National Instruments (NI) has announced the NI PXIe-8133 embedded controller, which features the quad-core Intel Core i7-820QM processor.
By combining the Intel processor with advancements in the PCI Express bus, the controller helps engineers reduce test time with double the processing performance and data throughput compared to previous NI controllers.
The NI PXIe-8133 embedded controller uses the PCI Express technology to offer four x4 Gen 2 PCI Express links for interfacing to the PXI chassis backplane. Using the NI PXIe-8133 embedded controller with a PXI Express chassis, such as the NI PXIe-1082, doubles the total system data throughput from 4 GB/s to 8 GB/s. With this feature, engineers can simultaneously stream a larger set of I/O channels, giving them the ability to create larger and more complex data record-and-playback applications.
Also, the Intel Core i7-820QM processor offers a 1.73 GHz base clock frequency and uses Intel Turbo Boost Technology to automatically increase the clock frequency based on the application type.
The embedded controller comes standard with 2 GB of DDR3-1333 MHz RAM and the option of Windows XP or Windows 7 32-bit OSs. For memory-intensive applications, engineers can upgrade to 8 GB of system RAM and the Windows 7 64-bit OS. The NI PXIe-8133 controller also is available with an extended temperature option and solid-state hard drives for harsh environments.