PCIe MCIO (Multi-Channel I/O) is a compact, high-density connector standard developed to support PCI Express (PCIe) and other high-speed differential signals (such as SATA, SAS, and USB) in space-constrained systems. It serves as a modern alternative to traditional PCIe card-edge connectors and other larger cable interfaces.

Key characteristics of the MCIO connector include:

• High Density: It packs more signal lanes into a significantly smaller physical footprint compared to standard PCIe connectors.

• Scalability: Available in various pin counts (common configurations include 16, 32, 64, and 100+ pins), allowing it to support different lane widths (e.g., PCIe x4, x8, x16).

• Cabled Solution: Primarily designed for internal cabling within servers, storage arrays, and networking equipment, enabling flexible system design and improved airflow management.

• Reversible Plug: The connector features a symmetrical, keyless design that allows blind mating and insertion in either orientation, simplifying installation.

• High-Speed Performance: Engineered to support PCIe Generations 4, 5, and beyond, with data rates exceeding 32 GT/s per lane.

MCIO is widely adopted in modern IT infrastructure, such as connecting GPUs, NVMe storage drives, network adapters, and other accelerators to the motherboard or backplane in dense server and storage platforms. It plays a critical role in enabling efficient, high-bandwidth interconnects for accelerated computing, AI workloads, and all-flash storage systems.