ADLINK PXIe-3987/3977/3937 Deployment and Debugging

ADLINK PXIe-3987/3977/3937 Series Embedded Controller Deployment and Debugging Complete Manual

In the PXI Express automated testing platform, the selection and configuration of embedded controllers directly affect the overall performance of the system. The PXle-3987/3977/3937 series controllers launched by ADLINK are based on the seventh generation Intel ®  Core ™ The processor provides a multi-level computing solution from dual core i3 to quad core i7, balancing cost and computing power. This article is aimed at system integration engineers, providing a complete technical practice guide from hardware selection differences, on-site installation specifications, BIOS deep optimization (including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot), dual BIOS fault recovery, to PXI triggered I/O advanced programming, to help test systems quickly land and run stably for a long time.

Differences in Series Models and Key Selection Points

This series includes three controllers, with the core difference being the processor specifications and corresponding power/performance balance:

Model Processor Core/Thread Base Frequency/Turbo Typical Power Consumption (cTDP) Target Application

PXIe‑3987 Intel ®  Core ™  I7-7820EQ 4C/8T 3.0/3.7 GHz 45W/35W high-density data processing, multi-channel synchronous acquisition

PXIe‑3977 Intel ®  Core ™  I5-7440EQ 4C/4T 2.9/3.6 GHz 45W/35W Universal ATE Test, Medium Load Control

PXIe‑3937 Intel ®  Core ™  I3-7100E 2C/4T 2.9 GHz (no turbo) 35W Cost Sensitive Single Function Tester

The three products share the same PCB platform and I/O interface, all supporting dual channel DDR4 SODIMM (up to 32GB 2400MHz), configurable PCIe links (x16 x8 or x4 x4 x4 x4), and a maximum system throughput of 16GB/s. When selecting, it is necessary to consider the computational intensity of the testing task and the heat dissipation capacity of the chassis - the i7 model can achieve a+12V current of 8A under heavy load (see specification table), and the power supply margin of the backplane needs to be ensured.

Hardware installation and key component maintenance (general process)

2.1 Physical Installation of Controller

The installation steps for all models are consistent, and the key points are as follows:

Anti static preparation: It is necessary to operate on a grounded anti-static pad and wear a wristband.

Chassis slot: Only the system slot (Slot 1) of the PXIe chassis can be inserted, otherwise the backplane link cannot be recognized.

Locking operation: When pushing the red pull rod, ensure that the rear positioning pin is aligned with the guide rail hole to avoid connector misalignment and damage.

Tighten screws: The four screws on the panel need to be tightened with a screwdriver to ensure anti vibration performance (meeting 0.21 Grms operating vibration).

2.2 Storage Device (HDD/SSD) Replacement

Pre installed 2.5 "SATA 6Gb/s hard drive or SSD (with optional capacity of 500GB HDD or 240GB SSD).

When replacing, it is necessary to disassemble the controller, remove the five screws of the hard drive bracket, and then remove the fixing screws on both sides.

Important: Replacing a non ADLINK certified SSD may not guarantee wide temperature range (0-55 ℃) and anti vibration performance. It is recommended to choose an industrial grade SSD and manually set "SSD" in the BIOS under "Advanced" ->"Onboard Devices Configuration" ->"SATA Signal Setting" to optimize signal timing.

2.3 Battery replacement and CMOS clearing

CR2032 battery: When replacing, pay attention to the positive pole (+) facing upwards, first clip in the positive pole buckle and then press the negative pole.

CMOS Reset (SW1): When the system fails to start or the BIOS settings are chaotic, set SW1 to the "Clear" position and hold it for 5 seconds before resetting to restore the factory default. This operation will not clear the TPM key (if Secure Boot is enabled, additional processing is required).

Advanced Explanation of BIOS Settings (Based on the New Version Menu)

The new version of BIOS (Revision 1.1) has added TPM 2.0 configuration and Secure Boot options, while optimizing CPU power control parameters. The following is a detailed explanation of key configuration items.

3.1 Processor and Power Optimization (CPU Configuration)

Go to 【 Advanced 】 → 【 CPU Configuration 】:

Hyper Reading: i7 model supported, recommended to enable on Windows 10 and Linux; Real time systems (such as RTX) may suggest shutting down to enhance determinism.

Turbo Mode: When turned on, i7/i5 can reach the highest turbo frequency, but power consumption increases. If the chassis has poor heat dissipation, it can be turned off.

Configurable TDP Boot Mode: Added "Up" option (compared to the old version), allowing dynamic increase in power consumption limit, suitable for short-term burst computing; Usually kept as' nominal '.

C States: It is recommended to keep "Enabled" to save energy, but if minimum latency is required, Package C State restriction can be disabled.

3.2 Onboard Device Configuration

COM Control: RS ‑ 232/422/485 the third mock examination switching, which needs to be selected according to the instrument interface on the site. After modification, it needs to be restarted to take effect.