Spartan-6 LX FPGAs
Spartan-6 LX FPGAs
The industry’s lowest risk and lowest cost solution for high-performance logic
- Low-power FPGA optimized for high-performance logic and memory
- Reduce total power consumption by up to 50% with advance feature enhancements
Key Documentation
Quick Links
Videos and Webcasts
- Choosing and Using the Right Transceiver for Serial interfaces at 3Gbps, 6Gbps, 10Gbps, and Beyond
- Creating Power-Optimized Designs with Virtex®-6 and Spartan-6 FPGAs
- Achieve Greater Productivity and Ease of Use with Targeted Design Platforms enabled by Virtex-6 and Spartan-6 FPGA Families
Spartan®-6 LX FPGAs are optimized for applications that require absolute lowest cost supporting up to 150K logic cell density, 4.8 Mb memory, integrated memory controllers, DSP slices, ease-of-use and high-performance system IP with an innovative open standards-based configuration.
Spartan-6 LX FPGA Benefits
- Advanced process technology and 6-input LUT architecture enables implementation of complex, high-performance functionality with smaller devices in the least expensive speed grade
- Abundant logic resources with increased logic capacity 3.8K to 150K logic cells for higher performance
- Only high-volume, low-cost FPGAs with an integrated memory controller block that lowers cost by saving approximately 3,500 logic cells per controller over soft solutions
- Simplified configuration supporting low-cost 3rd party standards
- Easy-to-use and high-performance system IP
- Totally green, RoHS-compliant Pb-free packaging
- Efficient utilization of 45nm low-power copper process technology
- 250 MHz DSP48A1 slice for up to 50% lower power consumption
- Low-voltage device options available for addressing the strictest power budgets
- Advanced power management for lower static and dynamic power
- Includes flexible power-saving hibernate and suspend modes
- Integrated memory controller supports low power memory standards
- Mobile DDR and 1.3/1.5V DDR3
Spartan-6 LX FPGA Features
| Features | LX | LXT |
| 45nm low power process technology with 6-input LUTs |  |
|
| 1050 MHz clock management tiles (2 DCM + 1 PLL) | 2 - 6 | 2 - 6 |
| 250 MHz Block RAM (Kbits) | 216 - 4824 | 936 - 4824 |
| Memory interface controllers blocks | 0 - 4 | 2 - 4 |
| 1.05 Gbps SelectIO™ technology | |
|
| 250 MHz DSP48A1 slices | 8 - 180 | 38 - 180 |
| 3.125 Gbps GTP transceivers | -- | 2 - 8 |
| PCI Express® Endpoint blocks | -- | 1 |
| Embedded processing | |
|
| Low power management modes | |
|
| Enhanced configuration and bitstream protection | |
|
45nm low power process technology with 6-input LUTs
Optimized for cost, power and performance, most efficient utilization of low-power copper process technology.
The Spartan-6 family of FPGAs offer low-risk, more efficient dual-register 6-input look-up tables (LUT)s by leveraging the CLB structure first introduced with the Virtex-5 FPGA family.
- Efficient 6-input LUTs improve performance and minimize power
- LUT designed with dual flip-flops for pipelined centric applications
- Flexible LUTs are configurable as logic, distributed RAM or shift registers
- From 3,400 to 150,000 logic cells for greater system-level integration
1050 MHz clock management tiles (2 DCM + 1 PLL)
Clock Management Tile (CMT) for enhanced performance.
Each Spartan-6 FPGA provides abundant clock lines to address the different clocking requirements of high fanout, short propagation delay, and extremely low skew.
- Low noise, flexible clocking
- Digital Clock Managers (DCMs) eliminate clock skew and duty cycle distortion
- Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs) for low‑jitter clocking
- Frequency synthesis with simultaneous multiplication, division, and phase shifting
- 16 low-skew global clock networks
250 MHz block RAM
Efficient block RAM with a wide range of granularity.
The Spartan-6 FPGA family increases block RAM size with higher memory to logic ratio than previous generations. All Spartan-6 FPGA devices have between 12 and 268 dual-port block RAMs, each storing 18 Kbits.
- Increased memory block capacity to 4.8 Mbits
- Fast block RAM with byte write enable
- 18 Kb blocks that can be optionally programmed as two independent 9 Kb block RAMs
- Each block RAM has 2 completely independent ports that share stored data
- Each port can be configured as 16K × 1, 8K × 2, 4K × 4, 2K × 9 (or 8), 1K × 18 (or 16), or 512 x 36 (or 32)
Memory interface controllers blocks
Only low-cost, high-volume FPGA with integrated memory controller blocks.
Dedicated memory controller blocks (MCB)s target a single-chip DRAM and support access rates of up to 800 Mbps.
- DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and LPDDR support
- Data rates up to 800 Mbps (12.8 Gbps peak bandwidth)
- Internal 32-, 64-, or 128-bit data interface provides simple and reliable interface to the MCB
- Multi-port bus structure with independent FIFO to reduce design timing issues
- Predictable timing for memory interface designs
- Software wizard to guide through the entire process
1.05 Gbps SelectIO technology
Multi-voltage, multi-standard SelectIO banks.
Each I/O pin is configurable and can comply with a large number of standards, using up to 3.3V.
- Up to 1050 Mbps data transfer rate per differential I/O
- Selectable output drive, up to 24 mA per pin
- 3.3V to 1.2V I/O standards and protocols
- Full 16mA and 24mA output drives
- Low‑cost HSTL and SSTL memory interfaces
- Hot swap compliance
- Adjustable I/O slew rates to improve signal integrity
250 MHz DSP48A1 slices
Boost DSP system performance using Spartan-6 FPGAs.
Spartan-6 FPGAs contain dedicated, full-custom, low-power DSP slices, combining high speed with small size, while retaining system design flexibility.
- Up to 180 efficient, second generation DSP48A1 slices
- High-performance arithmetic and signal processing
- Each slice containing a fast 18 x 18 multiplier and a 48-bit accumulator capable of operating at 250 MHz speed
- Pipelining and cascading capability
- Pre-adder to assist filter applications
- 50% lower power consumption: 1.38mW/ 100MHz at a 38% toggle rate
3.125 Gbps GTP transceivers
Spartan-6 compliments low-cost logic capacity with high-speed serial connectivity.
Each GTP transceiver is a combined transmitter and receiver capable of operating at a data rate between 622 Mbps and 3.125 Gbps.
- Implement serial protocols at lowest power
- Devices contain up to 8 gigabit transceiver circuits
- Up to 3.125 Gbps performance
- High speed interfaces: Serial ATA, Aurora, 1G Ethernet, PCI Express, OBSAI, CPRI, EPON, GPON, DisplayPort, and XAUI
- Lower power consumption: < 150 mW (typical) at 3.125 Gbps
- Available in Spartan-6 LXT FPGA devices
PCI Express Endpoint blocks
Integrated endpoint block for PCI Express designs.
Implemented in 45 nm low-power technology, the Spartan-6 integrated end-point block for PCI Express 1.1 is low-risk and standards-compliant.
- Works with GTP transceivers to deliver PCIe® endpoint and root port function
- Built-in hard IP frees user logic resources and reduces power
- PCI SIG®-verified Gen1 compliance (on integrators list)
- Low cost PCI™ technology support compatible with the 32 bit, 66 MHz specification
- Available in Spartan-6 LXT FPGA devices
Embedded processing
Faster embedded processing with enhanced, low cost, MicroBlaze™ soft processor.
The MicroBlaze soft processor solution gives you the flexibility to select a combination of peripherals, memory, and interface features you need at the lowest cost on a single FPGA.
- New MicroBlaze 7.0 adds MMU & FPU for greater functionality
- 6-input LUT architecture improves performance & efficiency for comparator & multiplexer
- 2X flip-flops for embedded registers
- Hard DRAM memory controller with 12.8Gbps memory bandwidth
Low power management modes
The 45nm process optimized for low static and dynamic power.
Spartan-6 power management modes allow the devices to go to an extremely low power state reducing power consumption significantly.
- Up to 50% lower static power and 40% lower dynamic power
- Hibernate power‑down mode for zero power
- Suspend mode maintains state and configuration with multi-pin wake‑up, control enhancement
- Lower-power 1.0V core voltage (LX FPGAs, -1L only)
- High performance 1.2V core voltage (LX and LXT FPGAs, -2 and -3 speed grades)
Enhanced configuration and bitstream protection
Reduce system cost, increase reliability, and safeguard your design.
Spartan-6 FPGAs include a unique, factory-programmed Device DNA identifier useful for tracking purposes, anticloning designs, or IP protection.
- Simplified configuration, supports low-cost standards
- 2-pin auto-detect configuration
- Broad third-party SPI (up to x4) and NOR Flash support
- Feature rich Xilinx Platform Flash with JTAG
- MultiBoot support for remote upgrade with multiple bitstreams, using watchdog protection
- Unique Device DNA identifier for design authentication
- AES bitstream encryption in the larger devices
What applications is this good for?
Spartan-6 FPGAs provide the flexibility to respond rapidly to changing consumer requirements.
