NI PCI-7813R – Reconfigurable PCI FPGA I/O for high-speed digital control and HIL

The NI PCI-7813R is an R Series reconfigurable I/O (RIO) board that brings FPGA-level determinism to a standard PCI slot. From my experience, teams choose it when they need hard, repeatable timing for digital control, custom triggering, or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) work without moving to a PXI chassis. You design the logic in LabVIEW FPGA and deploy it straight to the on-board Xilinx FPGA, which typically means sub-microsecond reaction times and reliable handshake with external hardware. It seems to be a smart fit for retrofitting legacy test stands where PCI is already part of the control PC.

Company’s Order Placement Process and Guarantees

• Warranty: 365 days
• Delivery time: 1 week if in stock; no more than one month at the latest
• Payment: 50% advance payment; full payment before delivery
• Express delivery: FedEx, UPS, DHL

Key Features

• LabVIEW FPGA programmability – Develop custom logic, protocols, and timing deterministically in hardware without writing VHDL in most cases.
• Xilinx FPGA on board – Hardware-timed I/O with parallel execution for tight control loops, custom counters, or on-the-fly processing.
• High-speed digital I/O – TTL/CMOS-compatible digital lines for pattern generation, event capture, and handshake to external devices.
• Deterministic response – Typically sub-microsecond latency from input change to output action when designed appropriately.
• Standard PCI interface – Drops into existing desktop or industrial PCs; useful for extending life of established systems.
• Streaming via DMA – Efficient host-to-FPGA data movement for logging, algorithm updates, or real-time supervision.
• Flexible triggering and timing – Use on-board clocks or bring in external references to align with plant equipment.

Technical Specifications

One thing I appreciate is how quickly teams can iterate: tweak your LabVIEW FPGA VI, compile, and you’ve effectively built a new digital controller without swapping hardware. A power electronics client shared that switching their interlock logic onto the FPGA cut their fault response time from “a few milliseconds” down to “well under one,” which typically made the difference in protecting their IGBTs during stress testing.

Related or Supporting Products

• NI PCI‑7811R – Similar PCI R Series board with a smaller FPGA fabric; suitable when logic utilization is modest.
• NI PXI‑7813R – PXI slot version for chassis-based systems; easier synchronization with PXI timing.
• NI PCIe‑7841R / PCIe‑7852R – Newer PCI Express R Series with faster FPGAs and higher throughput; good path when modernizing the host PC.
• SCB‑68A / CB‑68LP terminal blocks – Common 68-pin accessories for wiring; typically paired with shielded 68‑pin cables for clean digital runs.
• Shielded 68‑pin cable assemblies (e.g., SHC68‑xx) – Recommended to reduce noise on fast edges and long cable routes.

Installation & Maintenance

• Cabinet & PC – Use an industrial PC or well‑ventilated desktop with a free 32‑bit PCI slot. Keep adjacent slots free if possible for airflow.
• Wiring – Shielded, twisted‑pair cabling is preferred for long runs or high‑speed strobes. Reference grounds consistently to avoid bounce.
• Power & noise – Ensure a clean system ground. In many cases, adding ferrites near the fixture end helps with edge ringing.
• Software setup – Install the matching NI‑RIO driver and LabVIEW FPGA toolkit versions supported by your OS. Verify DMA channels and timing in a simple loopback VI before live operation.
• ESD & handling – Treat as a sensitive PCB; handle by the bracket and edges. Power down the PC before insertion or removal.
• Routine maintenance – Quarterly dust removal with dry air; back up FPGA bitfiles and project revisions; review timing constraints after major code changes. No analog calibration needed.
• Firmware/driver updates – Update only after testing in a staging PC. It typically pays to keep driver versions aligned across stations.

Quality & Certifications

• Certifications – CE and RoHS compliant; designed to meet UL/CSA safety for ITE equipment (region-specific marking may apply).
• Manufacturing quality – Built under ISO 9001 quality systems.
• Warranty – 365-day coverage per our order guarantee; manufacturer’s standard warranty typically applies for new units.

Typical Use Cases

• Custom digital control and sequencing with microsecond-level response
• HIL for power electronics, motor drives, or actuator test benches
• Protocol bridging and bespoke handshakes to proprietary equipment
• High-speed pattern generation and event capture with edge time-stamping

Notes: Specifications above are representative of the NI PCI‑7813R/R Series family. Actual I/O count, connector style, and FPGA utilization limits depend on the exact hardware revision and your compiled FPGA design. If you’re replacing an existing card, share the part number and accessory set so we can confirm pinouts and cable options.