Home Support Documentation NI Cable and Accessory Guides

Digital Instrument Cable and Accessory Compatibility

Updated Sep 26, 2024

Overview

Use this guide to match your NI Digital Instrument Models PCI, PXI, PCIe, and PXIe devices with a compatible cable and accessory to meet the needs of your application, replacing or expanding your current configuration, or verifying that existing parts can be used in a different configuration. This guide includes cable and accessory compatibility for NI Digital Waveform Instruments (HSDIO), NI Digital Pattern Instruments, and NI High-Speed Serial Instruments.

Digital Instruments including NI Digital Waveform Instruments (High-Speed Digital I/O), NI Digital Pattern Instruments, and NI High-Speed Serial Instruments generate and acquire high-speed digital waveforms for transmitting data, communicating with devices under test, or testing digital interfaces. These instruments are ideal for semiconductor characterization and production, interfacing to LVDS and TTL digital electronics, and testing the functionality of high-speed serial links.

Contents

How to Use this Guide

It is important to work through this guide sequentially to identify and then pair up your device with compatible cables and accessories. To do this, complete the following steps:

  1. Identify your device or module.
  2. Find your module or device in the Device List.
  3. Use the Cable and Accessory Compatibility Tables to identify your device.
  4. Check the Known Limitations and Issues List for any known limitations you may encounter.
  5.  
  6. Note: Using the page search functionality in your browser to locate your model may speed up this process, typically CTRL+F on Windows or ⌘+F on MacOS.
  1.  
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Depth and Coverage of the HSDIO Cable and Accessory Compatibility Guide

This guide covers a broad range of configurations, to stay concise, it is not intended to cover every potential combination or use case. The most common and recommended solutions are presented. Configurations with known limitations are noted.

This guide is intended to cover current, legacy, and recently obsoleted NI HSDIO hardware devices, and their cable and accessory options. It does not cover long-time end of life (EOL) NI HSDIO products, and does not cover EOL cable or accessory options. The guide is not intended to cover cable or accessory options for other NI hardware families such as RF, Source Measurement Units (SMUs), Switches, DAQ, C Series, or R Series.


Some cables or accessories from other NI product families may share the same connector or visually appear the same, but typically come with limitations, incompatibilities, or safety concerns. For this reason, unless expressly mentioned in this guide, compatibility with other NI cables and accessories are not covered in this guide and are not recommended.

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Finding your Device or Module Model

These pages are arranged by first having you identify your hardware model and then choose the accessory or cable combination that best fits your needs. 

To start, your module or device's model number can be found on the physical device or in software.

How to locate your model number on the physical device:

If your device is already installed it may be easier to locate the model number in software, below.

  • PCI and PCI Express (PCIe) devices: Model numbers are typically found on the faceplate of the card near the connector. Click here for an example. Some models also have the product family printed on the shielding of the card.
  • PXI and PXI Express (PXIe) modules: Model numbers are typically found at the top of the faceplate of the card. Click here for an example.
     

How to locate your model number in software:

If you've already installed NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) and the device driver, complete the following steps.

  1. Open NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (NI MAX).
  2. Select My System»Devices and Interfaces .
    • PCI, PCI Express (PCIe), and USB devices are listed as NI PCI-,NI PCIe- or NI USB- followed by the model number.
    • PXI and PXI Express (PXIe) modules are listed under their chassis, which you will have to click to expand. Modules are listed as NI PXI- or NI PXIe- followed by the model number.
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Device List

Use the following tables to locate your device or module. Once found, note your connector type, pin count, and any other notes for reference. Next move to the Cable and Accessory Compatibility Tables.

Important Note: "Group" used in this context is solely to categorize devices together that use the same cables and accessories. It does not necessarily indicate similar functionality, specifications, or other commonalities between the devices.

