Xtreme Flexibility

New DSP features in the Xilinx Virtex-II FPGAs solution enhance architectural flexibility. Features like distributed resources and segmented routing add to traditional benefits of SRAM-based FPGAs like their adaptability and their easy field upgrade ability.

Xilinx FPGAs give you the freedom to create custom word lengths for different sections within the same design (unlike fixed-width, general-purpose DSP processors or application specific ASSP and ASIC devices). The Xilinx DSP tool-set supports different number of bits, pipeline stages, and implementation alternatives. For some channels that require more bits of precision compared to others, just change the IP parameter and the software accommodates the new data configuration.

You can easily optimize your design for performance, silicon area, or power dissipation by implementing your algorithm in either a parallel or serial structure.

• Use fully parallel structures to achieve the highest possible data throughput or to save power by lowering the system clock
• Conversely, use fully serial structures to achieve the smallest possible silicon area and the lowest cost, while still maintaining respectable performance

Field Upgradeability

Design iterations are inevitable, which means your design platform must be adaptable. Xilinx FPGAs are SRAM-based, which allows you to change your design in-system at any time. This approach ensures that you can modify your system requirements to future changes in architectural definitions or standards. Xilinx FPGAs offer an ideal mechanism for performing remote hardware updates for systems already in the field. The ability to remotely update hardware with new features or the latest bug fix can extend the useful life of existing systems, and significantly cut maintenance and support costs. Many of today's systems already come with some form of communications or microprocessor interface built in, making it easy to add remote field update capability. For more information on this cutting edge capability, please go to: www.xilinx.com/xilinxonline