PCI express for board-to-board link.

[fiedel]

I want to interface two processing boards with PCI express x8 and connect them with cables. I find 68-pin off-board connectors for x8 connection (by molex) where as there're 98 pins for edge connectors. How do I match these 98 to 68? Are there some documents talking about this? I read PCI Express Card Electromechanical Specification, but there's only edge connector definition inside. Is this 68-pin connector also standard?

 

[berkeman]

I want to interface two processing boards with PCI express x8 and connect them with cables. I find 68-pin off-board connectors for x8 connection (by molex) where as there're 98 pins for edge connectors. How do I match these 98 to 68? Are there some documents talking about this? I read PCI Express Card Electromechanical Specification, but there's only edge connector definition inside. Is this 68-pin connector also standard?

Does Molex have any application notes for that connector?

Beyond the electromechanical issues, how long are these cables? What is your plan for impedance control, terminations, and signal integrity?

 

[fiedel]

Well, I see the pinout description on their website, for cable assemblies.

Molex provides several selection for cable length. Impedance control is another problem for me. I can only find such information for edge connectors. It must have been defined in PCI Express External Cabling specification. I can only find a draft of it, in which several chapters are missing...

 

[bwaustin]

I am trying to do the exact same thing. How did this work out for you?