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Course contents

  • How to Use This Course
  • Protocol Metrics Reference
  • Protocols Glossary
  • Reading Path
  • Protocol Fundamentals25
  • AMBA Family (APB / AHB / AXI)17
  • Coherence Fabrics (ACE / CHI)17
  • Memory Interfaces (DDR / LPDDR / HBM)17
  • PCIe & CXL17
  • Embedded Peripherals (I2C / SPI / UART)17
  • High-Speed I/O (USB / Ethernet / MIPI)17
  • Protocol Verification & Compliance21
  • Protocols Interview Prep5
    • Protocols Whiteboard Framework
    • Scenario: AXI Ordering Trap
    • Scenario: DDR Bandwidth Collapse
    • Scenario: PCIe Link Degrade
    • Protocols Interview Q&A Bank
  • Interface Protocols Cheatsheet
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←Protocols Interview Prep
  1. Topics
  2. Bus Protocols
  3. Protocols Interview Prep
  4. Scenario: PCIe Link Degrade
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    Interface ProtocolsAll levels

    Scenario: PCIe Link Degrade

    The same endpoint trains correctly on an eval board but degrades on the product board after a package change.

    Scenario

    The same endpoint trains correctly on an eval board but degrades on the product board after a package change.

    Metric

    device enumerates at x1 Gen3 instead of x4 Gen4

    Common pitfalls

    • Blame software enumeration first

    • Skip LTSSM history

    • Ignore SI/package lane evidence

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    Next: Protocols Interview Q&A Bank

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    See also

    • Protocols Whiteboard Framework
    • Scenario: AXI Ordering Trap