Firewire vs. GPIB vs. MXI-2 vs. VXI Embedded PC

Application: Scanning measurements using up to three Agilent E1413C 64-Channel Scanning A/D Converters.
Controller: 200 MHz Processor

Results:

1. For small block transfers (64 readings), MXI-2 had fastest data transfer rate - 26% faster than the Agilent E6235A embedded PC, 3.7X faster than the Agilent E8491B and 600X faster than the Agilent E1406A.
2. For large block transfers (>50,000 readings), the Agilent E8491B and the Agilent E6235A embedded controller were equally fast--86% faster than MXI-2 and 52 times faster than the Agilent E1406A.
3. The Agilent E1406A GPIB command module could not support the Agilent E1413C module at full 100 kHz scan speed. The Agilent E6235A embedded PC and MXI-2 were able to support two Agilent E1413C modules at full scan speed. The Agilent E8491B supported three Agilent E1413C modules at full scan speed.

Application:

1. Agilent E1413C is setup, scans 64-channels at maximum rate (100 kHz) and 64 readings are transferred (small block transfer)
2. Agilent E1413C is setup, scans 64-channels at maximum rate (100 kHz) and 50,000 readings are transferred (large block transfer)

Conclusions from this application:

1. Setup time for the three configurations were about the same.
2. Measurement time for the three configurations were the same.
3. For small block transfer - MXI-2 had fastest transfer rate - 26% faster than the Agilent E6235A embedded PC, 3.7 times faster than the Agilent E8491B, and 600 times faster than the Agilent E1406A.
4. For large block transfer - the Agilent E6235A embedded PC and the Agilent E8491B were equally fast in data transfer rate - 86% faster than MXI-2, and 52 times faster than the Agilent E1406A.
5. The Agilent E1406A GPIB command module could not support the Agilent E1413C module at full 100 kHz scan speed. The Agilent E6235A embedded PC and MXI-2 were able to support two Agilent E1413C modules at full scan speed. The Agilent E8491B supported three Agilent E1413C modules at full scan speed.