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Spartan Series FPGAs

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day. Your ASIC Can Be.


The Spartan Series of FPGAs is the best high volume FPGA solution for ASIC replacement. Derived from the highly successful Virtex and XC4000 architectures and spanning up to 150,000 system gates, the Spartan Series combines high performance, on-chip RAM, software cores, and low prices. The Spartan Series is the first FPGA that meets all the key requirements of ASIC designs for high volume production, and delivers unmatched benefits over competing PLDs. On January 10, 2000, Xilinx announced the latest generation of the Spartan Series, the Spartan-II Family.

Family Highlights

  • First ASIC replacement FPGA with on-chip RAM
  • First ASIC replacement FPGA with high performance
  • Industry's lowest price FPGA
  • Advanced process technology for lowest die cost
  • Total cost management for lowest overall cost
  • No compromises: Performance, Price, Core solutions and on-chip RAM

Effective ASIC Replacement

FPGA benefits of fast time to market with:

  • High Performance - over 100 MHz system speeds
  • On-chip memory with dual-port, synchronous SelectRAM memory
  • Extensive verified cores with AllianceCORE and LogiCORE products
  • Comprehensive software support - supported in Alliance and Foundation systems
  • Low prices: $2.49 for the 5,000 gate Spartan-XL device in high volume

Total Cost Management

The Spartan Series FPGAs have been designed to achieve the lowest total cost to meet an important need of high volume products. This comprehensive effort in total cost management includes:

  • Leading edge process technology: die size parity with gate arrays
  • Streamlined feature set
  • Focused product and package offering
  • Simplified speed file methodology
  • Reduction in assembly, test and overhead expenses
  • Low power design that permits Spartan devices in inexpensive plastic packages

Spartan Series Reduces the Critical Assembly and Test Costs

Advantages Over Competing PLDs

Performance Benchmark designs show the Spartan Series to be at least 10% faster than competing FPGAs.
On-Chip SelectRAM Memory The Spartan architecture's dual-port, synchronous RAM feature delivers over twice the performance of FPGAs with only single-port RAM capabilities.
Broad Product Offering The Spartan Series offers dozens of device-package combinations covering 2.5, 3.3, and 5 volts.
Lower Power Spartan devices consume half the power of competing FPGA devices.
Lower Price $2.49 for Spartan-XL device.

Distributed High-Performance SelectRAM Memory
  • Build as many high-performance RAM blocks as needed
  • Each block can be cascaded to any width and depth
  • Placed at any desired location within the FPGA
  • Ideal for functions such as FIFOs, DSP filters, accumulators, and scratch-pad memories

Spartan/XL Families

        
  XCS05/XL XCS10/XL XCS20/XL XCS30/XL XCS40/XL
System Gates 2K-5K 3K-10K 7K-20K 10K-30K 13K-40K
Logic Cells 238 466 950 1,368 1,862
Max Logic Gates 3,000 5,000 10,000 13,000 20,000
Flip-Flops 360 616 1,120 1,536 2,016
Max RAM bits 3,200 6,272 12,800 18,432 25,088
Max Available I/O 77 112 160 192 224
Packages PC84 PC84      
  VQ100 VQ100 VQ100 VQ100  
    CS144 CS144    
    TQ144 TQ144 TQ144  
      PQ208 PQ208 PQ208
        PQ240 PQ240
        BG256 BG256
        CS280 CS280
         

Spartan-II Family

       
  XC2S15 XC2S30 XC2S50 XC2S100 XC2S150
System Gates 6K-15K 13K-30K 23K-50K 37K-100K 52K-150K
Logic Cells 432 972 1,728 2,700 3,888
Block RAM bits 16,384 24,576 32,768 40,960 49,152
Max Available I/O 86 132 176 196 260
Packages VQ100 VQ100      
  CS144 CS144      
  TQ144 TQ144 TQ144 TQ144  
    PQ208 PQ208 PQ208 PQ208
      FG256 FG256 FG256
        FG456 FG456

 
More Information

Spartan-II Product Page
Spartan-XL Product Page
ASIC Replacement FPGAs
Spartan-II Family FPGAs Data Sheet (790 KB)
Spartan/XL Families FPGAs Data Sheet (460 KB)
Spartan SPROMs Data Sheet (260 KB)
Spartan-II Application Notes
Spartan Application Notes
Xilinx at Work in High Volume Applications
Spartan Customer Testimonials
CORE Solutions
Printed Literature Request

Press Releases

  • Xilinx and Applied Telecom Announce $15 IMA Solution for Spartan-II FPGAs - 1/17/00
  • Xilinx Unveils Spartan-II FPGAs: Next Generation of Low Cost FPGAs as Programmable Replacements for ASICs and ASSPs - 1/10/00
  • More Than 50 IP Cores Available Immediately for New Xilinx Spartan-II FPGAs - 66 Available Today - 1/10/00
  • Xilinx FPGAs Provide Spring Tide Networks with Alternative to ASICs - 10/25/99
  • Xilinx Online Field Upgradeable Capability Powers New Remote Server Management System from APEX - 8/2/99
  • Xilinx Announces Most Advanced Chip Scale Packaging - 5/18/99
  • Xilinx Prices Spartan FPGAs and XC9500 CPLDs for Aggressive Penetration into New High-Volume Applications - 4/19/99
  • Xilinx Ships One Millionth Spartan FPGA - 3/15/99
  • Xilinx Announces Single-Chip PCI Solution for Less Than $7 - 2/8/99
  • Xilinx Set to Penetrate New Markets with Biggest Product Launch in History of PLD Industry - 9/28/98
  • New Spartan Series Offers Programmable Logic Advantages to High Volume ASIC Users - 1/12/98
  • Xilinx Announces Broad Line of Cores Optimized for New Spartan Series - 1/12/98

Spartan Device Files