5-4: Status Interface Signals
Active
Level
RxValid Output High Indicates symbol lock and valid data on
RxData and RxDataK.
PhyStatus Output High Used to communicate completion of several
PHY functions including power management
state transitions, rate change, and receiver
detection. When this signal transitions during
entry and exit from P2 and PCLK is not
running, then the signaling is asynchronous.
In error situations (where the PHY fails to
assert PhyStatus) the MAC can take MAC-
specific error recovery actions.
RxElecIdle Output High Indicates receiver detection of an electrical
idle. While deasserted with the PHY in P2,
indicates detection of a beacon.
This is an asynchronous signal.
RxStatus[2:0] Output N/A Encodes receiver status and error codes for
the received data stream when receiving data.
[2] [1] [0] Description
0 0 0 Received data OK
0 0 1 1 SKP added
0 1 0 1 SKP removed
0 1 1 Receiver detected
1 0 0 Both 128B/130B decode error
and (optionally) Receive
Disparity error
1 0 1 Elastic Buffer overflow
1 1 0 Elastic Buffer underflow.
This error code is not used if the
elasticity buffer is operating in the
nominal buffer empty mode.
1 1 1 Receive disparity error
(Reserved if Receive Disparity
error is reported with code
0b100)

5.2 External Signals

Table 5-5: External Signals
Active
Level
CLK Input Edge This differential Input is used to generate the bit-rate
clock for the PHY transmitter and receiver. Specs
for this clock signal (frequency, jitter, …) are
implementation dependent and must be specified
for each implementation. This clock may have a
spread spectrum modulation.
PCLK Output Rising Parallel interface differential data clock. All data
Edge movement across the parallel interface is
synchronized to this clock. This clock operates at
125MHz, 250MHz, or 500 MHz depending on the
Rate control input and the data interface width. The
rising edge of the clock is the reference for all
signals. Spread spectrum modulation on this clock
is allowed.

6 PIPE Operational Behavior
6.1 Clocking
There are two clocks signals used by the PHY Interface component. The first (CLK) is a
reference clock that the PHY uses to generate internal bit rate clocks for transmitting and
receiving data. The specifications for this signal are implementation dependent and must be fully
specified by vendors. The specifications may vary for different operating modes of the PHY.
This clock may have spread spectrum modulation that matches a system reference clock (for
example, the spread spectrum modulation could come from REFCLK from the Card Electro-
Mechanical Specification).
The second clock (PCLK) is an output from the PHY and is the parallel interface clock used to
synchronize data transfers across the parallel interface. This clock runs at 125MHz, 250MHz, or
500 MHz depending on the Rate and PHY Mode control inputs and data interface width. The
rising edge of this clock is the reference point. This clock may also have spread spectrum
modulation.
6.2 Reset
When the MAC wants to reset the PHY (e.g.; initial power on), the MAC must hold the PHY in
reset until power and CLK to the PHY are stable. The PHY signals that PCLK is valid (ie. PCLK
has been running at its operational frequency for at least one clock) and the PHY is in the
specified power state by the de-assertion of PhyStatus. While Reset# is asserted the MAC should
have TxDetectRx/Loopback deasserted, TxElecIdle asserted, TxCompliance deasserted,
RxPolarity deasserted, PowerDown = P1, TxMargin = 000b, TxDeemp = 1, PHY Mode set to the
desired PHY operating mode, and Rate set to 2.5GT/s signaling rate. The state of TxSwing during
Reset# assertion is implementation specific.
PCLK running at any frequency less than or

equal to final operational frequency
PCLK
Reset#
PhyStatus
Reset
6.3 Power Management

The power management signals allow the PHY to minimize power consumption. The PHY must
meet all timing constraints provided in the PCI Express Base Specification regarding clock
recovery and link training for the various power states. The PHY must also meet all terminations
requirements for transmitters and receivers.

Four power states are defined, P0, P0s, P1, and P2. P0 state is the normal operational state for the
PHY. When directed from P0 to a lower power state, the PHY can immediately take whatever
power saving measures are appropriate.
In states P0, P0s and P1, the PHY is required to keep PCLK operational. For all state transitions
between these three states, the PHY indicates successful transition into the designated power state
by a single cycle assertion of PhyStatus. Transitions into and out of P2 are described below. For
all power state transitions, the MAC must not begin any operational sequences or further power
state transitions until the PHY has indicated that the initial state transition is completed.
Mapping of PHY power states to states in the Link Training and Status State Machine (LTSSM)
found in the base specification are included below.
• P0 state: All internal clocks in the PHY are operational. P0 is the only state where the PHY
transmits and receives PCI Express signaling.
P0 is the appropriate PHY power management state for most states in the Link Training and
Status State Machine (LTSSM). Exceptions are listed below for each lower power PHY
state.
• P0s state: PCLK output must stay operational. The MAC may move the PHY to this state
only when the transmit channel is idle.
P0s state can be used when the transmitter is in state Tx_L0s.Idle.
While the PHY is in either P0 or P0s power states, if the receiver is detecting an electrical
idle, the receiver portion of the PHY can take appropriate power saving measures. Note that
the PHY must be capable of obtaining bit and symbol lock within the PHY-specified time
(N_FTS with/without common clock) upon resumption of signaling on the receive channel.
This requirement only applies if the receiver had previously been bit and symbol locked
while in P0 or P0s states.
• P1 state: Selected internal clocks in the PHY can be turned off. PCLK output must stay
operational. The MAC will move the PHY to this state only when both transmit and receive
channels are idle. The PHY must not indicate successful entry into P1 (by asserting
PhyStatus) until PCLK is stable and the operating DC common mode voltage is stable and
within specification (as per the base spec).
P1 can be used for the Disabled state, all Detect states, and L1.Idle state of the Link Training
and Status State Machine (LTSSM).
• P2 state: Selected internal clocks in the PHY can be turned off. The parallel interface is in
an asynchronous mode and PCLK output is turned off. The MAC must ensure that the PHY
is in 2.5 GT/s signaling mode prior to moving the PHY to P2 state or direct the signaling
mode change and PHY power state change at the same time.
When transitioning into P2, the PHY must assert PhyStatus before PCLK is turned off and then
deassert PhyStatus when PCLK is fully off and when the PHY is in the P2 state. When
transitioning out of P2, the PHY asserts PhyStatus as soon as possible and leaves it asserted until
after PCLK is stable. PHYs should be implemented to minimize power consumption during P2
as this is when the device will have to operate within Vaux power limits (as described in the PCI
Express Base Specification).
P2 state can be used in LTSSM states L2.Idle and L2.TransmitWake.

