Data communications with enhanced speed mode

A data processing platform comprising:

• a basic input/output system (BIOS);
• a data processor comprising:
• a central processing unit coupled to and responsive to said BIOS to execute an initialization procedure;
• and
• an interconnect controller coupled to said central processing unit and adapted to be coupled to a communication link that operates according to a predetermined protocol selectively at one of a plurality of enhanced speeds that are not specified by any published standard and are separated from each other by the same predetermined amount;
• wherein said BIOS comprises instructions that when executed by said central processing unit cause said interconnect controller to:
• perform at least one setup operation to select a speed;
• and
• subsequently operate the communication link using a selected speed.

A method for use in a data processing platform having an interconnect controller that operates a communication link according to a published standard, comprising:

• querying the data processing platform to determine whether an enhanced speed mode is permitted;
• performing at least one setup operation to select an operating speed for operating according to a predetermined protocol from among a plurality of enhanced speeds that are not specified by the published standard and are separated from each other by the same predetermined amount;
• and
• subsequently operating the communication link using said operating speed.