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Measure and Visualize

"The NI PCI-6229 data acquisition board, in a Dell Precision 340 running Windows XP, provided a powerful, yet remarkably cost-effective basis for our instrument."

- Robert Arias - Wyeth Neuroscience

Read the full case study

Whether you are validating a new hardware design, determining stress points on a metal structure, or recording temperature changes during a scientific experiment, you need to take measurements and visualize your data. You can choose from many commercially available instruments to take the measurement you need, but those are often vendor-defined and difficult to customize.

With PC-based data acquisition, the software defines the instrument. You can transform your standard laptop or desktop computer into a user-defined measurement system by using intuitive graphical programming software to build in the exact analysis and visualization capabilities your application requires.


Data acquisition hardware adds inputs and outputs (I/O) to standard laptop and desktop computers, turning a general-purpose PC into a flexible, high-performance measurement or control system.

Standard PC buses such as USB and PCI Express provide a path for measurements to be streamed directly into your computer for user-defined processing, analysis, and visualization.

Preconfigured DAQ Starter Systems

Turn your PC into an instrument with USB or PCI Express data acquisition devices.

  • Data acquisition systems with recommended software and accessories
  • Low-cost USB and PCI Express options for basic measurements
  • High-performance options for sensor measurements and faster I/O

View DAQ Starter Kits

Pricing and Specifications

Use the National Instruments online catalog of more than 300 data acquisition devices to select the device that meets your needs based on measurement type, channel count, bus, and I/O specifications.

  • Choose from popular PC buses, including wireless, USB, PCI Express, and PXI
  • Sort by I/O specifications, measurement types, and price
  • Narrow down your search by comparing similar products

Browse Product Catalog

Build Your Own DAQ System

Top Five Advantages of PC-Based Measurements

  • Modular I/O
  • Inline processing and analysis
  • Real-time data visualization
  • High-capacity data storage
  • Automatic report generation


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