Xilinx announced for ist Virtex -4 FX family the new ML403 development platform. The Virtex-4 FX Platform features the dual 32-bit embedded PowerPC processors running at up to 450 MHz and delivering over 700 Dhrystone MIPS each, while providing a three-fold performance advantage over processors in competing FPGAs. Two fully-integrated, UNH-certified 10/100/1000 Ethernet MACs further increase the Virtex-4 FX processing platform by saving up to 7,200 logic cells, providing increased FPGA resource availability.
The FX APU controller provides embedded system designers with the flexibility to extend the native PowerPC 405 instruction set and significantly improve software algorithm execution utilizing application-specific hardware accelerators implemented in the FPGA logic. Designers can create user-defined instructions for hardware acceleration to achieve a more efficient integration between an application-specific function and the PowerPC processor. Utilizing the high bandwidth, low latency interface established between the APU controller and the FPGA fabric, the APU controller decodes high-performance load and store instructions between the processor data cache or system memory and the FPGA fabric. For example, a single instruction transfers up to 16 bytes of data - four times greater than a load or store instruction for one of the general purpose registers in the processor itself.
To build the custom Virtex-4 FX and PowerPC systems, the Xilinx Platform Studio tool suite abstracts, automates and accelerates implementation without restricting designer innovation. Easy-to-use and menu-driven wizards, including hardware co-processing accelerator generation utilizing a new APU-based fabric co-processor wrapper to simplify integration, are supported by the Platform Studio environment and delivered with the Xilinx Embedded Development Kit.
The latest ML403 development board supports multiple types of memories and densities with the flexibility of multiple configuration options. Standard peripheral such as serial ports, USB (Host & Peripheral), VGA & AC97 Audio and an expansion header are also included along with easy to use step by step tutorials and reference design examples.
Pricing & Availability
The Virtex-4 FX12 is shipping with volume prices starting at $29.99 for 50K units at the end of 2005. The ML403 development board is also available now for order U.S. list priced at $495.
