PCI is an abbreviation for Peripheral Component Interface. A 32-bit expansion bus specification in wide use today, used both by PC-compatible and Macintosh computers. Intel Corporation released the in 1992 to work with its Pentium microprocessor, but the design is flexible and works with today’s 64-bit microprocessors as well.
Ever since its invention, it has displaced the VESA local bus standard from the market and will likely soon do the same with the ISA expansion bus, although most motherboards still include a few ISA slots for downward compatibility. It supports Plug and Play, which likely will help cement its hold on the expansion bus market for the next several years. See expansion bus, PCI-X, Plug and Play (PnP).