PCLK
PowerDown P0 P2
PhyStatus
P2 Entry
PCLK
PowerDown P2 P1
PhyStatus
P2 Exit
There is a limited set of legal power state transitions that a MAC can ask the PHY to make.
Referencing the main state diagram of the LTSSM in the base spec and the mapping of LTSSM
states to PHY power states described in the preceding paragraphs, those legal transitions are: P0
to P0s, P0 to P1, P0 to P2, P0s to P0, P1 to P0, and P2 to P0. The base spec also describes what
causes those state transitions.
6.4 Changing Signaling Rate
The signaling rate of the link can be changed only when the PHY is in the P0 or P1 power state
and TxElecIdle is asserted. When the MAC changes the Rate signal, the PHY performs the rate
change and signals its completion with a single cycle assertion of PhyStatus. The MAC must not
perform any operational sequences, power state transitions, deassert TxElecIdle, or further
signaling rate changes until the PHY has indicated that the signaling rate change has completed.
There are instances where LTSSM state machine transitions indicate both a speed change and a
power state change for the PHY. One of these instances is when the LTSSM transitions to
Detect. In this case, the MAC must change (if necessary) the signaling rate to 2.5 GT/s before
changing the power state to P1. Another instance is when the LTSSM transitions to L2.Idle.
Again, the MAC must change (if necessary) the signaling rate to 2.5 GT/s before changing the
power state to P2.
Some PHY architectures may allow a speed change and a power state change to occur at the same
time. If a PHY supports this, the MAC must change the rate to 2.5 GT/s at the same PCLK edge
that it changes the PowerDown signals. This can happen when transitioning the PHY from P0 to
either P1 or P2 states. The completion mechanisms are the same as previously defined for the
power state changes and indicate not only that the power state change is complete, but also that
the rate change is complete.
6.4.1 Fixed data path implementations

The figure below shows logical timings for implementations that change PCLK frequency when
the MAC changes the signaling rate. Implementations that change the PCLK frequency when
changing signaling rates must change the clock such that the time the clock is stopped (if it is

stopped) is minimized to prevent any timers using PCLK from exceeding their specifications.
Also during the clock transition period, the frequency of PCLK must not exceed the PHY’s
defined 5.0 GT/s clock frequency. The amount of time between when Rate is changed and the
PHY completes the rate change is a PHY specific value.
PCLK
TxElecIdle
PhyStatus
Pow erDow n[1:0] 00b
Rate
Rate change with fixed data path
6.4.2 Fixed PCLK implementations

The figure below shows logical timings for implementations that change the width of the data
path for different signaling rates. PCLK may be stopped during a rate change.
PCLK
TxElecIdle
PhyStatus
Rate
TxData[7:0] Useable
TxData[15:8] Useable
RxData[7:0] Useable
RxData[15:8] Useable
Rate change with fixed PCLK frequency
6.5 Transmitter Margining

While in the P0 power state, the PHY can be instructed to change the value of the voltage at the
transmitter pins. When the MAC changes TxMargin[2:0], the PHY must be capable of
transmitting with the new setting within 128 ns.
There is a limited set of legal TxMargin[2:0] and Rate combinations that a MAC can select.
Refer to the PCIe Base Specification for a complete description of legal settings.

