Why were 2 new Dells damaged after I installed the PCI-6052E?

[Showey]

Hi,

For several years, we used two PCI-6052E boards and a PCI-GPIB on a Dell Optiplex GX 260 without problems.  We recently purchased a new Delll Dimension 7200.  After installing the NI boards onto the new computer, the network (and eventually, the mouse and keyboard) functionality became severely impaired, and finally died.  Dell replaced the motherboard twice, with precisely the same results.  Today they sent us a brand new XPS 410, and we are still experiencing the same problem:  the computer works fine until the PCI boards are installed.

Please advise.

Best,
Showey
Cornell University

[Ima U]

Hi Showey,

At what point during the install does the motherboard get damaged?  What exactly happens to the mother board?  How are the specs of the motherboard in the newer models of the Dell computers different from the original model of Dell computer that worked with the PCI cards.  I have never seen this issue before.  If you think the NI cards are the cause of the damaged mother boards, would you consider sending the cards into National Instruments for repair?

[shoneill]

At some stage the driving voltage of PCI slots changed from 5 V to 3.3 V (or was it the other way round?) with the same pin layout (clever thing indeed!).

Do the old and new mainboards have the same PCI spec?

Shane.

[Ima U]

Showey,

Most current National Instrument PCI cards are universal.  You can tell this by looking and seeing 2 slots on the side of the card that plugs into the mother board.  Most of the newer computers are running on 3.3V.  You can send me the part number of your PCI cards and I can check and see whether it is 5V only or universal.

Shoneill,

Take a look at the following two Knowledge base articles. The first knowledge Base discusses what PCI-X is and what National Instrument cards work with it. The second Knowledge Base discusses the PCI-GPIB with the 3.3V.

I hope this helps!

[shoneill]

Ima,

sorry, but I don't get the relevance of PCI-X to either the problem at hand or my response..... Aside from that, if the card causing problems has only one notch, then it may be the problem??

I wasn't aware that most NI cards are universal.  That's most likely not the problem then, unless the earliest versions weren't universal.

Shane.

[AnalogKid2DigitalMan]

Were the computers unplugged from the wall outlet when you installed the cards?
Were basic ESD (static control) protocols followed when handling the cards?

[Ima U]

Hi Shoneill,

The NI PCI cards were not always universal.  Before they used to have one notch and only be for PCI bus which is 5V.  Newer computers have PCI-X bus which is rated at 3.3V.  Universal cards work for both.  If you bought a new computer that has PCI-X 3.3V but you have an old 1 notch (5V) card then this could very well be the cause of some of the issues you are experiencing.