What Laptops Have Been Tested with NI's ExpressCard-MXI for PXI and PXI Express?
Print
PDFOverview
This page lists all of the various laptops that have been tested for MXI-Express compatibility with PXI and PXI Express chassis by National Instruments.
Important: There are many possible causes for a MXI-Express system to not work correctly including defective hardware, bad cable connections, driver conflicts, or BIOS incompatibility. True incompatibility problems are mainly the result of BIOS problems from the laptop manufacturer that can at times be resolved by a BIOS update. To troubleshoot MXI-Express issues, please refer to the following links:
KnowledgeBase 3U7CI4D8: What PCs have been tested with National Instrument's PXI MXI products
KnowledgeBase 4C5ISO8P: MXI-Express General Setup/Compatibility Issues and Solutions
Q: What types of MXI-Express expansion configurations are likely to work?
A: Most computers will work with a single segment PXI chassis (8 slots or less). More complicated remote systems comprised of PXI-Express chassis, multiple chassis, multi-segment chassis (more than 8 slots) or boards with PCI bridges that add additional PCI busses may pose challenges for some computers to work correctly. The table provided below lists laptops that have been formally tested by National Instruments with complex MXI-Express configurations using the ExpressCard-8360 and the PXI-8360 or PXIe-8360.
Note: Computers that have Advanced State Power Management (ASPM) will not work with the PXI-1033 (PXI Chassis with Integrated MXI-Express Controller). This was a feature enabled in most Dell laptops but current BIOS updates fixes the problem. If your computer has ASPM enabled, you can use a PXI-1036 chassis with the NI PXI-ExpressCard 8360 (Laptop control of PXI with ExpressCard).
Q: What if my exact model of laptop computer isn’t listed here?
A: If you are using a simple PXI system, your laptop computer will likely work with ExpressCard MXI expansion solutions. Additionally, laptop computers by the same manufacturer and of the same family as those that are recommended below are likely to work with ExpressCard MXI. If you would like further explanation or have a system that you are interested in National Instruments testing, please contact National Instrument’s support group at ni.com/support.
| Brand | Model |
Recommend for PXI?
|
Recommend for PXI Express?
|
Recommend for PXI-1033? |
Notes
|
| Acer | Aspire 5670 |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
| Acer | Aspire 5672WLM | No | No | No | |
| Acer | Aspire 5680 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
I/O Space Limitation of 8 KB |
| Acer | Aspire 9500 |
- |
- |
Yes |
|
| Dell | Inspiron 630m |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
| Dell | Inspiron 6400 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
With BIOS A07 released 7/17/2007 |
| Dell | Inspiron 640m |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
| Dell | Inspiron e1405 |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
| Dell | Inspiron e1505 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
With BIOS A07 released 7/17/2007 |
| Dell | Latitude D820 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
With BIOS A07 released 6/26/2007 |
| Dell | Latitude D830 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
With BIOS A04 released 8/22/2007 |
| Dell | XPS M1210 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
With BIOS A08 released 7/24/2007 |
| Dell | XPS M140 |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
| Fujitsu | LifeBook E8020 |
No |
No |
No |
|
| Fujitsu | LifeBook E8110 |
- |
- |
Yes |
|
| Fujitsu | LifeBook E8210 |
Yes* |
No* |
- |
* You must disable onboard wireless LAN support and are limited to 10 PCI bus segments. |
| Fujitsu | LifeBook N3510 |
No |
No |
No |
|
| Fujitsu | LifeBook N6110 |
No |
No |
No |
|
| HP/Compaq | 6910P with Docking Station |
No |
No |
No |
|
| HP/Compaq | nx6125 |
No |
No |
No |
|
| HP/Compaq | nc6320 |
Yes* |
No |
Yes |
* Only supported in 8-slot chassis or smaller |
| HP/Compaq | nx6325 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Does not boot if the ExpressCard is plugged-in without a chassis |
| HP/Compaq | Pavilion dv1000t |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
| HP/Compaq | Pavilion dv4000 |
Yes* |
No |
Yes |
* Only supported in 8-slot chassis or smaller |
| HP/Compaq | Pavilion zd8000 |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes |
|
| HP/Compaq | Pavilion zv6000 |
No |
No |
No |
|
| HP/Compaq | Presario X6000 |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes |
|
| Lenovo | ThinkPad R52 |
No |
No |
No |
|
| Lenovo | Thinkpad T43 |
No |
No |
No |
|
| Lenovo | ThinkPad T60 |
No |
No |
No |
|
| Lenovo | ThinkPad T60P | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* | *Requires NI MXIe BIOS compatibility software and compatible MXIe hardware |
| Lenovo | Thinkpad T61 | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* | *Requires NI MXIe BIOS compatibility software and compatible MXIe hardware |
| Sony | VGN-C190G | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* | *Requires NI MXIe BIOS compatibility software and compatible MXIe hardware |
| Toshiba | Qosmio G25 |
No |
No |
No |
|
| Toshiba | Tecra A4 |
No |
No |
No |
|
| Toshiba | Tecra M5-TS1412 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
To provide a more extensive list of computers used with MXI-Express, we have compiled a list of computers used in customer applications. This list provides both compatible and incompatible computers and explains the problems encountered with them. Please use this as a guide especially if you are using the same chassis or a smaller one.