PCLK
PowerDown[1:0] P0 P0
TxMargin[2:0] Current Tx Margin Value New Tx Margin Value
Tx+/Tx- Current Tx Margin Value New Tx Margin Value
< 128ns
New value at
Tx pins within 128ns
Selecting Tx Margining value
6.6 Selectable De-emphasis

While in the P0 power state and transmitting at 5.0GT/s, the PHY can be instructed to change the
value of the transmitter de-emphasis. When the MAC changes TxDeemph, the PHY must be
capable of transmitting with the new setting within 128 ns.
There is a limited set of legal TxDeemph and Rate combinations that a MAC can select. Refer to
the PCIe Base Specification for a complete description.
The MAC must ensure that TxDeemph is selecting -3.5db whenever Rate is selecting 2.5 GT/s.
PCLK
PowerDown[1:0] P0 P0
TxDeemph Current Tx De-emphasis Value New Tx De-emphasis Value
Tx+/Tx- Current Tx De=emphasis Value New Tx De-emphasis Value
< 128ns
New value at
Tx pins within 128ns
Selecting Tx De-emphasis value
6.7 Receiver Detection

While in the P1 power state, the PHY can be instructed to perform a receiver detection operation
to determine if there is a receiver at the other end of the link. Basic operation of receiver
detection is that the MAC requests the PHY to do a receiver detect sequence by asserting
TxDetectRx/Loopback. When the PHY has completed the receiver detect sequence, it asserts
PhyStatus for one clock and drives the RxStatus signals to the appropriate code. After the
receiver detection has completed (as signaled by the assertion of PhyStatus), the MAC must

deassert TxDetectRx/Loopback before initiating another receiver detection, a power state

transition, or signaling a rate change.
Once the MAC has requested a receiver detect sequence (by asserting TxDetectRx/Loopback), the
MAC must leave TxDetectRx/Loopback asserted until after the PHY has signaled completion by
the assertion of PhyStatus.
Detected Condition RxStatus code

Receiver not present 000b
Receiver present 011b
PCLK
TxDetectRx/Loopback
PhyStatus
PowerDown[1:0] 10b
RxStatus 000b 011b 000b
Receiver Detect - Receiver present
6.8 Transmitting a beacon

When the PHY has been put in the P2 power state, and the MAC wants to transmit a beacon, the
MAC deasserts TxElecIdle and the PHY should generate a valid beacon until TxElecIdle is
asserted. The MAC must assert TxElecIdle before transitioning the PHY to P0.
PowerDown[1:0] P2
TxElecIdle
Tx+/Tx- Valid beacon signaling
Beacon Transmit
6.9 Detecting a beacon
The PHY receiver must monitor at all times (except during reset) for electrical idle. When the
PHY is in the P2 power state, and RxElecIdle is deasserted, then a beacon is being detected.

PowerDown[1:0] P2
RxElecIdle
Rx+/Rx- Valid beacon s ignaling
Beacon Receive
6.10 Clock Tolerance Compensation

The PHY receiver contains an elastic buffer used to compensate for differences in frequencies
between bit rates at the two ends of a Link. The elastic buffer must be capable of holding enough
symbols to handle worst case differences in frequency and worst case intervals between SKP
ordered-sets as shown in Table 6-1
Phy Mode Worst Case Frequency Symbol Depth –

Offset Nominal Half Full
Buffer
PCI Express 600 ppm 7 symbols
Table 6-1 Minimum Elasticity Buffer Size
For the Nominal Half Full buffer model, the PHY is responsible for inserting or removing SKP
symbols in the received data stream to avoid elastic buffer overflow or underflow. The PHY
monitors the receive data stream, and when a Skip ordered-set is received, the PHY can add or
remove one SKP symbol as appropriate to manage its elastic buffer to keep the buffer as close to
half full as possible. Whenever a SKP symbol is added or removed, the PHY will signal this to
the MAC using the RxStatus[2:0] signals. These signals have a non-zero value for one clock
cycle and indicate whether a SKP symbol was added or removed from the received SKP ordered-
set. RxStatus shall be asserted during the clock cycle when the COM symbol of the SKP ordered-
set is moved across the parallel interface.
The figure below shows a sequence where a SKP symbol is added in the data stream.
PCLK
RxData[7:0] Act ive SKP SKP Active
RxData[15:8] Act ive COM SKP SKP Active
RxValid
Clock Correction - Add a SKP

The figure below shows a sequence where a SKP symbol was removed from a SKP ordered-set
that only had one SKP symbol, resulting in a ‘bare’ COM transferring across the parallel
interface.
PCLK
RxData[7:0] Act ive
RxData[15:8] Act ive COM Active
RxValid
Clock Correction - Remove a SKP

6.11 Error Detection
The PHY is responsible for detecting receive errors of several types. These errors are signaled to
the MAC layer using the receiver status signals (RxStatus[2:0]). Because of higher level error
detection mechanisms (like CRC) built into the Data Link layer there is no need to specifically
identify symbols with errors, but reasonable timing information about when the error occurred in
the data stream is important. When a receive error occurs, the appropriate error code is asserted
for one clock cycle at the point in the data stream across the parallel interface closest to where the
error actually occurred. There are four error conditions that can be encoded on the RxStatus
signals. If more than one error should happen to occur on a received byte (or set of bytes
transferred across a 16-bit interface), the errors should be signaled with the priority shown below.
1. 8B/10B decode error
2. Elastic buffer overflow
3. Elastic buffer underflow (Can not occur in Nominal Empty buffer model)
4. Disparity error
If an error occurs during a SKP ordered-set, such that the error signaling and SKP added/removed
signaling on RxStatus would occur on the same CLK, then the error signaling has precedence.
6.11.1 8B/10B Decode Errors

For a detected 8B/10B decode error, the PHY should place an EDB symbol in the data stream in
place of the bad byte, and encode RxStatus with a decode error during the clock cycle when the
effected byte is transferred across the parallel interface. In the example below, the receiver is
receiving a stream of bytes Rx-a through Rx-z, and byte Rx-f has an 8B/10B decode error. In
place of that byte, the PHY places an EDB on the parallel interface, and sets RxStatus to the
8B/10B decode error code. Note that a byte that can’t be decoded may also have bad disparity,
but the 8B/10B error has precedence. Also note that for a 16-bit interface, if the bad byte is on
the lower byte lane, the byte on the higher byte lane may have bad disparity, but again, the
8B/10B error has precedence.

