UniBoard: Xilinx or Altera
Eric Kooistra
Oude Hoogeveensedijk 4
7990 AA Dwingeloo
www.astron.nl
Feb 2009
© ASTRON
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Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
General comparison
Device ranges
Device comparison
Conclusion
Feb 2009
© ASTRON
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General comparison
Criteria
Altera
Xilinx
Comment
Development tools
Quartus
ISE / EDK
Synthesis, softcores
Debug tools
SignalTap
ChipScope
Embedded logic analyser
MATLAB/ Simulink
DSP builder
System Generator
Generic alternatives:
- Synplify DSP
- MATLAB HDL coder
Softcore μP
Nios
Microblaze
Alternative:
- Leon (from Gaisler)
Hardcore μP
-
PowerPC
Device ranges
Stratix IV
Arria II GX
Virtex 6
Spartan 6
High end range (40 nm)
Low cost range (40 nm)
Others experience
Bordeaux,
Arcetri,
Manchester
LOFAR, Casper,
ASKAP, Nancay,
Manchester
LOFAR Stratix II  Virtex 4
Keep experience on both
Feb 2009
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Device ranges
1. Altera
- Stratix IV, 40 nm, tx/rx up to 8.5 Gbps
2. Xilinx
- Virtex 6, 40 nm, tx/rx 3.2, 6.5 Gbps
- Virtex 5, 65 nm, tx/rx 3.75, 6.5 Gbps
Only consider the newest available FPGAs.
Only consider the variants with transceivers.
Feb 2009
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Device comparison
Criteria
Stratix IV
Virtex 6
Virtex 5
Virtex 5
Device
SGX230
SX315T
SX240T
SX95T
Availability
Now
?
Now
Now
Price
1000 $
?
9000 $
1700 $
Process
40 nm
40 nm
65 nm
65 nm
Clock MHz
540
600
550
550
Multiplier speed
Nof transceivers
16 (or 24)
24
24
16
Virtex: all on one side
Stratix: on two sides
Nof logic
91200
ALM
49500
slices
37440
slices
14720
slices
1 ALM ≈ 0.6 – 0.9 slices
Nof multipliers
1288
1344
1056
640
Virtex: 25x18
Stratix: 18x18 (= 9x9 ?)
Block RAM
14.3 Mb
25.3 Mb
18.5 Mb
8.8 Mb
Nof IO
560
720
960
640
Package pins
1152
1759
1738
1136
ETH MAC
Soft core
4
4
4
Feb 2009
© ASTRON
Comment
Virtex 6 samples Q2 2009
5
Conclusion
1. Both Xilinx or Altera are suitable from
FPGA technology and tool point of view.
2. 40 nm for lowest power consumption:
- Stratix IV EP4SGX230 is available now
- Virtex 6 is expected in Q2 2009
3. 65 nm: Xilinx Virtex 5 are available, but
prices for larger FPGA are still high.
Feb 2009
© ASTRON
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