Through careful selection of silicon process and power-conscious architecture design, Xilinx devices deliver power efficiency across all product portfolios, including Spartan-6, 7 series, UltraScale™, and UltraScale+™ FPGAs, SoCs and ACAPs. With each generation, Xilinx broadens its power reduction capabilities, ranging from process enhancements, architectural innovations, aggressive voltage scaling strategies, and advanced software optimization strategies. More detail on portfolio-specific capabilities, silicon process advantages, and benchmark comparisons are shown below. Power estimation, thermal models, full software support, and demonstration boards are publicly available for all families. Designing power for Xilinx devices is easier than ever before with comprehensive documentation, built & tested power reference designs and powerful tools to unlock the potential of your next design to get the most out of your ACAP, SoC, or FPGA.
Xilinx’s next generation heterogeneous compute device, Versal ACAP (Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform), based on TSMCs 7nm HK-MG FinFET process, takes the next leap in low power and high-performance technology through architectural innovation and power optimized blocks. Versal’s AI Engine architecture allows for up to 40% power savings for compute intensive applications while significantly increasing performance over traditional FPGA implementation.
The combination of hardened and programmable blocks allows Versal ACAP to maximize performance per Watt along with previous generations power savings, improved power management, new Voltage and frequency scaling and integrated System Monitor enables intelligent power management for your board and only consume power when necessary.
Based on a high performance, low-power semiconductor process (TSMC 16nm FinFET+), the UltraScale+ device families delivers up to 60% overall device-level power savings over 7 series FPGAs and SoCs. Architectural enhancements include:
Through architectural innovation and a dual-voltage operation of the primary core fabric, UltraScale+ families more than double the performance-per watt-capabilities of 7 series families by realizing power reductions while improving overall performance.
7 Series (28nm) VNOM |
UltraScale (20nm) VNOM |
UltraScale+ (16nm) VNOM |
UltraScale+ (16nm) VLOW |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Operating Voltage (VCCINT) | 1V | 0.95V | 0.85V | 0.72V |
Normalized Facric Performance | 1.0x | 1.2x | 1.6x | 1.2x |
Normalized Total Power | 1.0x | 0.7x | 0.8x | 0.5x |
Performance/Watt | 1.0x | 1.7x | 2x | 2.4x |
In addition to all the power reducing capabilities of UltraScale+ FPGA logic, Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCs utilize multiple power islands and domains within the processing system for coarse-grain and fine-grain dynamic power gating to continually adjust power consumption to performance demands, lowering overall device power.
Based on a low-power 20nm semiconductor process coupled with significant static and power gating, UltraScale FPGA families deliver up to 40% overall device-level power savings compared to 7 series FPGAs. Architectural enhancements shared with UltraScale+ devices include
7 Series (28nm) VNOM |
UltraScale (20nm) VNOM |
UltraScale+ (16nm) VNOM |
UltraScale+ (16nm) VLOW |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Operating Voltage (VCCINT) | 1V | 0.95V | 0.85V | 0.72V |
Normalized Facric Performance | 1.0x | 1.2x | 1.6x | 1.2x |
Normalized Total Power | 1.0x | 0.7x | 0.8x | 0.5x |
Performance/Watt | 1.0x | 1.7x | 2x | 2.4x |
As the only 28nm FPGAs and SoCs fabricated on a high-performance, low-power process (28HPL), 7 series devices offer up to 50% total power reduction over previous generation families and superior performance per watt compared to competing 28nm solutions. Architectural and block-level innovations include:
View competitive benchmark summaries as well as detailed benchmark process.
Power management requirements are diverse and often unique to a specific use case. As a result, no single power management design can provide the optimal solution. Xilinx partners with the industry’s leading power management companies (list below) to provide a variety of reference designs mapping to common use cases, as well as overall guidance on the power supply requirements of Xilinx products.
Hardware verified power reference designs are designed to meet all Xilinx power specifications for a targeted device or device family. Hardware verified ensures that the power solution has been specifically built and tested to meet Xilinx Voltage, current and sequencing specifications. Performance data and design files are made available by the power vendor to boost your design process
Non-hardware verified solutions are designed to meet all Xilinx power specifications and will meet the requirements of a targeted device or device family. Though not hardware verified, they are guaranteed by datasheets specifications.
