New UltraScale+ FPGA, SoC, and 3D IC applications include LTE Advanced and early 5G wireless, terabit wired communications, automotive ADAS, and industrial IoT

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 23, 2015 — (PRNewswire) —  Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX) today announced its 16nm UltraScale+™ family of FPGAs, 3D ICs, and MPSoCs, combining new memory, 3D-on-3D and multi-processing SoC (MPSoC) technologies, delivering a generation ahead of value. In addition, to enable an even higher level of performance and integration, the UltraScale+ family also includes a new interconnect optimization technology, SmartConnect. These devices extend Xilinx's UltraScale portfolio – now spanning 20nm and 16nm FPGA, SoC, and 3D IC devices – and leverage a significant boost in performance/watt from TSMC's 16FF+ FinFET 3D transistors. Optimized at the system level, UltraScale+ delivers value far beyond a traditional process node migration – providing 2–5X greater system level performance/watt over 28nm devices, far more systems integration and intelligence, and the highest level of security and safety.

The new Xilinx UltraScale+ FPGA portfolio is comprised of Xilinx's market leading Kintex^® UltraScale+ FPGA and Virtex^® UltraScale+ FPGA and 3D IC families, while the Zynq® UltraScale+ family includes the industry's first all programmable MPSoCs. With this portfolio, Xilinx addresses a broad range of next generation applications, including LTE Advanced and early 5G wireless, terabit wired communications, automotive ADAS, and industrial Internet-of-Things (IoT). 

Memory Enhanced Programmable Devices: UltraRAM attacks one of the largest bottlenecks affecting FPGA- and SoC-based system performance and power by enabling SRAM integration. The new technology can be leveraged to create high capacity on-chip memory for a variety of use cases – including deep packet and video buffering – providing predictable latency and performance. By integrating massive amounts of embedded memory very close to the associated processing engines, designers can achieve greater system performance/watt and BOM cost reduction. UltraRAM scales up to 432 Mbits in a variety of configurations.

SmartConnect Technology: SmartConnect is a new and innovative interconnect optimization technology for FPGAs. It provides additional 20-30 percent performance, area, and power advantages through intelligent system-wide interconnect optimization. While the UltraScale architecture attacks the silicon-level interconnect bottleneck through re-architected routing, clocking, and logic fabric, SmartConnect applies interconnect topology optimizations to match design-specific throughput and latency requirements while reducing interconnect logic area. 

Industry's First 3D-on-3D Technology: The high end of the UltraScale+ portfolio leverages the combined power of 3D transistors and third generation of Xilinx 3D ICs. Just as FinFETs enable a non-linear improvement in performance/watt over planar transistors, 3D ICs enable a non-linear improvement in systems integration and bandwidth/watt over monolithic devices.   

Heterogeneous Multi-processing Technology: The new Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCs include all of the aforementioned FPGA technologies with an unprecedented level of heterogeneous multi-processing, deploying the "the right engines for the right tasks." These new devices deliver approximately 5X system level performance/watt relative to previous alternatives.  At the center of the processing-subsystem is the 64-bit quad-core ARM® Cortex®-A53 processor, capable of hardware virtualization, asymmetric processing, and full ARM TrustZone® technology support.

The processing sub-system also includes a dual-core Cortex-R5 processor for real-time deterministic operation, ensuring responsiveness, high throughput, and low latency for the highest levels of safety and reliability. A separate security unit enables military-class security solutions such as secure boot, key and vault management, and anti-tamper capabilities – standard requirements for machine-to-machine communication and industrial IoT applications.

For complete graphics acceleration and video compression/decompression, the new devices incorporate an ARM Mali™-400 graphics processor as well as a H.265 video codec unit, combined with support for Displayport, MIPI and HDMI. Finally, a dedicated platform and power management unit (PMU) has been added to support system monitoring, system management, and dynamic power gating for each of the processing engines.

"Xilinx is delivering a generation ahead of value with 16nm FinFET FPGAs and MPSoCs to a variety of next generation applications," said Victor Peng, executive vice president and general manager of the Programmable Products Group at Xilinx.  "Our new UltraScale+ 16nm portfolio delivers 2-5X higher system performance-per-watt, a dramatic leap in system integration and intelligence, and the highest level of security and safety required by our customers. These capabilities enable Xilinx to significantly expand its available market."

"TSMC's ongoing collaboration with Xilinx has resulted in the realization of world class 16nm FinFET enabled products," said Dr. B J Woo, TSMC vice president of Business Development. "Xilinx and TSMC have clearly demonstrated leading silicon performance with the lowest power consumption and highest system value."

Availability

Early customer engagements are in process for the UltraScale+ families. First tape out and early access release of the design tools are scheduled for the second calendar quarter of 2015.  First ship is scheduled for the fourth calendar quarter of 2015. To see the latest Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC technology demonstrations, visit the Xilinx Stand H1-209 at Embedded World, February 24-26, at the Nuremberg Exhibition Hall in Nuremberg, Germany. To learn more visit http://www.xilinx.com/ultrascale.

About Xilinx

Xilinx is the world's leading provider of All Programmable FPGAs, SoCs, and 3D ICs. These industry-leading devices are coupled with a next-generation design environment and IP to serve a broad range of customer needs, from programmable logic to programmable systems integration. For more information, visit www.xilinx.com.

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© Copyright 2015 Xilinx, Inc. Xilinx, the Xilinx logo, Artix, ISE, Kintex, Spartan, Virtex, Vivado, Zynq, and other designated brands included herein are trademarks of Xilinx in the United States and other countries. ARM is a registered trademark of ARM in the EU and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Xilinx Stays a Generation Ahead at 16nm with New Memory,
3D-on-3D, and Multi-Processing SoC Technologies
February 23, 2015
Quote Sheet 

"We have collaborated closely with Xilinx to ensure that developers can take full advantage of the diverse range of ARM technology that is integrated in this new and exciting suite of products. The ARM DS-5 Development Studio supports all Xilinx® Zynq® and UltraScale™ devices, and includes a certified compiler for safety applications, heterogeneous debug and trace, as well as system level analysis tools spanning processor, system and graphics IP."
Hobson Bullman, General Manager, Development Solutions Group, ARM

"As a Xilinx Premier Design Service Alliance Member, DornerWorks is proud to be a solutions provider and system integrator to the Xilinx 16nm UltraScale+ MPSoC.  In support of customers who have expressed the desire for an open source hypervisor capable of running multiple operating systems on the Application Processor Unit of the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC, DornerWorks will deliver the Xen hypervisor, documented, supported and integrated within the Xilinx development tools and workflow. DornerWorks will provide customization and services to MPSoC customers across several system aspects including hypervisors, real-time system development and system certification."
David Dorner, President, DornerWorks

"As Xilinx Premier Design Service Alliance Member, Fidus is uniquely positioned to offer Xilinx's most advanced technology and solutions to our customers. We are thrilled with the level of performance and integration Xilinx has brought to the 16nm UltraScale+ family of FPGAs, 3D ICs and the MPSoC. With Fidus' strong capabilities in FPGA and MPSoC design and system integration, we are already well positioned to offer leading edge, value-added solutions to our mutual customers at 16nm."