Silicon Stepping

User-orderable Identification System for Xilinx Devices

How does silicon stepping work?

Silicon stepping is a process for recording each improvement or addition of device capability. As new steps are released, they automatically replace older stepped devices without disrupting the user experience.

Devices are always marked with their stepping level. Stepping usually starts at level 0. Higher step devices incorporate all lower steps. Consequently, designs for lower step devices can be used in higher step silicon without customer intervention.

You can order specific steps if your design requires a feature available only in those steps. Compile a bitstream indicating those steps in software.

Why do we offer silicon stepping?

Stepping provides you with a solution you need as soon as it is available. Due to the nature of stepping, Xilinx can introduce incremental improvements to a device family after releasing it to production. Consequently, we can release steps to production, customer design verification, and qualification much more quickly. Earlier releases translate to more design wins for our customers.