PCLK
RxData[7:0] Rx-a Rx-c Rx-e Rx-h Rx-j
RxData[15:8] Rx-b Rx-d EDB Rx-I Rx-k
RxValid
8B/10B Decode Error

6.11.2 Disparity Errors
For a detected disparity error, the PHY should assert RxStatus with the disparity error code during
the clock cycle when the effected byte is transferred across the parallel interface. For 16-bit
interfaces, it is not possible to discern which byte (or possibly both) had the disparity error. In the
example below, the receiver detected a disparity error on either (or both) Rx-e or Rx-f data bytes,
and indicates this with the assertion of RxStatus. Optionally, the PHY can signal disparity errors
as 8B/10B decode error (using code 0b100). (MACs often treat 8B/10B errors and disparity
errors identically.)
PCLK
RxData[15:8] Rx-b Rx-d Rx-f Rx-I Rx-k
RxValid
Disparity Error
6.11.3 Elastic Buffer Errors
For elastic buffer errors, an underflow should be signaled during the clock cycle or clock cycles
when a spurious symbol is moved across the parallel interface. The symbol moved across the
interface should be the EDB symbol. In the timing diagram below, the PHY is receiving a
repeating set of symbols Rx-a thru Rx-z. The elastic buffer underflows causing the EDB symbol
to be inserted between the Rx-g and Rx-h Symbols. The PHY drives RxStatus to indicate buffer
underflow during the clock cycle when the EDB is presented on the parallel interface.
Note that underflow is not signaled when the PHY is operating in Nominal Empty buffer mode.
In this mode SKP ordered sets are moved across the interface whenver data needs to be inserted.

PCLK
RxData[7:0] Rx-a Rx-c Rx-e Rx-g Rx-h
RxData[15:8] Rx-b Rx-d Rx-f EDB Rx-I
RxValid
Elastic Buffer Underflow

For an elastic buffer overflow, the overflow should be signaled during the clock cycle where the
dropped symbol or symbols would have appeared in the data stream. For the 16-bit interface it is
not possible, or necessary, for the MAC to determine exactly where in the data stream the symbol
was dropped. In the timing diagram below, the PHY is receiving a repeating set of symbols Rx-a
thru Rx-z. The elastic buffer overflows causing the symbol Rx-g to be discarded. The PHY
drives RxStatus to indicate buffer overflow during the clock cycle when Rx-g would have
appeared on the parallel interface.
PCLK
RxData[15:8] Rx-b Rx-d Rx-f Rx-I Rx-k
RxValid
Elastic Buffer Overflow
6.12 Loopback
• The PHY must support an internal loopback as described in the corresponding base
specification.
The PHY begins to loopback data when the MAC asserts TxDetectRx/Loopback while doing
normal data transmission (ie. when TxElecIdle is deasserted). The PHY must, within the
specified receive and transmit latencies, stop transmitting data from the parallel interface, and
begin to loopback received symbols. While doing loopback, the PHY continues to present
received data on the parallel interface.
The PHY stops looping back received data when the MAC deasserts TxDetectRx/Loopback.
Transmission of data on the parallel interface must begin within the specified transmit latency.

The timing diagram below shows example timing for beginning loopback. In this example, the
receiver is receiving a repeating stream of bytes, Rx-a thru Rx-z. Similarly, the MAC is causing
the PHY to transmit a repeating stream of bytes Tx-a thru Tx-z. When the MAC asserts
TxDetectRx/Loopback to the PHY, the PHY begins to loopback the received data to the
differential Tx+/Tx- lines. Timing between assertion of TxDetectRx/Loopback and when Rx data
is transmitted on the Tx pins is implementation dependent.
PCLK
TxData[7:0] Tx-m Tx-o T x-q T x-s T x-u T x-w Tx-y
TxData[15:8] Tx-n Tx-p T x-r T x-t T x-v T x-x Tx-z
RxData[7:0] Rx-c Rx-e Rx-g Rx-I Rx-k Rx-m Rx-o
RxData[15:8] Rx-d Rx-f Rxh Rx-j Rx-l Rx-n Rx-p
TxDetectRx/Loopback
TxElecIdle
Tx+/Tx- T x-g/T x-h T x-I/Tx-j T x-k/T x-l Tx-m/T x-n T x-o/T x-p Rx-g/Rx-h Rx-I/Rx
Loopback start
The next timing diagram shows an example of switching from loopback mode to normal mode.
When the MAC detects an electrical idle ordered-set, the MAC deasserts TxDetectRx/Loopback
and asserts TxElecIdle. The PHY must transmit at least three bytes of the electrical idle ordered-
set before going to electrical idle. (Note, transmission of the electrical idle ordered-set should be
part of the normal pipeline through the PHY and should not require the PHY to detect the
electrical idle ordered-set). The base spec requires that a Loopback Slave be able to detect and
react to an electrical idle ordered set within 1ms. The PHY’s contribution to this time consists of
the PHY’s Receive Latency plus the PHY’s Transmit Latency (see section 6.13).