Group 1: VHDCI 68-Pin HSDIO Models, Devices and Modules

Identify your VHDCI 68-pin device or module, then click to jump to the compatibility table.
ModelConnector TypeNotes
PCIe-6535VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PCIe-6535BVHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXIe-6535VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PCIe-6536VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PCIe-6536BVHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXIe-6536VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PCIe-6537VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PCIe-6537BVHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXIe-6537VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PCI-6541VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXI-6541VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PCI-6542VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXI-6542VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXIe-6544VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXIe-6545VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXIe-6547VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXIe-6548VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PCI-6551VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXI-6551VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PCI-6552VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXI-6552VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXIe-6555VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
Dual Stack Connector
PXIe-6556VHDCIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
Dual Stack Connector

 

Group 2: SCSI 68-Pin HSDIO Models, Devices And Modules

Identify your 68-pin SCSI 0.050 D-Type USB device, then click to jump to the compatibility table.
ModelConnector TypeNotes
PCI-6533SCSIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXI-6533SCSIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PCI-6534SCSIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List
PXI-6534SCSIRefer to the Known Limitations and Issues List

 

Group 3: Infiniband Connector HSDIO Models, Devices and Modules

Identify your Infiniband connector device or module, then click to jump to the compatibility table.
ModelConnector TypeNotes
PCI-6561Infiniband 
PXI-6561Infiniband 
PCI-6562Infiniband 
PXI-6562Infiniband 

 

Group 4: 68-Pin Digital Pattern Models, Devices And Modules

Identify your VHDCI 68-pin device or module, then click to jump to the compatibility table.
ModelConnector TypeNotes
PXIe-6570VHDCIRequires two peripheral slots in chassis
PXIe-6571VHDCI 

 

Group 5: High-Speed Serial Models, Devices and Modules

Identify your High-Speed Serial device, then click to jump to the compatibility table.
ModelConnector TypeNotes
PXIe-6591

VHDCI

Mini-SAS

 
PXIe-6592SFP+ 
PXIe-7902Mini-SAS 
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Cable and Accessory Compatibility Tables

Find the compatibility table that matches the pin count and connector type of your device. If you have questions on terminology, refer to the Glossary below. After you have identified the cable and accessory options for your device from this section, move to the Known Limitations and Issues List.

Note: To help keep the size down of the compatibility tables, the terms terminal block and connector block are used interchangeably.

Group 1: VHDCI 68-Pin HSDIO Models Device And Module

Use this table to identify compatible VHDCI cables and accessories.

 

1 Cable is offered in 0.5m, 1m, Low Leakage 1m, and 2m. For more information on Low Leakage Cables see Glossary.
2 The 653x Cable Adapter is designed for use with the PCIe/PXIe 6535/6/7, the PCIe 6535B/6B/7B, the 654x series and the 655x series. It has not been tested and is not recommended for use with other NI products. If you plan to use the 653x Cable adapter please see the Known Limitations and Issues List. 

Click here to jump to the Known Limitations and Issues List.

Group 2: SCSI 68-Pin HSDIO Models, Devices And Modules

Use this table to identify compatible SCSI cables and accessories.

 

Click here to jump to the Known Limitations and Issues List.

Group 3: Infiniband Connector HSDIO Models, Devices and Modules

Use this table to identify compatible Infiniband connector cables and accessories.

 

Click here to jump to the Known Limitations and Issues List.

Group 4: 68-Pin Digital Pattern Models, Devices And Modules

Use this table to identify compatible Digital Pattern Module cables and accessories.

 

1 Cable is offered in 0.5m, 1m, Low Leakage 1m, and 2m. For more information on Low Leakage Cables see Glossary.

Click here to jump to the Known Limitations and Issues List.

Group 5: High-Speed Serial Models, Devices and Modules

Use this table to identify connectivity options for High-Speed Serial devices.

 

1 Cable is offered in 0.5m, 1m, Low Leakage 1m, and 2m. For more information on Low Leakage Cables see Glossary.

3 The PXIe-6591 has both a Mini-SAS and VHDCI Connector. It requires a compatible cable and/or accessory for each connector.

Click here to jump to the Known Limitations and Issues List.

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Known Limitations and Issues List

This section is important to review because not every cable and accessory combination allows access to the full functionality of your NI Digital Instrument device or module. This list contains notes about known limitations when using certain combinations of HSDIO cables and accessories. If your device or cable is not listed in this section, there are no known exceptions for it.

