An electronic device includes a transmit buffer, a receive buffer, a communication port, and a controller. The controller is to: communicate with a target device via a data link established via the communication port; determine a throughput ratio between the transmit buffer and the receive buffer; in response to a determination that the throughput ratio is above a threshold, transmit a request to the target device to change an aspect of the data link, where the request includes a payload size indicating an amount of data to be transmitted from the electronic device to the target device; and in response to receiving a grant message associated with the request, increase an amount of transmit lanes within the data link from the electronic device to the target device.