NEW PCI-BASED MXIBUS CONTROLLER FOR PCS ACHIEVES 33 MBYTES/S

Austin, Texas - Aug. 1, 1995 - National Instruments - the Virtual
Instrumentation Company - announced today a new generation of MXIbus-based
VXI controllers that sets new performance benchmarks for VXI systems using
PCI-based desktop computers running Windows 3.1 or DOS. The VXI-PCI8010 -
the first of the company's next-generation MXI-2 controllers - uses the
new MITEand MANTIS custom ASICs to deliver unmatched performance and
higher reliability. The VXI-PCI8010 combines three high-performance buses
- VXI, PCI, and MXI - to achieve an overall 23 Mbytes/s sustained block
throughput rate across the MXIbus and peak rates exceeding 33 Mbytes/s.
Although MXI-2 expands the capabilities of the original MXI products
developed by National Instruments, MXI-2 is completely compatible with the
original MXI design and is also published as an open specification. The
VXI-PCI8010 is completely compatible with specifications outlined by the
VXIplug&play Systems Alliance. Users can program it with the company's
LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and LabWindows application software packages.

"The VXI-PCI8010 sets new benchmarks for VXIbus control," said James
Kimery, VXI Product Manager. "With the advanced DMA capabilities of our
MITE ASIC, the VXI-PCI8010 delivers performance that surpasses that of any
available product - including embedded controllers."

About the VXI-PCI8010

The VXI-PCI8010 kit includes a PCI-MXI-2 board that plugs into a PCI-based
desktop computer, a VXI-MXI-2 interface board that plugs into a VXI
chassis, a 2 m MXI-2 cable, and VXIplug&play and NI-VXI software for
Windows 3.1 and DOS.

The VXI-PCI8010 also achieves peak or burst throughput rates as high as 40
Mbytes/s across the VXI backplane. With a top-end throughput rate of 132
Mbytes/s, the PCI bus can take on the most demanding VXI applications.

About the MITE and MANTIS ASICs

The MXI-2 products achieve their performance benchmarks by integrating
advanced hardware DMA capabilities of the new MITE custom ASIC, including
the synchronous MXI protocol defined in the MXI 2.0 specification. The
MITE chip is a sophisticated dual-channel DMA controller that has built-in
interfaces for VXI, MXI, and PCI. The two independent DMA controllers can
transport data - either separately or simultaneously - between any two
points or ports, such as the MXIbus, computer local memory, the VXIbus, or
DRAM residing on the PCI-MXI-2 or the VXI-MXI-2. The VXI-PCI8010 is also
the first VXI controller to incorporate the popular VME64 protocol to
boost data throughput using 64-bit data transfers across the VXI
backplane.

The MANTIS complements the MITE by interfacing to VXI backplane signals,
such as VXI interrupts, triggers, and Module ID lines. The MANTIS also
incorporates the functionality of the previous-generation Trigger
Interface Chip (TIC) ASIC, providing the same advanced trigger and timing
capability found on National Instruments embedded VXI controllers.

New DRAM Options

To increase performance and capability, users can order the PCI-MXI-2 and
the VXI-MXI-2 with standard DRAM SIMMs. Users can configure the VXI-MXI-2
with up to 64 MB of DRAM, eliminating the need for stand-alone memory
cards that require an extra VXI slot. This dual-ported DRAM on either the
PCI-MXI-2 or the VXI-MXI-2 can be used as shared memory on the VXIbus, or
it can be used as a dedicated data buffer. Continuous or high-performance
data acquisition applications can take advantage of this feature for
real-time or post-acquisition analysis. Using these DRAM options opens new
doors for high-performance data acquisition by ensuring that data captured
at high speeds is delivered to the host computer quickly and efficiently
without losing data points.

VXI-PCI8010 Software Compatibility

The VXI-PCI8010 is completely compatible with the VXIplug&play Systems
Alliance specifications while also accommodating the large installed base
of NI-VXI users. Not only will all of the VXIplug&play software run using
the VXI-PCI8010, but existing applications written for NI-VXI will also
run unaltered. The VXI-PCI8010 is completely compatible with the company's
popular LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and LabWindows software packages.

About National Instruments

National Instruments, headquartered in Austin, Texas, manufactures software
and hardware products for PCs and workstations that scientists and
engineers worldwide use to build virtual instrumentation systems. These
systems are used for research and industrial applications such as
automated testing, laboratory automation, advanced research, industrial
control, factory automation, physiological monitoring, numerical analysis,
and data visualization.

National Instruments stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market System
under the symbol NATI. Further information on National Instruments may be
obtained from the company's SEC filings or by directly contacting the
company's Investor Relations Department at (512) 338-9119.

For more information about the VXI-PCI8010, please contact

National Instruments,
6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Austin
Texas 78730-5039
(512) 794-0100.

Or call toll free in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 433-3488, fax (512)
794-8411, e-mail info@natinst.com. Readers can also access information
through the National Instruments InstrumentationWeb at
http://www.natinst.com.
 
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