PCLK
RxData[7:0] COM IDL J unk
RxData[15:8] IDL IDL J unk
RxVali d
TxDetectRx/Loopback
TxElecIdle
Includes electrical idle

ordered set
Tx+/Tx- Looped back RX data J unk
Loopback end
6.13 Polarity Inversion

To support lane polarity inversion, the PHY must invert received data when RxPolarity is
asserted. Inversion can happen in many places in the receive chain, including somewhere in the
serial path, as symbols are placed into the elastic buffer, or as symbols are removed from the
elastic buffer. Inverted data must begin showing up on RxData[] within 20 PCLKs of when
RxPolarity is asserted.
PCLK
RxData(K)[7:0] D 21.5 D 21 .5 D 21. 5 D 10.2 D 10.2
RxData(K)[16:8] D 21.5 D 21 .5 D 21. 5 D 10.2 D 10.2
RxValid
RxCodeErr
RxDispErr
RxPolarity
Polarity inversion
6.14 Setting negative disparity

To set the running disparity to negative, the MAC asserts TxCompliance for one clock cycle that
matches with the data that is to be transmitted with negative disparity. For a 16-bit interface, the
low order byte will be the byte transmitted where running disparity is negative. The example
shows how TxCompliance is used to transmit the PCI Express compliance.

PCLK
TxData[7:0] Data Data K28.5 K28.5 K28.5 K28.5 K28.5
TxData[15:8] Data D21.5 D10.2 D21.5 D10.2 D21.5 D10.2
TxCompliance
Byte transmitted
with negative disparity
Tx+/Tx- Valid Data K28.5-/D21.5 K28.5+/D10.2 K28.5-/D21.5 K28.5+/D1
Loopback
Setting negativeend
disparity
6.15 Electrical Idle

The base spec requires that devices send an Electrical Idle ordered set before Tx+/Tx- goes to the
electrical idle state. For a 16-bit interface, the MAC must always align the electrical idle ordered
set on the parallel interface so that the COM symbol is on the low-order data lines
(TxDataK[7:0]).
COM placed on low-order
data lines
PCLK
TxData[7:0] Sc Zero COM IDL
TxDataK[0]
TxData[15:8] Sc Zero IDL
TxDataK[1]
TxElecIdle
Tx+/Tx- Ac tive (Ends wi th elec tric al idle ordered set)
Electrical Idle
6.16 Implementation specific timing and selectable parameter support

PHY vendors (macrocell or discrete) must specify typical and worst case timings for the cases
listed in the table below.
Transmit Latency Time for data moving between the parallel interface and the PCI Express
serial lines. Timing is measured from when the data is transferred across
the parallel interface (ie. the rising edge of PCLK) and when the first bit

of the equivalent 10-bit symbol is transmitted on the Tx+/Tx- serial lines.

The PHY reports the latency for each operational mode the PHY supports.
Receive Latency Time for data moving between the parallel interface and the PCI Express
serial lines. Timing is measured from when the first bit of a 10-bit
symbol is available on the Rx+/Rx- serial lines to when the corresponding
8-bit data is transferred across the parallel interface (i.e. the rising edge of
PCLK). The PHY reports the latency for each operational mode the PHY
supports.
Loopback enable Amount of time it takes the PHY to begin looping back receive data.
latency Timed from when TxDetectRx/Loopback is asserted until the receive data
is being transmitted on the serial pins. The PHY reports the latency for
each operational mode the pHY supports.
Transmit Beacon Timed from when the MAC directs the PHY to send a beacon (power
state is P2 and TxElecIdle is deasserted) until the beacon signaling begins
at the serial pins.
Receive Beacon Timed from when valid beacon signaling is present at the receiver pins
until RxElecIdle is deasserted.
N_FTS with Number of FTS ordered sets required by the receiver to obtain
common clock reliable bit and symbol lock when operating with a common clock.
N_FTS without Number of FTS ordered sets required by the receiver to obtain
common clock reliable bit and symbol lock when operating without a common
clock.
PHY lock time Amount of time for the PHY receiver to obtain reliable bit and symbol
lock after valid TSx ordered-sets are present at the receiver. The PHY
reports the time for each operational mode the pHY supports.
P0s to P0 transition Amount of time for the PHY to return to P0 state, after having been in the
time. P0s state. Time is measured from when the MAC sets the PowerDown
signals to P0 until the PHY asserts PhyStatus. PHY asserts PhyStatus
when it is ready to begin data transmission and reception.
P1 to P0 transition Amount of time for the PHY to return to P0 state, after having been in the
time. P1 state. Time is measured from when the MAC sets the PowerDown
signals to P0 until the PHY asserts PhyStatus. PHY asserts PhyStatus
when it is ready to begin data transmission and reception.
P2 to P1 transition Amount of time for the PHY to go to P1 state, after having been in the P2
time. state. Time is measured from when the MAC sets the PowerDown
signals to P1 until the PHY deasserts PhyStatus.
Reset to ready time Timed from when Reset# is deasserted until the PHY deasserts PhyStatus.
Data Rate change Amount of time the PHY takes to perform a data rate change. Time is
time. measured from when the MAC changes Rate to when the PHY signals
rate change complete with the single clock assertion of PhyStatus. There
may be separate values for changing from 2.5 GT/s to 5.0 GT/s or
changing from 5.0 GT/s to 2.5 GT/s.
Transmit Margin Transmitter voltage levels.
values supported [2] [1] [0] Description
0 0 0 TxMargin value 0 =

