Xilinx field programmable gate arrays (FPGA's) are standard integrated circuits that can be programmed by a user to perform a variety of complex logic functions. The high level of integration available with these devices (currently up to 500,000 gates) means that they can be used to implement complex electronic systems. Furthermore, there are significant time and cost savings for manufacturers due to the rapid design process and reprogrammable functions.
Xilinx FPGA products enable you to produce prototype logic designs right at your desk. In a short period it is possible to create, implement, and verify a new design. This is a sharp contrast to conventional gate array design processes, which can take months to produce working silicon.
Xilinx markets and supports the following product lines.
Devices with an XCV prefix pertain to the Virtex family.
The primary difference between these products lies in the number of gates and the architectural features of the individual devices, as shown in the following table.
| Architecture | Logic Capacity (Gate Equivalent) | Max.CLB Count1 | Max. IOB Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| XC3000A | 1,000 - 7,500 | 484 | 176 |
| XC3100A | 1,000 - 7,500 | 484 | 176 |
| XC4000E | 2,000-45,000 | 784 | 256 |
| XC4000EX | 18,000-130,000 | 2,304 | 384 |
| XC4000XL | 18,000-130,000 | 2,304 | 384 |
| XC5200 | 2,000 - 15,000 | 484 | 244 |
| 1 Different architectures have different CLB structures, which affect logic implementation in a design. | |||
For information about the Spartan, Virtex, XC4000XV, and XC4000XLA devices, refer to the Xilinx product information web page at (http://www.xilinx.com/products/products.htm).
In this manual, wherever XC4000 is mentioned, it refers to the XC4000E, XC4000L, XC4000EX, XC4000XL, XC4000XV, and XC4000XLA device families.
Information appearing under the title of XC3000 pertains to the XC3000A and XC3100A families. This includes the XC3000L and XC3100L, which are identical in architecture and features to the XC3000A and XC3100A, respectively, but operate at a nominal supply voltage of 3.3 V.
In this manual, the title “Spartans” or “Spartan Series” encompasses both the Spartan and SpartanXL devices.
