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Xilinx takes fpgas to the platform level
1 min read
Xilinx has expanded its Virtex fpga family with a range of devices said to consume up to 50% less power than previous generations and to cost up to 20% less. And the company has also launched the Spartan-6 range range of low cost fpgas.
CEO Moshe Gavrielov, pictured, said the devices had been launched as industry reached a ‘tipping point’, where a combination of financial pressure and market forces are pushing designers towards fpga based systems. “The economy is changing,” he noted, “and the way companies operate has a significant effect on the silicon world.”
Built on a 40nm process and using the ASMBL architecture, Virtex-6 fpgas are supported by a range of development tools and a library of IP. The devices operate on a 1V core voltage with a 0.9V low power option.
The Virtex-6 family features three domain optimised platforms:
Virtex-6 LXT, for applications that require high performance logic, dsp and serial connectivity with low power GTX 6.5Gbit/s serial transceivers;
Virtex-6 SXT, for applications that require high performance dsp and serial connectivity with low power GTX 6.5Gbps serial transceivers; and
Virtex-6 HXT, for communications applications that require high speed serial connectivity. These offer up to 64 serial transceivers running at up to 11.4Gbit/s
The launch of the Virtex-6 family also sees Xilinx unveil its ‘targeted design platform’ concept. This describes the integration of what the company sees as five key components: fpgas; IP cores; the design environment; reference designs; and boards and kits. The elements can be delivered by Xilinx or by one of its partners.
