National Instruments 778296-01 Pentium III Processor Controller

The National Instruments 778296-01 is a robust high performance embedded controller designed specifically for VXI systems. It is also known as the VXIpc-872B. This model is powered by an Intel Pentium III processor running at either 1.26 GHz. This controller offers a versatile and efficient solution for controlling and managing VXI-based testing and measurement systems. It comes in a rugged enclosure that integrates seamlessly into a VXI chassis. Direct control over VXI registers, memory, interrupts and triggers is made possible by this, and it also keeps a large range of desktop PC software packages available for the general market compatible.

The 778296-01 model is equipped with 256 MB of PC133 SDRAM that iexpandable to 512 MB. The controller ensures fast memory access for demanding applications. The controller uses the Intel 815E chipset which optimizes performance through its 133 MHz system bus. The controller also features an integrated Intel 82815 graphics controller which dynamically allocates video memory for superior graphics performance. 

This embedded controller is fitted with a 10/100BaseT Ethernet port for data transfer and communication. This provides fast and reliable network connections. In order to facilitate communication with older devices, the controller also has one parallel port and two RS232 serial interfaces. For contemporary peripheral devices, there are two USB 1.1 ports available. Two PC Card slots that support Type I/II or one Type III card provide expansion capabilities. This offers further customization options for specific application needs.

The 778296-01 controller supports an Ultra ATA/100/66 IDE controller that ensures fast data access and storage transfer rates. Wide Ultra2 SCSI, which provides high-speed data transmission at up to 80 MB/s, is supported by the SCSI interface and is necessary for high-throughput applications. The controller’s GPIB interface compliant with IEEE 488.2 and capable of HS488 operation supports communication speeds of up to 8 MB/s.

The NI 778296-01 controller operates within a temperature range of 5 to 50 °C and supports a humidity range of 10 to 90 % non-condensing. The system’s power requirements are modest consuming around 52.4 W during typical operations. With a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 86,000 hours, this controller offers reliability and longevity in mission-critical applications. The controller is also compliant with EN 61010-1 and IEC 61010-1 safety standards.