Devices and Modules:

Review this table to identify potential limitations and known issues with your device or module.
ModelNote
PCIe-6535
PXIe-6535
PXIe-6535B
PCIe-6536
PXIe-6536
PXIe-6536B
PCIe-6537
PXIe-6537
PXIe-6537B
PCI-6541
PXI-6541
PCI-6542
PXI-6542
PXIe-6544
PXIe-6545
PXIe-6547
PXIe-6548
PCI-6551
PXI-6551
PCI-6552
PXI-6552
PXIe-6555
PXIe-6556
  • Can be used with the 653x Cable Adapter to enable compatibility with SCSI accessories. Without using this adapter the devices must be used with VHDCI accessories.
  • The SCB-68 and SCB-68A must be configured in Direct Feedthrough Mode. For more information on how to configure these accessories in Direct Feedthrough mode see the SCB-68 and SCB-68A Accessory guide.
PCI-6533
PXI-6533
PCI-6534
PXI-6534
  • The SCB-68 and SCB-68A must be configured in Direct Feedthrough Mode. For more information on how to configure these accessories in Direct Feedthrough mode see the SCB-68 and SCB-68A Accessory guide.

Accessories:

Review this table for alternative accessory options.
ModelNote
653x Cable AdapterVHDCI and SCXI pinouts are a direct pass through except for the Trigger and Control lines. These lines will need to be connected by use of the Screw Terminals inside the backshell of the cable adapter.
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Glossary

  • SCSI 0.050 D-Type - Industry standard SCSI connector standard featuring 0.050 pin spacing that is used in 68 -position HSDIO cable and accessory connections. Click here for an example.
  • Dual Stack - Two combined connectors stacked onto each other on a PCB-mount connector. Each connector accepts its own cable. Click here for an example.
  • Flying Lead Cable - Shielded cable that breaks out single ended signals into two 0.1 inch header receptacles, one receptacle each for the signal and ground. Used for direct connectivity to 0.1” pitch header pins or probes. Click here for an example.
  • Low Leakage Cable - The PCB surfaces of low-leakage cables are cleaned of contaminants during manufacturing, reducing induced current leakage.
  • Shielded Cable - A high performance cable solution that offers noise reduction through shielded conductors. Click here for an example.
  • Shielded Terminal Block or Connector Block - A high performance accessory solution offering very low-noise signal termination through shielding. Click here for an example.
  • Unshielded Terminal Block or Connector Block - An alternative low cost accessory solution that does not offer shielding. Click here for an example.
  • Very-High-Density Cable Interconnect (VHDCI) - An improvement on the SCSI 68-pin connector featuring .8 mm pin spacing, allowing a smaller footprint and fewer bent pins during connection. Click here for an example.
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Ordering Information

When purchasing an NI HSDIO device or module, for ease of use, the cables and accessories are listed on the product selection page.  To begin browsing NI HSDIO devices and modules, visit ni.com/digital-instruments/.

You may also purchase your cables and accessories separately. Cables and accessories are shown in the ni.com shopping experience, based on the model you select.

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Additional Resources

NI Digital Cable and Accessory Resources

Other NI Cable and Accessory Compatibility Guides

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Module or DeviceCablesAccessories
Cable AdapterShieldedUnshieldedBreakout Box
Screw Terminal BlockScrew Terminal block - DIN Rail MountScrew Terminal Block

6535, 6536, 6537, 6535B, 6536B, 6537B,

SHC68-C68-D4 Cable1 (Recommended  Shielded)
P/N 781013-01 (0.55 m)
P/N 196275-01 (1 m)
P/N 781293-01 (2 m)
P/N 132625-03 (Lower DC resistance, 3m) 

C68-C68-D4 Cable (Unshielded)
P/N 195949-01

N/A 

SCB-68 HSDIO
P/N 782914-01		CB-2162
P/N 778592-01

N/A

SMB-2163
P/N 778747-01
653x Cable Adapter2
P/N 195846-01		SCB-68A
P/N 782536-01

CB-68LP
P/N 777145-01

CB-68LPR
P/N 777145-02

TBX-68
P/N 777141-01

N/A 

SHC68-H1X38 (Shielded, Flying Lead)
P/N 192681-1R5

N/A

N/A 

N/A

N/A 

N/A

6541, 6542, 6544, 6545, 6547, 6548, 6555, 6556, 6551, 6552 

SHC68-C68-D4 Cable1 (Recommended Shielded)
P/N 781013-01 (0.55 m)
P/N 196275-01 (1 m)
P/N 781293-01 (2 m)
P/N 132625-03 (Lower DC resistance, 3m)

