National Instruments PCI-8331 Interface Board

The National Instruments PCI-8331 (Part Number: 778956-01) is an interface board designed to give the user’s PC direct access and control of PXI systems. This card is from the MXI-4 series. The MXI-4 technology can couple two physically distant CompactPCI, PXI, or PCI buses through a data link capable of providing up to 1.5 Gbit/s data transfer rates. With the help of a NI PCI-8331, the user can control a CompactPCI/ PXI backplane while using it with a PXI/CompactPCI system or a PCI based PC. Another great advantage of this interface kit is its ability to allow physical separation of an automation or measurement system from the base PC. 

For those looking for more slots, the NI PCI-8331 can bring more number of PXI or CompactPCI slots for their application. The MXI-4 hardware is quite powerful in a sense that it provides the user with everything required for achieving up to 255 bus segments to operate in a PCI hierarchy. The synchronized operation of multiple 778956-01 cards can be connected in either daisy chain or star topology. The PCI-8331 is run using the MXI-4 software and the NI-VISA driver which is made available in the MXI-4 software CD or National Instruments driver CD.

The National Instruments PCI-8331 incorporates the MXI-4 technology, which enables the user to control a PXI system transparently, so they can use any PCI slot to operate a PXI system. This card supports copper cable only and maximum cable lengths allowed are 10 m. This card weighs around 42 lbs, and measures 4.2 x 6.9 in. in physical dimensions. This model is also fully compatible with the PCI Specification, Revision 2.2.

The NI device has a recommended operating temperature range of 0 to 55 °C, a storage temperature range of –20 to 70 °C, a non-condensing operating and storage humidity range of 10 to 90% and 5 to 95% respectively, and an operating and non-operating random vibration of 0.3 grms and 2.4 grms respectively–all at a frequency range of 5 to 500 Hz.

PCI-8331 Obsolete Status has been announced by National Instruments, but it will still be available for purchase and repairs by Apex Waves.