6.17 Control Signal Decode table

The following table summarizes the encodings of four of the seven control signals that cause
different behaviors depending on power state. For the other three signals, Reset# always
overrides any other PHY activity. TxCompliance and RxPolarity are only valid, and should only
be asserted, when the PHY is in P0 and is actively transmitting. Note that these rules only apply
to lanes that have not been ‘turned off’ as described in section 8 (Multi-lane PIPE).
PowerDown[1:0] TxDetectRx/ TxElecIdle Description

Loopback
0 0 PHY is transmitting data. MAC is providing data
bytes to be sent every clock cycle.
0 1 PHY is not transmitting and is in electrical idle.
P0: 00b 1 0 PHY goes into loopback mode.
1 1 Illegal. MAC should never do this.
0 Illegal. MAC should always have PHY doing
electrical idle while in P0s. PHY behavior is
P0s: 01b Don’t care undefined if TxElecIdle is deasserted while in
P0s or P1.
1 PHY is not transmitting and is in electrical idle.
Don’t care 0 Illegal. MAC should always have PHY doing

P1: 10b electrical idle while in P1. PHY behavior is
undefined if TxElecIdle is deasserted while in
P0s or P1.
0 1 PHY is idle.
1 1 PHY does a receiver detection operation.
Don’t care 0 PHY transmits Beacon signaling
P2: 11b 1 PHY is idle.
6.18 Required synchronous signal timings

To improve interoperability between MACs and PHYs from different vendors the following
timings for synchronous signals are required:
Setup time for input signals No greater than 25% of cycle time
Hold time for input signals 0ns
PCLK to data valid for outputs No greater than 25% of cycle time

7 Sample Operational Sequences

These sections show sample timing sequences for some of the more common PCI Express
operations. These are sample sequences and timings and are not required operation.
7.1 Active PM L0 to L0s and back to L0

This example shows one way a PIPE PHY can be controlled to perform Active State Power
Management on a link for the sequence of the link being in L0 state, transitioning to L0s state,
and then transitioning back to L0 state.
When the MAC and higher levels have determined that the link should transition to L0s, the
MAC transmits an electrical idle ordered set and then has the PHY transmitter go idle and enter
P0s. Note that for a 16-bit interface, the MAC should always align the electrical idle on the
parallel interface so that the COM symbol is in the low-order position (TxDataK[7:0]).
.
PCLK
TxData[7:0] ScZero COM IDL
TxDataK[0]
TxData[15:8] ScZero IDL
TxDataK[1]
TxElecIdle
PowerDown[1:0] 00b 01b
PhyStatus
Tx+/Tx- Active (Ends with el ectric al idle ordered s et)
L0 to L0s
To cause the link to exit the L0s state, the MAC transitions the PHY from the P0s state to the P0
state, waits for the PHY to indicate that it is read to transmit (by the assertion of PhyStatus), and
then begins transmitting Fast Training Sequences (FTS). Note, this is an example of L0s to L0
transition when the PHY is running at 2.5GT/s.

PCLK
Pow erDow n[1:0] 01b 00b
PhyStatus
TxData[7:0] FTS
TxDataK[0]
TxData[15:8] FTS
TxDataK[1]
TxElecIdle
Tx+/Tx- Active
L0s to L0
7.2 Active PM to L1 and back to L0

This example shows one way a PIPE PHY can be controlled to perform Active State Power
Management on a link for the sequence of the link being in L0 state, transitioning to L1 state, and
then transitioning back to L0 state. This example assumes that the PHY is on an endpoint (ie. it is
facing upstream) and that the endpoint has met all the requirements (as specified in the base spec)
for entering L1.
After the MAC has had the PHY send PM_Active_State_Request_L1 messages, and has received
the PM_Request_ACK message from the upstream port, it then transmits an electrical idle
ordered set, and has the PHY transmitter go idle and enter P1.
PCLK
TxData[7:0] ScZero COM IDL
TxDataK[0]
TxData[15:8] ScZero IDL
TxDataK[1]
TxElecIdle
PhyStatus
Tx+/Tx- Ac tive (Ends with electrical idle ordered s et)
L0 to L1
To cause the link to exit the 1 state, the MAC transitions the PHY from the P1 state to the P0
state, waits for the PHY to indicate that it is ready to transmit (by the assertion of PhyStatus), and