- Improve video performance with customized graphics accelerators and flexible parallel and serial interface capabilities
- Simplify interfacing to host processors and reduce component count with integrated PCI Express® technology
- Accelerate design with IP offerings for graphics processing, video conversion, high-speed interfacing, and vehicle networks
In-Car Infotainment System
Serving as a companion to the host processor, a single Spartan-6 LX45T FPGA supports audio/video acceleration, graphics subsystem, and vehicle networking functions.
Spartan-6 FPGAs offer a cost-efficient alternative to ASICs and enable DTV manufacturers to rapidly develop and deliver displays offering a superior viewing experience within ever-shrinking product lifecycles.
- Achieve tough performance and EMI targets easily with low-jitter spread-spectrum clocking
- Reduce power consumption, simplify thermal management, increase reliability, and reduce cost with high capacity, low power FPGAs
- Increase image quality with a rich library of image enhancement IP such as dynamic gamma correction, motion adaptive temporal noise reduction, and dynamic range compression
- Simplify high-bandwidth interfaces with flexible SelectIO technology, an integrated memory controller block, and DisplayPort-enabled 3.125Gpbs GTP transceivers
High-Resolution Video Flat Panel Display with Dynamic Backlight Control
Achieve higher image quality while reducing power and cost using Spartan-6 FPGAs with integrated serial I/O capabilities.
Spartan-6 FPGAs offer the ideal combination of performance and flexibility to address requirements for high resolution, video analytics, and increased channels in video surveillance systems.
- Build flexible front-end image processing to support higher video resolutions
- Process native resolution image data at full frame rate using highly parallel implementations based on DSP48A slices
- Implement edge-based video analytics with cost-effective customized co-processors
Surveillance Image Capture and Analytics Engine
Integrate sensor interfacing, video analytics, image enhancement and network interfacing in a single Spartan-6 LX150T FPGA.
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Related Products
Maximize the flexibility of your system and reduce the amount of board space required for your configuration with configuration resources for Spartan-6 FPGAs.Information, products, and services related to the Spartan-6 LX FPGA
Documentation
Data Sheets, User Guides, and Packaging and Pinout Specification
Spartan®-6 FPGA Family Overview
This data sheet provides a summary of the Spartan-6 FPGA family features and specifications.
Spartan-6 FPGA Data Sheet: DC and Switching Characteristics
This document describes the Spartan-6 FPGA family architecture.
Spartan-6 FPGA Clocking Resources User Guide
This guide describes the clocking resources available in all Spartan-6 FPGAs, including the DCMs and PLLs.
This document provides and overview of the Spartan-6 FPGA family.
All Spartan-6 FPGA documentation
Access all the available boards and kits for Spartan-6 LX FPGAs.
Boards
SP601 Spartan-6 Family Evaluation Kit
This low-cost kit provides an ideal entry-level environment for evaluating the Spartan-6 family using the Spartan-6 LX16 CS324 FPGA .
IP
Spartan-6 FPGA Integrated Endpoint Block for PCI Express®
Xilinx provides a Spartan-6 FPGA Endpoint solution for PCI Express to configure the Spartan-6 FPGA Integrated Endpoint Block for PCIe FPGA and includes additional logic to create a complete Endpoint solution for PCIe.
Videos and Webcasts
Choosing and Using the Right Transceiver for Serial interfaces at 3Gbps, 6Gbps, 10Gbps, and Beyond
Serial I/O provides high bandwidth for connecting chips, boards, and boxes while consuming less power and PCB real estate than traditional parallel interface technologies.
Creating Power-Optimized Designs with Virtex®-6 and Spartan-6 FPGAs
The latest generation of FPGAs offer increases in performance, capacity, and built-in capabilities that make them suitable for implementing a greater portion of critical system-level functionality.
The Xilinx Virtex-6 and Spartan-6 FPGA families are the programmable silicon foundation for Targeted Design Platforms that enable system designers to increase productivity and minimize development costs in applications targeting wireless, wired, audio, video, automotive, security and many other markets.
All Spartan-6 LX FPGA webcasts
Access all the available webcasts for Spartan-6 LX FPGAs.
Training
Designing with the Spartan-6 and Virtex-6 Families
This course focuses on understanding as well as how to properly design for the primary resources found in these popular device families.
Advanced FPGA Implementation tackles the most sophisticated aspects of the ISE® 11 tool suite and Xilinx hardware.
Learn the best design practices from the pros and understand the subtleties of the Xilinx design flow.
Access all the available training for Spartan-6 LX FPGAs.
Services and Support
From documentation to tools and IP, Xilinx has the support you need for Spartan-6 FPGA devices.
Configuration resources for Spartan FPGA
Maximize the flexibility of your system and reduce the amount of board space required for your configuration.
Other
Access the promotional documentation available for Spartan-6 LX FPGAs.