Product Details

The NI PCI-5421 is a high-performance 16-bit arbitrary waveform generator built on SMC synchronization and memory core architecture for PCI bus computers, designed for custom arbitrary waveform generation and precision stimulus-response measurement. It has one analog output channel with a maximum sampling rate of 100 MS/s, and 4x digital interpolation can lift the effective sampling rate up to 400 MS/s, with a signal bandwidth of 43 MHz. It supports standard function waveforms including sine, square, triangle and ramp, as well as user-defined arbitrary waveforms, and it adopts DDS direct digital synthesis technology to achieve ultra-fine frequency resolution for stable frequency sweeping and signal simulation. The onboard waveform memory has multiple versions of 8 MB, 32 MB and 256 MB, which supports long waveform storage, waveform linking, looping and continuous streaming playback for complex signal sequence output.

This AWG card provides two optional output paths, main gain path and direct IF path, to adapt to different amplitude and frequency test needs. It supports software-selectable 50 Ω or 75 Ω output impedance, and the full-scale output amplitude reaches 12 Vpp under 50 Ω load. A seven-pole elliptical analog reconstruction filter and FIR digital filter are built in to suppress image spurs and improve signal purity. It integrates marker event channels, which can output synchronous marker signals aligned with waveform segments for timing tagging and trigger coordination with external instruments. It supports external reference clock locking and NI-TClk synchronization, multiple PCI-5421 cards can be synchronized with low phase skew to build multi-channel coherent signal generation systems. It supports continuous, burst, gated and single-shot trigger modes, with SMB connectors for analog output, clock, trigger and marker signals. The standard PCI form factor fits industrial PC chassis perfectly, and it can cooperate with NI digitizers and DSA cards to form a complete stimulus and acquisition test system. Built-in self-calibration function reduces amplitude and offset drift caused by temperature variation and guarantees long-term output stability.

This arbitrary waveform generator card is widely used in communication signal simulation, semiconductor component validation, filter frequency response calibration, audio performance testing, power electronics transient injection, aerospace stimulus verification and DSL noise interference simulation. It is driven by NI-FGEN driver, compatible with LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI and C/C++ programming environments, supporting waveform editing, sequence programming, marker configuration and automatic streaming control. As a discontinued legacy AWG hardware, the PCI-5421 is mainly used for maintenance and replacement of existing automated test benches. It can deliver repeatable, high-fidelity custom waveforms, retain mature test workflows and avoid the high cost of rebuilding the whole measurement system. Its operating temperature range is 0°C to 55°C, supporting reliable continuous operation for laboratory and industrial test tasks.