ML605 Evaluation Kit and FPGA Mezzanine Connectors (FMC) ?
LucienZ
Has anyone ordered and used the ML605 Evaluation Kit?
http://www.xilinx.com/products/devkits/EK-V6-ML605-G.htm
I noticed some attractive features like DDR3, PCIe Gen 2 and quite
high FPGA capacity (241,152 logic cells). Before my ordering I would
like to hear some comments.
Another feature of this board is the adoption of the FMC interfaces.
This is a new face to me, but it looks quite promising. However I have
a concern about it: if I just want to interface some simple IO devices
(e.g. a LCD panel and some push buttons), does that mean I still have
to do the PCB layout for them with a FMC connection (previously it
could be solved just by some IO pin headers)?
I also do not quite understand the pricing, I notice that the
XC6VLX240T-1FFG1156CES chip itself costs about $2,100, but the fledged
ML506 Kit only takes $1,995. Is this just a marketing scheme or there
are some other reasons?
Thanks very much for your time!
Lucien
Ed McGettigan
Yes, the features do make it a pretty cool board. :-)
The main board already has push buttons, LEDS and a LCD so you are
covered there. If you do want add on additional peripherals then yes,
you will need to design a board as it isn't practical to attach wires
to the FMC connectors.
Xilinx will/should be releasing a FMC that is primarily intending for
simple debug and is comprised of a series of 100 mil headers that are
connected to the FMC connector. This board could also be used for
prototyping purposes.
Ed McGettigan
--
Xilinx Inc.
LucienZ
>
> The main board already has push buttons, LEDS and a LCD so you are
> covered there. If you do want add on additional peripherals then yes,
> you will need to design a board as it isn't practical to attach wires
> to the FMC connectors.
Thanks Ed!
Maybe I would like to interface a color LCD and two CMOS image
sensors, which are not very demanding for the IO performance. Without
testing I do not want to make a custom PCB first...
> Xilinx will/should be releasing a FMC that is primarily intending for
> simple debug and is comprised of a series of 100 mil headers that are
> connected to the FMC connector. This board could also be used for
> prototyping purposes.
This is what I would like to see for fast prototyping some simple IO
devices :). Do you already have such a plan? And when could such a
daughter board be available?
Ed McGettigan
Yes, we have this in the current plan and have the first article in
house. It should be released by the end of the year, but it could
slip into January. Pricing hasn't been set yet, but since it appears
that we are subsidizing the ML605 we'll probably have to make it up on
the modules. Sort of the razor and razor blades model. :-)
I have been concerned about the hobbyist/academic/small-shop use of
the FMC interface. I'm hoping that we can find the time to put
together some basic LPC and HPC 6 layer PCB examples using the free
tools from low cost, quick turn PCB fabricators like PCB123. These
could then be used as the basis for a quick custom FMC board.
Brian Drummond
<ed.mcg...@xilinx.com> wrote:
>On Oct 28, 6:43�pm, LucienZ <lucien.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Yes, the features do make it a pretty cool board. :-)
>> > Xilinx will/should be releasing a FMC that is primarily intending for
>> > simple debug and is comprised of a series of 100 mil headers that are
>> > connected to the FMC connector. �This board could also be used for
>> > prototyping purposes.
>>
>> This is what I would like to see for fast prototyping some simple IO
>> devices :). Do you already have such a plan? And when could such a
>> daughter board be available?
>
>I have been concerned about the hobbyist/academic/small-shop use of
>the FMC interface. I'm hoping that we can find the time to put
>together some basic LPC and HPC 6 layer PCB examples using the free
>tools from low cost, quick turn PCB fabricators like PCB123. These
>could then be used as the basis for a quick custom FMC board.
If you don't want to get involved with the fabrication etc, simply make the
PCB123 design files available in the download section.
One for a debug-type board (0.1" headers).
Possibly one for an 0.1" stripboard with power planes and FMC connector.
And DEFINITELY one for an empty FMC board with the correct outline and the
connector placed, possibly also tracked out.
I gave up on the PCB123 schematic editor long ago; it's easier to edit the
netlist, so these board files should be accompanied by the netlist (and/or
schematic if appropriate).
- Brian
Ed McGettigan
>
> - Show quoted text -
This board is now available for sale.
http://www.xilinx.com/products/devkits/HW-FMC-DBG-G.htm it should be
sold under the HW-FMC-105-DEBUG-G part number, I'm not sure what
happened along the way.
Antti
> sold under the HW-FMC-105-DEBUG-G part number, I'm not sure what
> happened along the way.
>
> Ed McGettigan
> --
> Xilinx Inc.
super!
159$ for simplest connector brreakout board
this is more than many lower cost FPGA boards cost.
but this is Xilinx marketing.
Antti
LucienZ
> sold under the HW-FMC-105-DEBUG-G part number, I'm not sure what
> happened along the way.
>
> Ed McGettigan
> --
> Xilinx Inc.
Nice! Thank you Ed!
Gabor
> > sold under the HW-FMC-105-DEBUG-G part number, I'm not sure what
> > happened along the way.
>
> > Ed McGettigan
> > --
> > Xilinx Inc.
>
> super!
> 159$ for simplest connector brreakout board
>
> this is more than many lower cost FPGA boards cost.
>
> but this is Xilinx marketing.
>
> Antti
Have you priced out the connectors?
Ed McGettigan
> > sold under the HW-FMC-105-DEBUG-G part number, I'm not sure what
> > happened along the way.
>
> > Ed McGettigan
> > --
> > Xilinx Inc.
>
> super!
> 159$ for simplest connector brreakout board
>
> this is more than many lower cost FPGA boards cost.
>
> but this is Xilinx marketing.
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "Xilinx marketing".
Our cost and the resulting list priced is based on the build volume,
component, fab, assembly, test costs, overhead, shipping costs and
Xilinx/distributor margin. The expectation is that we will sell a few
hundred lifetime for a FMC module vs several thousand a year for a
development board so the cost structures are very different and are
reflected in the pricing.
The FMC-105-DEBUG is a bit more than a simple breakout card. The
design and construction enables high speed and quality signaling
between the carrier and the debug connectors and includes a high
precision Silicon Labs SI570 programmable clock source.
Ed McGettigan
>
> - Show quoted text -
Again, with the FUD on the connector cost??
The FMC connector that is used on the board is not a significant
factor in the cost of the board. If the component cost was reduced to
$0 the end price would not have changed by very much.