Chapter 1
Introduction
VXIpc 700 Series User Manual
1-4
©
National Instruments Corporation
Hardware Description
The VXIpc 700 Series consists of two models—the VXIpc-740 and
the VXIpc-745. Both models use a 486 class microprocessor running
at 100 MHz.
The CPU module and its memory sockets are easily accessible for you to
install up to an additional 64 MB of DRAM in the field for the VXIpc 700
Series.
The VXIpc-700 contains at least an 800 MB internal, enhanced IDE hard
disk. For information on adding RAM by installing SIMMs, refer to
Appendix A,
Slot 0 Functionality
You can use the VXIpc 700 Series computers to achieve full VXI Slot 0
control of your VXI system. You can also install the VXIpc-700 in another
slot and use it in Non-Slot 0 mode. You do not have to change any switches
or jumpers when moving between these two modes, as the VXIpc-700 can
automatically detect whether it is installed in Slot 0 and it will
automatically enable or disable the Slot 0 onboard circuitry.
Custom Application-Specific Interface Chips
The VXIpc 700 Series uses the MITE and MANTIS custom ASICs to
deliver high VXI performance, and can achieve more than 20 MB/s DMA
block-mode data transfer rates across the VXI backplane.
The VXIpc-745 also has the TNT4882C custom ASIC to give full GPIB
control of external instruments via a front-panel connector. This chip is also
on the National Instruments PCMCIA-GPIB card that you can connect to
the VXIpc-740 to achieve the same functionality. GPIB capability is fully
compatible with IEEE 488.2 and the industry-standard NI-488.2 driver for
a variety of operating systems.
The MITE custom ASIC is a sophisticated dual-channel DMA controller
with standard interfaces for VXI and PCI. By using MITE DMA to transfer
data and commands to and from devices, the MITE frees the computer’s
microprocessor to perform other tasks such as data analysis and
presentation. In addition to DMA, the MITE incorporates the new VME64
MBLT (8-byte block transfers in which both the address bus and data bus
are used to transfer data) directly into the ASIC to perform the fastest
Summary of Contents for VXIpc-745-100
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