NI PCI-5105 High‑Density Digitizer (8‑Ch, 12‑bit, up to 60 MS/s) for PCI — Reliable, simultaneous waveform capture

The NI PCI-5105 is a workhorse when you need many channels and clean timing on a single PCI card. From my experience, it’s a smart fit for production test benches, power electronics characterization, ultrasonic and acoustic measurements, and general lab transient recording where you want 8 simultaneous inputs without juggling multiple boards. You might notice that it behaves like a compact oscilloscope inside the PC—12-bit resolution, up to 60 MS/s per channel, and tight channel-to-channel synchronization that typically makes correlation tasks much easier.

One thing I appreciate is how quickly teams get it running with NI-SCOPE and LabVIEW or C/C++; in many cases, you can go from install to first waveforms in under an hour. A test engineering lead recently told us: “We replaced two benchtop scopes with a single PCI-5105 and hit throughput targets without re-cabling. Triggering felt straightforward, and saving to disk was faster than we expected.”

Order Placement Process and Guarantees

• Warranty: 365 days
• Lead time: 1 week if in stock; no more than one month at the latest
• Payment: 50% advance payment; full payment before delivery
• Express options: FedEx, UPS, DHL
• Pre‑ship checks: Functional test and basic visual inspection prior to packing
• Packing: ESD-safe materials and foam-in-box for PCI boards

Key Features

• 8 simultaneous channels – Capture multi-point signals at the same instant, handy for multi-phase power or sensor arrays.
• 12‑bit vertical resolution – Typically cleaner low-level detail than 8‑bit scopes; good for mixed-signal and acoustic work.
• Up to 60 MS/s per channel – Fast enough for many transient and step-response measurements without overspending on GHz gear.
• Programmable triggering – External trigger and flexible software triggering to line up events and reduce dead time.
• PCI integration – Standard desktop/industrial PCs; bus-powered, no external supply required.
• Synchronization via RTSI – In most cases, easy timing/trigger sharing with other NI PCI devices through the RTSI cable.
• NI-SCOPE driver support – Works with LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and C/C++; examples shorten bring-up time.
• Designed for continuous recording – Stream data to disk for long captures (rate depends on your storage subsystem).

Technical Specifications

Note: Specifications can vary slightly by hardware revision. If your test plan is tight on limits (e.g., bandwidth or timing skew), we can double‑check against the exact part number and calibration report.

Related or Supporting Products

• NI PXI-5105 – PXI chassis version of the same 8‑ch, 12‑bit, up to 60 MS/s digitizer; better for modular test systems.
• NI PCIe-5122 – 2‑channel, 14‑bit, up to 100 MS/s on PCI Express; higher vertical resolution per channel for precision work.
• NI PCI-6133 – High‑speed DAQ (8‑ch simultaneous, lower sample rate per channel); cost‑effective for mixed I/O test.
• RTSI Cable (NI) – For timing/trigger sharing between NI PCI devices in the same PC.
• SMB/MCX‑to‑BNC coax kits – Convenient connection to lab instruments and fixtures (connector type depends on card revision).

Installation & Maintenance

• PC/Chassis: Use a clean, grounded industrial PC with a spare full‑height PCI slot; keep the card away from high‑power GPU heat zones.
• Ventilation: Ensure front‑to‑back airflow; typically one free slot space beside the card helps in warmer enclosures.
• Wiring: Use short, quality coax to reduce pickup; secure cables to avoid strain on the front panel.
• Grounding: Tie fixture ground and PC ground properly; it seems to improve noise floor in many cases.
• Synchronization: If combining with other NI PCI devices, connect the RTSI ribbon and configure timing routes in NI‑SCOPE.
• Safety: Observe input limits; avoid floating high potentials. When in doubt, use probes/attenuators rated for your system.
• Maintenance: Annual calibration is recommended for audited test lines; keep connectors clean and dust‑free; update NI‑SCOPE drivers periodically.

Quality & Certifications

• Certifications: CE and RoHS compliance; designed for EMC/FCC environments typical of lab and industrial PCs.
• Manufacturer Warranty: NI standard hardware warranty (varies by region).
• Our Coverage: 365‑day warranty and functional verification before shipment.
• Traceability: Calibration certificate available on request (if required for QA).

If you’re balancing channel count, resolution, and cost, the NI PCI-5105 typically lands in the sweet spot. Share your target bandwidth, trigger scheme, and PC specs, and we’ll confirm compatibility, stock, and the fastest ship window.