Some websites say the GW Instek has 1GSa/s PER channel. So I assumed it will actually have 1GSa/s/channel - like, what that obviously implies, 1GSa/s when using all channel at once. (1GSa/s1GSa/s1GSa/s1GSa/s just to write it a few times more)
This is nice example how carefully it need read when you read manufacturer web sites. They try hardly that reader produce wrong imagine in his mind (one leader for this kind of things are Keyshit when you read advertisements and application notes). Read data sheet, read itroduction, read GDS-1000B user manual. How long it take you get right answer for sampling speed and that it have exactly 1GSa max for all single channel... yes this pops up to your eyes immediately. ....but wait a bit... they did not tell that simultaneously. Yes, 1GSa/s for every channel and they did not lie. Take Ch 1 alone...max 1GSa/s and then take Ch2 alone...again max 1GSa/s and so on. All channels have max 1GSa/s.
GoodWill GDS1000B 4 channel models:
Fact is - and this is true fact. It have single ADC chip. It is Hittite HMCAD1511. (You can see it also if you look Dave's tear down video, he tell it clearly and ans also show it clearly when he look inside.)
1 channel alone in use: Max 1GSa/s
2 channels in use: Max 500MSa/s for both channels simultaneously.
3 channels in use: Max 250MSa/s for all channels simultaneously.
4 channels in use: Max 250MSa/s for all channels simultaneously.
Siglent SDS1000X-E 4 channel models:
Fact is - and this is true fact. It have two ADC chip. They are Hittite HMCAD1511.
1 channel in use: Max 1GSa/s
2 channels in use: Max 1GSa/s for both channels simultaneously.
3 channels in use: Max 500MSa/s for all channels simultaneously.
4 channels in use: Max 500MSa/s for all channels simultaneously.
What need hack in Siglent and then get something more like Riglol 1kZ
Siglent have all out from factory box and lot of more. It beats this Rigol wonder box just hands down in every single corner and after then give also lot of more powerful tool with performance what Rigol Zbox can only dream.
They are like night and day if compare performance as real tool. Just forget this Rigol 1kZ. Only feature there is that it is bit more cheap.
What features you can hack in Rigol DS1000Z series? All because it is designed for hack as marketing trick.
What features you can hack in GoodWill GDS1000B? This I do not know.
What features you can hack in Siglent SDS1000X-E series? This I do not know.
(Saelig)
DS1054Z Price: Reg. $399 Sale!
$349 - 50MHz out from box, Hackable to 100MHz,
single 1GSa ADCGDS1054B Price:
$429.00 - 50MHz out from box (hackable ? ),
single 1GSa ADC SDS1104X-E Price:
$499.00 - 100MHz ready out from box, (hackable ? )
double 1GSa/s ADC
Yes there is price difference and with true reasons. It is amazing that price differences are not more.
If Siglent is 2 times Rigol price I think it is still cheap if look features and performance.
ETA: But still, if budget is limited without exeptions to Rigol price and absolutely nothing more and no possible to wait and save bit more, Rigol is not bad choice. For many kind of hobby and educational use
if we set hard top limit to Rigol price, it is still perhaps best possible what can get if we talk 4 channel stand alone digital oscilloscopes.