PXIe-8842

The NI PXIe-8842 is a high-performance embedded controller designed for PXI Express systems. Featuring an 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, it serves as the “brain” of a PXIe chassis, providing the processing power and data throughput required for the most demanding automated test, measurement, and control applications. With native support for PCI Express Gen 4, it offers a massive leap in system bandwidth, making it the premier choice for high-speed data streaming and real-time signal processing.

1. Key Technical Specifications

2. Detailed Technical Breakdown

Next-Generation Processing Power

The PXIe-8842 utilizes the Intel Core i7-11850HE processor, an 8-core beast that handles multi-threaded applications with ease. This is particularly beneficial for LabVIEW users, as the environment naturally parallelizes tasks. Whether you are running complex PID loops in real-time or performing heavy FFT analysis on massive datasets, the i7 ensures your software isn’t the bottleneck.

PCIe Gen 4 Throughput

The standout feature of the 8842 is its support for PCIe Gen 4. When installed in a Gen 4-capable chassis (like the newer variants of the PXIe-1095), it provides a system bandwidth of up to 24 GB/s. This allows for seamless streaming from high-speed digitizers directly to the controller’s memory or to an external RAID array via the Thunderbolt 4 port.

Modern Connectivity Suite

The inclusion of a Thunderbolt 4 port (via USB-C) is a significant upgrade. This port allows for high-speed peripheral expansion, such as connecting external 4K monitors or high-speed storage, without consuming PXI peripheral slots. Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports allow for simultaneous connection to a corporate network and a private instrument network, ensuring data security and reduced latency.

3. Usage and Application Scenarios

High-Bandwidth RF Test

In 5G and aerospace RF applications, the PXIe-8842 manages the high-speed data transfer between Vector Signal Transceivers (VSTs) and the CPU. Its high core count and Gen 4 speeds enable real-time digital pre-distortion (DPD) and modulation analysis.

Semiconductor Characterization

For high-parallelism semiconductor testing, the 8842 coordinates dozens of SMUs and digital instruments. Its large memory capacity (up to 64 GB) is essential for holding large test vectors and logging extensive characterization data.

Complex Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL)

When running high-fidelity simulations for autonomous driving or jet engine controllers, the PXIe-8842 provides the deterministic performance required for LabVIEW Real-Time. The NVMe SSD ensures that large simulation models and lookup tables load almost instantaneously.

4. Product Comparison and Recommendations

• NI PXIe-8842 (The Modern Professional): 11th Gen i7, PCIe Gen 4. Best for high-throughput streaming and modern ATE systems.

• NI PXIe-8880 (The Workstation Leader): Intel Xeon 8-core. Best for server-grade reliability and applications requiring the absolute maximum cache and memory stability.

• NI PXIe-8840 (The Balanced Choice): 9th Gen i7. A cost-effective alternative for systems that do not require the Gen 4 speeds or the extra cores of the 8842.

• NI PXIe-8821 (The Value Entry): Intel Core i3. Best for simple data logging and low-complexity control tasks.

Summary

The NI PXIe-8842 is a future-proofed controller that brings workstation-class power to the PXI Express platform. Its combination of an 8-core i7 processor and PCIe Gen 4 support ensures that it can handle the most data-intensive tasks in modern engineering. We offer expert technical support for OS imaging and system configuration, along with support for project pricing on complete system builds and facility-wide upgrades.