Memec announces Virtex-4 MB development kit

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Dec 20, 2004

Memec, a leading global semiconductor distributor specializing in demand creation, today introduced its Virtex-4 MB development kit. The first board available with the Xilinx Virtex-4 LX60 FPGA, Memec's MB board complements the distributor's low cost, entry-level Virtex-4 LC board released earlier this year. The MB board is offered in both LX25 and LX60 densities.

The Virtex-4 MB development kit provides both high-performance and practical prototype interfaces that designers can use when evaluating the Xilinx Virtex-4 LX devices. In addition, the demonstration board offers advanced users features including the new high speed P240 expansion slot, 800 Mbps LVDS port, 32Mx16 DDR memory, 2Mx16 flash memory, 10/100 Ethernet and a System ACE interface. The MB board is the first to implement Memec's new P240 expansion slot, an enhanced interface providing both single ended and differential signaling capabilities at speeds in excess of 300MHz.

"Memec is the first to offer designers a low-cost and versatile development board which utilizes the LX60 FPGA and meets both the most basic and comprehensive of design needs," said Per Holmberg, marketing director of Virtex Solutions at Xilinx. "The high-performance capabilities of the MB board enable designers to explore the Virtex-4 family's cutting-edge features and effectively meet their time-to-market requirements."

Memec's MB development kit bundles an expandable Virtex-4 based system board with a power supply, user guide and reference designs. Optional Xilinx ISE software and application-specific P240 expansion modules are also offered. Available in January, the LX25 MB board is priced at $595 and the LX60 MB board is priced at $795.

"Our close partnership with Xilinx and deep understanding of their products enables Memec to continue to lead the industry with relevant demonstration boards to explore the latest technology," said Jim Beneke, director of technical marketing for Memec. "The MB board is the perfect solution for designers needing a high-performance and easy to use Virtex-4 platform."

Enabled by the revolutionary ASMBL (Advanced Silicon Modular Block) architecture, Virtex-4 FPGAs deliver more options than any other FPGA family available today. Built with the most advanced triple-oxide 90 nm process technology and the widest range of embedded IP blocks, the Virtex-4 family reduces power consumption by 50% compared to previous generation. With more than 100 technical innovations, the Virtex-4 family consists of 17 devices and three domain-optimized platforms: Virtex-4 LX FPGAs optimized for logic-intensive designs, Virtex-4 SX FPGAs optimized for high-performance signal processing, and Virtex-4 FX FPGAs optimized for high-speed serial connectivity and embedded processing. A multi-platform approach makes it possible for customers to select the optimal mix of resources for their application to achieve the highest functionality and breakthrough performance at the lowest cost.