The M4i.66xx-x8 series arbitrary waveform generators (AWG) deliver the highest performance in both speed and resolution. The series includes PCIe cards with either one, two or four synChronous Channels. The large onboard memory can be segmented to replay different waveform sequences. The AWG features a PCI Express x8 Gen 2 interface that offers outstanding data streaming performance. The interface and Spectrum s optimized drivers enable data transfer rates in excess of 2.8 GB/s so that signals can continuously replayed at a high output rate. While the cards have been designed using the latest teChnology they are still software compatible with the drivers from earlier Spectrum waveform generators. So, existing customers can use the same software they developed for a 10 year old 20 MS/s AWG card and for an M4i series 625 MS/s AWG.

In contrast to the parallel PCI buses PCI Express slots contain serial point to point connections. EaCh connection pair (lane) is able to reaCh a burst connection speed of 250 MB/s (Gen 1) or 500 MB/s (Gen2). The fast streaming cards from Spectrum with PCI Express x8 Gen 2 interface need a physical connector of x8 or x16. The card interface can adopt to any electrical PCI Express interface, be it x1, x4, x8 or x16 with any PCI Express generation. One advantage of the PCI Express teChnology is the direct connection of eaCh slot allowing a full transfer bandwidth for eaCh single card. PCI Express is the bus standard for PC based systems for the next couple of years. Today's State-of-the-art motherboards normally have a couple of PCI Express slots but only one or two PCI-X slots. Server and industrial motherboards as well as high performance cosumer motherboards offer normally PCI Express x8 slots.

Application Examples

• Telecommunications
• ResearCh and Development
• Stimulus-Response Tests
• Semiconductor Tests