then begins transmitting training sequence ordered sets (TS1s). Note, this is an example when the
PHY is running at 2.5GT/s.
PCLK
PhyStatus
TxData[7:0] COM T S1.2 T S1.x T S1.x+2
TxDataK[0]
TxData[15:8] TS1.1 T S1.3 T S1.x+1 T S1.x+3
TxDataK[1]
TxElecIdle
Tx+/Tx- Active
L1 to L0
7.3 Receivers and Electrical Idle
This section shows some examples of how PIPE interface signaling may happen as a receiver
transitions from active to electrical idle and back again. In these transitions there may be a
significant time difference between when RxElecIdle transitions and when RxValid transitions.
The first diagram shows how the interface responds when the receive channel has been active and
then goes to electrical idle. In this case, the delay between RxElecIdle being asserted and RxValid
being deasserted is directly related to the depth of the implementations elastic buffer and symbol
synchronization logic. Note that the transmitter that is going to electrical idle may transmit
garbage data and this data will show up on the RxData[] lines. The MAC should discard any
symbols received after the electrical idle ordered-set until RxValid is deasserted.
PCLK
RxData[] Data Data Data Data Dat a
RxValid
RxElecIdle
Rx+/Rx- Data
Receiver Active to Idle

The second diagram shows how the interface responds when the receive channel has been idle
and then begins signaling again. In this case, there can be significant delay between the
deassertion of RxElecIdle (indicating that there is activity on the Rx+/Rx- lines) and RxValid
being asserted (indicating valid data on the RxData[] signals). This delay is composed of the
time required for the receiver to retrain as well as elastic buffer depth.
PCLK
RxData[] Data Data Dat a
RxValid
RxElecIdle
Rx+/Rx- Data
Receiver Idle to Active

Note that when operating at 5.0 GT/s signaling rates, RxElecIdle may not be reliable. MACs
should refer to the PCI Express Revision 3.0 Base Specification for methods of detecting entry
into the electrical idle condition.
7.4 Using CLKREQ# with PIPE

CLKREQ# is used in some implementations by the downstream device to cause the upstream
device to stop signaling on REFCLK. When REFCLK is stopped, this will typically cause the
CLK input to the PIPE PHY to stop as well. The PCI Express CEM spec allows the downstream
device to stop REFCLK when the link is in either L1 or L2 states. For implementations that use
CLKREQ# to further manage power consumption, PIPE compliant PHYs can be used as follows:
The general usage model is that to stop REFCLK the MAC puts the PHY into the P2 power state,
then deasserts CLKREQ#. To get the REFCLK going again, the MAC asserts CLKREQ#, and
then after some PHY and implementation specific time, the PHY is ready to use again.
CLKREQ# in L1
If the MAC is moving the link to the L1 state and intends to deassert CLKREQ# to stop
REFCLK, then the MAC follows the proper sequence to get the link to L1, but instead of
finishing by transitioning the PHY to P1, the MAC transition the PHY to P2. Then the MAC
deasserts CLKREQ#.
When the MAC wants to get the link alive again, it can:
• Assert CLKREQ#
• Wait for REFCLK to be stable (implementation specific)
• Wait for the PHY to be ready (PHY specific)
• Transition the PHY to P0 state and begin training.
CLKREQ# in L2

If the MAC is moving the link to the L1 state and intends to deassert CLKREQ# to stop
REFCLK, then the MAC follows the proper sequence to get the link to L2. Then the MAC
deasserts CLKREQ#.
When the MAC wants to get the link alive again, it can:
• Assert CLKREQ#
• Wait for REFCLK to be stable (implementation specific)
• Wait for the PHY to be ready (PHY specific)
• Transition the PHY to P0 state and begin training.
Delayed CLKREQ# in L1
The MAC may want to stop REFCLK after the link has been in L1 and idle for awhile. In this
case, the PHY is in the P1 state and the MAC must transition the PHY into the P0 state, and then
the P2 state before deasserting CLKREQ#. Getting the link operational again is the same as the
preceding cases.

8 Multi-lane PIPE
This section describes a suggested method for combining multiple PIPEs together to form a
multi-lane implementation. It describes which PIPE signals can be shared between each PIPE of
a multi-lane implementation, and which signals should be unique for each PIPE. This description
primarily applies to multi-lane links where lanes that become disassociated from an LTSSM
during training are unused, and they don’t associate with a new LTSSM. This is the common
case for most upstream facing ports, like those found in PCI Express endpoints.
The figure shows an example 4-lane implementation of a multilane PIPE solution. The signals
that can be shared are explicitly shown in the figure while signals that replicated for each lane are
shown as ‘Per-lane signals’.
CLK
Shared Signals Shared

Signals
Per-lane Signals Tx+,Tx-

To Data Link Layer
PIPE
Rx+,Rx-
MAC Layer Tx+,Tx-
Per-lane Signals
PIPE
Rx+,Rx-

PIPE
Rx+,Rx-

PIPE
Rx+,Rx-
4-lane
implementation
4-lane PIPE implementation

The MAC layer is responsible for handling lane-to-lane deskew and it may be necessary to use
the per-lane signaling of SKP insertion/removal to help perform this function.
Shared Signals Per-lane Signals

CLK TxData[], TxDataK[]
PCLK RxData[], RxDataK[]
TxDetectRx/Loopback TxElecIdle
Reset# TxCompliance
PowerDown[1:0] RxPolarity
PhyStatus RxValid
Rate RxElecIdle
TxMargin[2:0] RxStatus[2:0]
TxDeemph
TxSwing