C68-C68-D4 Cable (Unshielded)
P/N 195949-01 

N/A 

SCB-68 HSDIO
P/N 782914-01		CB-2162
P/N 778592-01

N/A

SMB-2163
P/N 778747-01

653x Cable Adapter2 
P/N 195846-01		SCB-68A
P/N 782536-01

CB-68LP
P/N 777145-01

CB-68LPR
P/N 777145-02

TBX-68
P/N 777141-01

N/A 

SHC68-H1X38 (Shielded, Flying Lead)
P/N 192681-1R5

N/A

N/A 

N/A

N/A 

N/A
Module or DeviceCablesAccessories
Cable AdapterShieldedUnshieldedBreakout Box
Screw Terminal BlockScrew Terminal block - DIN Rail MountScrew Terminal Block

6533, 6534

SH68-68-D1 (Recommended Shielded)
P/N 183432-01 (1 m)
P/N 183432-02 (2 m)
P/N 183432-05 (5 m)
P/N 183432-0R4 (0.4 m)

N/A

SCB-68A
P/N 782536-01

CB-68LP
P/N 777145-01

CB-68LPR
P/N 777145-02

TBX-68
P/N 777141-01

N/A
Module or DeviceCablesAccessories
Cable AdapterShieldedUnshieldedBreakout Box
Screw Terminal BlockScrew Terminal block - DIN Rail MountScrew Terminal Block

6561, 6562

SHB12X-B12X (Shielded)
P/N 192344-01 (1 m)
P/N 192344-02 (2 m) 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A 

SMA-2164
P/N 779323-01
SHB12X-H3X24 (Shielded, Flying Lead)
P/N 196236-1R5 (1.5 m) 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A 

N/A
Module or DeviceCablesAccessories
Cable AdapterShieldedUnshieldedBreakout Box
Screw Terminal BlockScrew Terminal block - DIN Rail MountScrew Terminal Block

6570, 6571

SHC68-C68-D Cable1 (Recommended Shielded)
P/N 781013-01 (0.55 m)
P/N 196275-01 (1 m)
P/N 781293-01 (2 m)
P/N 132625-03 (Lower DC resistance, 3m)

C68-C68-D4 Cable (Unshielded)
P/N 195949-01 

N/A

SCB-68 HSDIO
P/N 782914-01		CB-2162
P/N 778592-01

N/A

SMB-2163
P/N 778747-01
SHC68-H1X38 (Shielded, Flying Lead)
P/N 192681-1R5

N/A 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A 
Module or DeviceCablesAccessories
Cable AdapterShieldedUnshieldedBreakout Box
Screw Terminal BlockScrew Terminal block - DIN Rail MountScrew Terminal Block

65913

Mini-SAS HD Copper
P/N 783976-01 (1 m)
P/N 783977-01 (3 m) 

N/A

N/A 

N/A

N/A 

N/A

SHC68-C68-D41 (Recommended Shielded)
P/N 152870-01

N/A 

SCB-68 HSDIO
P/N 782914-01		CB-2162
P/N 778592-01

N/A

N/A 

6592

SFP+ Copper Cable
P/N 784076-01 (1 m)

N/A 

N/A

N/A 

N/A

N/A 

6593

QSFP28-QSFP28 Cable
P/N 788256-01 (1 m)
P/N 788256-02 (2 m) 

QSFP28-QSFP28 active optical cable
P/N 788257-10 (10 m) 

Nanopitch-Nanopitch cable
P/N 785486-01 (1 m) 

N/A

SCB-12 Nano-Pitch connector block
P/N 787419-01

N/A 

N/A

N/A 

6594

QSFP28-QSFP28 Cable
P/N 788256-01 (1 m)
P/N 788256-02 (2 m) 

QSFP28-QSFP28 active optical cable
P/N 788257-10 (10 m) 

Nanopitch-Nanopitch cable
P/N 785486-01 (1 m) 

N/A

SCB-12 Nano-Pitch connector block
P/N 787419-01

N/A 

N/A

N/A 

7902

Mini-SAS HD Copper
P/N 783976-01 (1 m)
P/N 783977-01 (3 m) 

MINI-SAS HD optical cable
P/N 783978-01 (10 m) 

N/A

N/A 

N/A

N/A 

N/A

7903 

zHD to QSFP28 cable
P/N 788928-02 (2 m) 

zHD to zHD cable
P/N 788927-0R5 (0.5 m)
P/N 788927-01 (1 m)
P/N 788927-02 (2 m) 

mHDMI to mHDMI cable
P/N 784091-01 (1 m) 

N/A

SCB-19 mHDMI connector block
P/N 783959-01

N/A 

N/A

N/A 

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