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Overview
Once you have chosen your data acquisition device, you can easily take for
granted the process of selecting the right computer for your application. The
computer can be the most crucial part of your data acquisition system. It
provides exibility over traditional boxed systems by housing the data
acquisition device, running the software to control the device, analyzing the
measurements, and saving the results. This white paper examines the
information you need to choose the right computer for your application.
Other Information About Computers
How to Choose the
Right Computer for
Your Measurement System
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X How much processing power do I need?
X Do I need my computer to be portable?
X How much does the computer cost?
X How rugged do I need my computer to be?
X Do I need my computer to be modular?
X Do I need a real-time operating system?
X Computer Selection Guide
X Overview of Computer Types
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How to Choose the Right Computer for Your Measurement System
How much processing power do I need?
Nearly every computer has three main components that affect data management capabilities:
the processor, the RAM, and the hard drive. The processor is the part of the computer that
interprets and executes instructions think of it as the brain of the computer. Processors in
most new computers are either dual- or quad-core, meaning the computer can use two or
more independent actual processors (called cores) to read and execute program instructions.
The processing power for a computer also consists of the RAM, the hard drive size, and the
processor speed. More RAM improves speed and enables more applications to run at the same
time. More hard drive space gives you the ability to store more data. Finally, faster processors
enable faster operation of your application. In general, faster is better, but processor speeds
across brands may not be the same. If you need to analyze or save the data you acquired from
your application, processing power is a key feature to consider for your computer.
Do I need my computer to be portable?
Portability is a key feature to consider for your computer if you are going back and forth between
applications or locations frequently. For example, a portable computer is essential for taking
measurements in the eld and then returning to the lab to analyze the data. Portability is also
an important feature if you need to monitor applications in different locations. The key
considerations when assessing portability are the product size and weight. You wouldnt want
to carry around a heavy computer that is difcult to hold.
How much does the computer cost?
Budget is a concern for nearly every project, and more than likely your computer makes up a
large portion of the total system cost. Features and form factor contribute the most to overall
cost. Choosing a computer for your application becomes a trade-off between price and
performance; better features cost more and drive up the price. For example, a computer with
a faster processor is more expensive. Additionally, form factor makes a difference in the cost
of the computer. Typically, between a laptop and a desktop with similar features, a laptop is
more expensive due to the added portability. Finally, industrial specications or optimizations
for instrumentation may increase system cost with the added benet of providing a rugged
test platform.
How rugged do I need the computer to be?
The ruggedness of your computer can be a crucial feature if you are monitoring your application
in an extreme environment. The specications of a computer that refer to ruggedness are the
operating conditions. Standard off-the-shelf PCs are not designed to withstand the conditions
of industrial environments. For example, the operating conditions for computers consist of
operating and storage temperature, relative humidity, and maximum operating and storage
altitude. Typical specications are 50 F to 95 F (operating temperature), -13 F to 113 F
(storage temperature), 10,000 feet (operating altitude), and 15,000 feet (storage altitude);
therefore, any computers featuring specications greater than these are considered rugged.
You need to pay attention to this feature only if your application requires it.
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How to Choose the Right Computer for Your Measurement System
Do I need my computer to be modular?
The modularity of your computer can be crucial if you are considering future applications or
are working on multiple applications. Modularity describes the degree to which a systems
components may be separated and recombined. If you want to switch modules in your system
or modify your applications easily, having a modular system is crucial. The exibility you can
achieve with a modular computer is unmatched. You can modify and adapt the system to meet
your particular needs and expand for the future as well as upgrade individual components
without having to buy a whole new system. With a modular system, you can install a new hard
drive if you need more space or use a data acquisition device with a faster analog-to-digital
converter if you need faster sampling. Keep in mind that laptops and netbooks provide portability,
but they are more integrated, which makes them harder to upgrade. Modularity can be an
important feature if you need to adapt your current application to future needs.
Do I need a real-time operating system?
The operating system is an important feature to consider when choosing a computer for data
acquisition. By far the most common general-purpose operating system is Windows, but data
acquisition and control applications occasionally require a more specialized operating system.
A real-time operating system gives you the ability to operate deterministically, meaning
applications can execute according to precise timing requirements. A real-time operating
system is deterministic because the operating system does not determine which process
happens when; rather, the user denes the order and timing of the processes. This gives you
more control over your application and the ability to execute at faster rates than with a
nondeterministic operating system. If you need a computer with a deterministic operating
system, then you want to look for computers that meet those requirements.
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X Learn more about a real-time operating system
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How to Choose the Right Computer for Your Measurement System
Computer Selection Guide
Based on the six questions previously examined, Table 1 shows a selection guide for the
most common types of computers.
Overview of Computer Types
Five different types of computers are typically used for data acquisition. The computer
communicates with your data acquisition hardware; therefore, which computer you choose
depends on your data analysis needs, the environment that the system operates in, and the
channel count needed for your system. This section focuses on the following types of computers:

