NI USB-6008
The NI USB-6008 is a long-running low-cost USB DAQ that many teaching labs still use: eight single-ended or four differential inputs at 12 bits and 10 kS/s, two 0 to 5 V analog outputs, 12 digital lines and an event counter. NI now lists it as Mature and recommends the USB-6001 for new designs, though it is still sold.
Specifications
| Analog inputs | 88 single-ended or 4 differential; NI lifecycle: Mature (replacement USB-6001) |
| Resolution | 12-bit12 bits differential, 11 bits single-ended |
| Max sample rate | 10 kS/saggregate, system dependent |
| Input ranges | ±10 V single-ended; ±20, ±10, ±5, ±4, ±2.5, ±2, ±1.25, ±1 V differential |
| Input modes | single-ended, differential |
| Analog outputs | 2 × 12-bit |
| Digital I/O | 12 |
| Counters | 1 |
| Isolation | No |
| Interfaces | USB |
| List price | $532ni.com list price (779051-01 kit), Oct 2026 |
Vendor driver by OS
| Driver | NI-DAQmx (via DAQAtlas Bridge) |
| Windows | Yes |
| macOS | No |
| Linux | No |
Vendor software
| NI-DAQmx | WindowsFree. Driver plus NI MAX configuration utility and test panels; NI-DAQmx for Linux does not list this device |
| FlexLogger | WindowsLite edition free; professional paid. configuration-based logging for NI DAQ hardware |
| LabVIEW | WindowsPaid. Graphical programming with NI-DAQmx VIs; NI-DAQmx has no macOS version |
Is the USB-6008 discontinued?
Not yet. NI’s product page puts the USB-6008 in the Mature lifecycle phase, meaning it is still available but not recommended for new designs, and names the USB-6001 as the replacement. The OEM 10-pack (779718-01) is already past that stage and no longer sold. The standard kit with NI-DAQmx (779051-01) lists at $532 at the time of writing.
Running a USB-6008 on Windows, Linux or a Mac
NI-DAQmx supports the USB-6008 on Windows 11, Windows 10 LTSC and Windows Server 2022 and 2025. NI’s compatibility table marks it “Not Supported” on desktop Linux. On macOS there is no current driver, since NI-DAQmx Base, NI’s old Mac driver, ended at version 15.0 with macOS 10.14 as its last supported release. DAQAtlas, which is in development, reaches a USB-6008 through DAQAtlas Bridge on the Windows PC it is plugged into. The NI DAQ on a Mac guide covers the setup.
Specs that catch people out
Resolution depends on the mode: 12 bits in differential mode, 11 bits single-ended. Differential mode also gives you eight ranges from ±1 V to ±20 V, while single-ended is fixed at ±10 V. The 10 kS/s rate is aggregate across the scan. The two analog outputs are 12-bit, 0 to 5 V only and software-timed at about 150 Hz, so they work for setpoints and not for waveforms. The 12 digital lines (8 on port 0, 4 on port 1) are individually programmable, and the 32-bit counter counts falling edges. The bus is USB 2.0 Full Speed. If you are moving from a USB-6008 to a USB-6001, note that the USB-6001 has a single ±10 V range and ±10 V hardware-timed outputs.
Questions
Is the NI USB-6008 discontinued?
NI lists it as Mature: still for sale but not recommended for new designs, with the USB-6001 as the recommended replacement.
Does the USB-6008 work on a Mac?
Not with current software. NI-DAQmx has no macOS version and NI-DAQmx Base stopped at macOS 10.14, so it needs a Windows PC.
Why does my USB-6008 read 11 bits?
In single-ended mode the USB-6008 resolves 11 bits; differential mode gives the full 12 bits.
Specifications and prices are taken from the vendor’s published pages at the time of writing and can change. Check the vendor before you buy. Sources: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4