In cases where a multi-lane has been ‘trained’ to a state where not all lanes are in use (like a x4
implementation operating in x1 mode), a special signaling combination is defined to ‘turn off’ the
unused lanes allowing them to conserve as much power as the implementation allows. This
special ‘turn off’ signaling is done using the TxElecIdle and TxCompliance signals. When both
are asserted, that PHY can immediately be considered ‘turned off’ and can take whatever power
saving measures are appropriate. The PHY ignores any other signaling from the MAC (with the
exception of Reset# assertion) while it is ‘turned off’. Similarly, the MAC should ignore any
signaling from the PHY when the PHY is ‘turned off’. There is no ‘handshake’ back to the MAC
to indicate that the PHY has reached a ‘turned off’ state.
There are two normal cases when a lane can get turned off:
1. During LTSSM Detect state, the MAC discovers that there is no receiver present and will
‘turn off’ the lane.
2. During LTSSM Configuration state (specifically Configuration.Complete), the MAC will
‘turn off’ any lanes that didn’t become part of the configured link.
As an example, both of these cases could occur when a x4 device is plugged into a x8 slot. The
upstream device (the one with the x8 port) will not discover receiver terminations on four of its
lanes so it will turn them off. Training will occur on the remaining 4 lanes, and let’s suppose that
the x8 device cannot operate in x4 mode, so the link configuration process will end up settling on
x1 operation for the link. Then both the upstream and downstream devices will ‘turn off’ all but
the one lane configured in the link.
When the MAC wants to get ‘turned off’ lanes back into an operational state, there are two cases
that need to be considered:
1. If the MAC wants to reset the multi-lane PIPE, it asserts Reset# and drives other interface
signals to their proper states for reset (see section 6.2). Note that this stops signaling
‘turned off’ to all lanes because TxCompliance is deasserted during reset. The multi-lane
PHY asserts PhyStatus in response to Reset# being asserted, and will deassert PhyStatus
when PCLK is stable.
2. When normal operation on the active lanes causes those lanes to transition to the LTSSM
Detect state, then the MAC sets the PowerDown[1:0] signals to the P1 PHY power state
at the same time that it deasserts ‘turned off’ signaling to the inactive lanes. Then as with
normal transitions to the P1 state, the multi-lane PHY will assert PhyStatus for one clock
when all internal PHYs are in the P1 state and PCLK is stable.


PHY Interface For The PCI Express Architecture

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PHY Interface

PCI Express 3.0

©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

Intellectual Property Disclaimer

THIS SPECIFICATION IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTIES

A COPYRIGHT LICENSE IS HEREBY GRANTED TO REPRODUCE AND

INTEL CORPORATION AND THE AUTHORS OF THIS SPECIFICATION DISCLAIM

ALL SUGGESTIONS OR FEEDBACK RELATED TO THIS SPECIFICATION

INTEL CORPORATION MAY MAKE CHANGES TO SPECIFICATIONS, PRODUCT

©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

6.18 Required synchronous signal timings.......................................................................... 42

©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

1.1 Scope of this Revision

1.2 Revision History

0.5 8/16/02 Draft for industry review

0.6 10/4/02 Provides operational detail

0.7 11/4/02 Includes timing diagrams

0.8 11/22/02 More operational detail. Receiver detection sequence changed.

0.9 12/16/02 Minor updates. Solid enough for implementations to be finalized.

1.00 6/19/03 Stable revision for implementation.

1.70 11/6/05 First pass at Gen. 2 PIPE

1.81 12/4/2005 Fixed up areas based on feedback.

2.00 7/21/2007 Minor updates, stable revision for implementation.

©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

State machines for

Physical Physical Media Analog buffers

Figure 2-1: Partitioning PHY Layer for PCI Express

2.1 PCI Express PHY Layer

Some key features of the PCI Express PHY are:

©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

• 8b/10b encode/decode and error indication

TxStartBlock (8.0 GT/s) 4, 2 or 1

TxDataSkip (8.0 GT/s) 4, 2 or 1 Tx+,Tx-

Figure 3-1: PHY/MAC Interface

©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

Mode PCLK Data Width

2.5 GT/s PCI Express 250 Mhz 8 bits

2.5 GT/s PCI Express 125 Mhz 16 bits

5.0 GT/s PCI Express 500 Mhz 8 bits

5.0 GT/s PCI Express 250 Mhz 16 bits

8.0 GT/s PCI Express 3.0 250 Mhz 32 bits

8.0 GT/s PCI Express 3.0 500 Mhz 16 bits

8.0 GT/s PCI Express 3.0 1000 Mhz 8 bits

Table 3-1. Possible PCLK rates and data widths

©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

4 PCI Express PHY Functionality

Figure 4-1: PHY Functional Block Diagram

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4.1 Transmitter Block Diagram (2.5 and 5.0 GT/s)

Optional 32,16->8 PCLK

Bit rate clk / 10

Figure 4-2: Transmitter Block Diagram (2.5 and 5.0 GT/s)

©2007, 2008 Intel Corporation—All rights reserved.

4.2 Transmitter Block Diagram (8.0 GT/s)

TxDataSkip Optional 32,16->8 PCLK

TxSyncHeader Bit rate clk / 10