PXI system

Desktop

Industrial PC

Laptop

Netbook
PXI System
PXI (PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation) is a modular,
rugged, PC-based platform for measurement and
automation systems. A PXI system consists of a
controller, chassis, and instrumentation modules. The
PXI system controller runs the operating system and
serves as the computer for the system; it contains
a processor, RAM, hard drive, and so on. The chassis
houses the controller and contains anywhere from
4 to 18 slots, which you can use to combine your
computer and instrumentation into a single, compact
package. If your application incorporates a variety
of measurements and requires tight synchronization
between instruments, or if your instrumentation needs
to adapt to applications in the future, your best solution
may be PXI. PXI is a powerful, exible instrumentation
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Table 1.
This table shows a computer selection guide based on the six most important features.
PXI System Desktop Industrial PC Laptop Netbook
Processing Power Best Best Better Better Good
OS Compatibility Best Best Good Better Good
Modularity Best Better Better Good Good
Ruggedness Better Better Best Good Good
Portability Better Good Good Best Best
Cost Good Better Good Better Best
Figure 1.
A PXI system contains a controller, chassis, and up to 17 modular instruments.
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How to Choose the Right Computer for Your Measurement System
platform; however, the modularity of a PXI system may involve a higher initial cost than a laptop
or desktop with USB instrumentation. That being said, choosing a PXI system upfront could save
time and money in the future as your instrumentation needs change.
Desktop
A desktop computer is a PC intended for regular use at
a single location. Desktop computers are typically used
in ofces, labs, or anywhere that is not an extremely
harsh environment. These computers consist of a few
parts: a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and the
computer itself. Since there are so many parts to a
desktop computer, you do not want to repeatedly move
it to different locations. However, because desktop
computers are larger, they can dissipate more heat,
allowing them to house larger, more powerful
processors. Therefore, the biggest attribute of the
desktop computer is the processing power. If you need
to analyze data or log data to disk at fast rates, but you
dont require mobility, the desktop computer may be
exactly what you need for your application.
Industrial PC
Industrial PCs, as the name suggests, are special
computers optimized for use in industrial or harsh
environments. Industrial PCs are mechanically stronger
and environmentally rated for extreme vibration, shock,
temperature, and humidity. However, due to their
robust design, these PCs are more expensive than
other types of computers. These ratings are essential
for many applications, so if you need to monitor
applications in harsh environments, the industrial PC
is a great choice for your application.
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Figure 2.
Desktop computers often include the latest PC technology at
a reasonable price.
Figure 3.
Industrial computers feature all of the components of a standard PC
with a rugged mechanical design.
X Learn more about PXI systems
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How to Choose the Right Computer for Your Measurement System
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Laptop
A laptop computer is a PC intended for mobile use.
Because of their size, laptops are typically used with
portable measurement systems. All of the parts are
housed together in one laptop, making it very easy to
move it from place to place. A laptop gives you the
freedom to monitor different applications at multiple
locations with ease. But since all of the parts are
together in one unit, you need to make sure the
environment you expose the laptop to is not going to
damage it. For instance, most laptops may not be rated
for dust or moisture. If you are looking for a portable,
general-purpose computer with the ability to analyze
and store data, a laptop computer may meet your
needs.
Netbook
A netbook computer is a PC intended for mobile use,
much like laptop computers. Netbooks are extremely
small in size and low cost due to lower cost
components and lower power processors. With
netbooks, you sacrice processing ability and ports for
connecting peripheral devices, but in the end you have
an extremely portable computer for a fraction of the
price of more powerful options. The netbook presents
a trade-off between cost, size, and performance. It is
ideal for your application if you need a low-cost, portable
computer for data acquisition that can also perform
minor analysis.
Figure 4.
You can use lightweight, portable laptop computers to acquire data in the eld.
Figure 5.
Netbooks sacrice processing power, but offer lower cost and smaller size.