Note: These laptops have not been officially tested by National Instruments and you may still encounter some issues depending on your system setup. To find the official list of compatible computers please refer to the above table and for a desktop list please refer to the following document What Desktop Computers Have Been Tested with NI's MXI-Express for PXI and PXI Express?
| Brand | Model |
MXI-Express
host board
|
Chassis
|
Notes
|
| Apple | MacBook |
ExpressCard |
PXI-1031
PXI-1033
|
|
| Apple | MacBook Pro |
ExpressCard |
PXI-1033 |
|
| Dell | Latitude D820 |
ExpressCard |
PXI-1042
PXI-1044
PXI-1045
|
|
| Dell | Latitude D820 |
ExpressCard
|
PXI-1033
|
|
| Dell | Inspiron 6400 |
ExpressCard |
PXI-1042 |
|
| Dell | Inspiron 6400/1505 |
ExpressCard
|
PXI-1033
|
|
| Dell | Precision M90 |
ExpressCard |
PXI-1031 |
|
| HP/Compaq | nx6125 |
ExpressCard |
PXI-1033 |
|
| Sony | VIAO VGN-SZ340P |
ExpressCard |
PXI-1033 |
|
| HP/Compaq | dv8135NR |
ExpressCard |
8-slot 3rd party chassis |
Related Links:
KnowledgeBase 3U7CI4D8: What PCs Have Been Tested with National Instrument's PXI MXI Products?
KnowledgeBase 4C5ISO8P: MXI-Express General Setup/Compatibility Issues and Solutions
KnowledgeBase 3UQD1HD8: What is a PCI Bus and How Does it Relate to PXI?
Introduction to MXI-Express
Reader Comments | Submit a comment »
Dell M90 works with BIOS A07
Just recieved a PXI-1033 chassis with
expresscard. Plugged it into my Dell
Precision M90 and nothing happened. Upgraded
to Bios A07 and it worked fine. Hope this
helps someone.
- Jonathan Bowers, Simplicity AI Ltd. jonathan.bowers@simplicityai.co.uk - Jun 9, 2008
Where is this list?
"To provide a more extensive list of
computers used with MXI-Express, we
have compiled a list of computers used
in customer applications. This list
provides both compatible and
incompatible computers and explains
the problems encountered with them. "
If the table below this statement is
supposed to be the list, where are the
commenst??? Is this a list of
compatible components, or
incompatible components? Clarity
needed.
- Roy A. Kesmodel, Morgan, a Stanley Company. roy.kesmodel@stanleyassociates.com - Nov 18, 2007
List needs to be updated
Like everyone else has said, this list is
outdated. I need to buy a laptop to use as a
PXI controller via ExpressCard-MXI and I have
no idea which one to buy. You simply can't
buy any of these on this list anymore. I was
looking at a Thinkpad T61, but then I see the
T60 is not recommended, but it gives no
reason as to why. I do not have the time or
funds to purchase laptops simply to find out
if they're going to work through trial and error.
- Adam Truelove, Belcan Corporation. atruelove@belcan.com - Aug 30, 2007
Major Incompatibility Problems
We purchased Toshiba Tecra M5s
Laptops which are listed as compatible.
Ran into PCI Bridge Problems that
neither NI or Toshiba could solve, and
wasted 2 weeks. No one took
responsibility for the incompatibility.
- Christopher Cullen, Naval Surface Warfare Center. Christopher.Cullen@navy.mil - May 18, 2007
Please can you provide some 'hard' criteria to select a notebook?
We plan to buy new dual core noteboocks
which will be used with your NI Expresscard
MXI controller. Are there any 'hard' criteria
to select a notebook? 'Try and error' will
not work here ...
- Andreas Hergesell, MetaDAQ. Andreas.Hergesell@MetaDAQ.de - Jun 9, 2006
Out of date list
The computers listed here are no longer available from the
PC manufacturers. With out the required criteria there is no
information available to tell what laptops will work and what
will not. This is made even more confusing by the fact that
some laptops with ExpressCard interface are listed as being
not recommened with no explanation of why. Please provide
the required ExpressCard criteria so we can make an
informed purchase.
- Scott McMeekin, Glasgow Caledonian University. scott.mcmeekin@gcal.ac.uk - May 24, 2006
Your document needs to be enriched
As the list of laptops is quite short, I
suggest to add the list of criteria which
have to be checked in order to determine
whether the laptop will be compatible or not.
- Laurent SAIDANA, Schlumberger. lsaidana@yahoo.fr - Jan 31, 2006
Legal
This tutorial (this "tutorial") was developed by National Instruments ("NI"). Although technical support of this tutorial may be made available by National Instruments, the content in this tutorial may not be completely tested and verified, and NI does not guarantee its quality in any way or that NI will continue to support this content with each new revision of related products and drivers. THIS TUTORIAL IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AND SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AS MORE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN NI.COM'S TERMS OF USE (http://ni.com/legal/termsofuse/unitedstates/us/).