Vendor | Reference Design | ACAP Series | Target Device |
---|---|---|---|
Infineon | EV-121-D | AI Core, Prime | VC1902, VM1802 |
Intersil-Renesas | VERSALDEMOZ1 | AI Core, Prime | VC1902, VM1802 |
Analog Devices, Inc | Versal Power Reference Design | AI Core, Prime | VC1902, VM1802 |
Maxim Integrated | MAXREFDES1238 | AI Core, Prime | VC1902, VM1802 |
Monolithic Power Systems | Efficiency Optimized EVREF105A | AI Core, Prime | VC1902, VM1802 |
Size Optimized EVXLVA_02-A | AI Core, Prime | VC1902, VM1802 |
|
Texas Instruments |
PMP22165 | AI Core, Prime | VC1902, VM1802 |
Vendor | Reference Design | Device Family | Target Device(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Infineon | Xilinx ZCU111 Eval Board | RFSoC Gen 1 | ZU21 -ZU29 |
Monolithic Power Systems | EVREF0102A - RFSoC Analog Power Module Board |
RFSoC Gen 1 | ZU21 - ZU29 |
Intersil-Renesas | ISL8024DEMO2Z - RFSoC Analog Power Module Board | RFSoC Gen 1 | ZU21 - ZU29 |
Vendor | Reference Design | Device Family |
Target Device(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Monolithic Power Systems | Size Optimized Solution using Power Modules |
RFSoC Gen 1 | ZU21 - ZU29 |
Highly Integrated Solution with Internal Sequencing | RFSoC Gen 1 | ZU21 - ZU29 | |
Size Optimized Modular Power Solution | RFSoC Gen 2, RFSoC Gen 3 | ZU39 - ZU49 | |
Efficiency Optimized Discrete Power Solution | RFSoC Gen 2, RFSoC Gen 3 | ZU39 - ZU49 | |
Modular Power Solution with PMBus | RFSoC Gen 2, RFSoC Gen 3 | ZU39 - ZU49 |
Vendor | Reference Design | Target Device(s) |
---|---|---|
Infineon | 12 Highly Optimized & Scalable PMIC Based Solutions with Integrated Power Sequencing (use case 1, 2, 3) | ZU2 - ZU9 |
Dialog Semiconductor | Cost and Footprint Optimized, Scalable Power Solution Offering Full Power Management Flexibility (use case 4)1 | ZU2 - ZU19 |
Texas Instruments | 25-30W Remote Radio Head (use case 2)1 | ZU9EG, ZU15EG |
Optimized and scalable power solution for ZU2 to ZU5 (use case 1,2,3,4)1 | ZU2 - ZU5 | |
Programmable Power Solution for Zynq US+ MPSoC Devices (use case 1,2,3,4)1 |
ZU2 - ZU19 | |
Intersil-Renesas | Highly Optimized Discrete and Module Based Solution for Lower Power Applications (use case 1)1 | ZU2 (CG & EG), ZU3 (CG & EG) |
Highly Optimized Discrete and Module Based Solution for Higher Power Applications (use case 2)1 | ZU11EG, ZU15EG, ZU17EG, ZU19EG | |
Monolithic Power Systems | Scalable Module Based Solution (use case 1)1 | ZU2 - ZU19 |
Note 1: For more information on Zynq UltraScale+ device use-cases, please see the Power Supply Consolidation Solutions for Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCs section of UG583.
Vendor | Reference Design | Product Family | Target Device(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Intersil/Renesas | Xilinx VCU128 Eval Board | Virtex UltraScale+ | VU37P/VU19P1 |
Monolithic Power Systems | Area optimised module based solution for Kintex UltraScale+ | Kintex UltraScale+ | All KU+ |
High Power Density Discrete Solution | Virtex UltraScale+ | VU19P-VU57P | |
Fully Integrated Solution Using Modules | Virtex UltraScale+ | VU19P-VU57P | |
ABB | Scalable module based solution for Virtex UltraScale+ | Virtex UltraScale+ | VU37P |
Cyntec | Virtex UltraScale+ | VU37P |
Vendor | Reference Design | Product Family | Target Device(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Monolithic Power Systems | Efficiency Optimised Power Delivery Solution | Virtex UltraScale+ | VU3P-VU13P, VU31P-VU37P |
Size Optimised Power Delivery Solution | Virtex UltraScale+ | VU3P-VU13P, VU31P-VU37P | |
Size or Efficiency Optimised Power Delivery Solution | Virtex UltraScale+ | VU19P, VU27P/29P, VU47P/49P, VU57P | |
Integrated Sequencing Power Delivery Solution | Kintex UltraScale+ | KU3P-KU15P | |
Size Optimised Power Delivery Solution | Kintex UltraScale+ | KU3P-KU15P |
Vendor | Reference Design | Product Family | Target Device(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Infineon | Avnet Kintex UltraScale Development Board | KU040 | |
Texas Instruments | Low Noise Power Supply for GTH & GTY Serial Transceivers | Kintex UltraScale | KU025-KU115 |
Virtex UltraScale FPGA Power Solution (with Telemetry Option) | Virtex UltraScale | VU065 - VU440 | |
Kintex UltraScale FPGA Power Solution (with Telemetry Option) | Kintex UltraScale | KU025-KU115 | |
Alpha Data, Radiation Hardened Power Solution (Third-Party Board) | Space-Grade Kintex Ultrascale | XQRKU060 | |
Virtex UltraScale FPGA Multi 100G Optical Networ king Platform |
Virtex UltraScale | VU095, VU125, VU160, VU190 |
Vendor | Reference Design | Product Family | Target Device(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Monolithic Power Systems | Size Optimized Power Module Solution with Scalable VCCINT | Kintex UltraScale | KU025-KU115 |
Vendor | Reference Design | Target Device(s) |
---|---|---|
Dialog Semiconductor | Cost & Area optimized Zynq 7000S solution on Avnet’s MiniZed board | 7Z007S |
Scalable, Flexible Power Solutions, Cost and Footprint Optimized for Zynq 7000 | Up to ZC7020 | |
Texas Instruments | Highly Scalable, Integrated Power Supply Reference Design for Zynq-7000 SoCs | All Zynq-7000 |
Low Power Zynq-7000 and DDR3 Power Solution | ZC7010, ZC7020 | |
High Power Zynq-7000 Power Management Solution | ZC7035, ZC7040 | |
Compact & Integrated PMIC Power Solution for Zynq-7010 | ZC7010 | |
EXAR | Industrial Ethernet Power Management Reference Design | ZC7020 |
Monolithic Power Systems | Industrial Ethernet Power Management Reference Design | ZC7020 |
NXP | Zynq-7020 ZED board Optimized Management Reference Design | ZC7020 |
Maxim Integrated | Zynq-7020 ZED board Optimized Management Reference Design | ZC7020 |
ZC7100 |
||
Renesas | ISL91211AIK-REFZ | All Zynq-7000 |
Vendor | Reference Design | Target Device(s) |
---|---|---|
Dialog Semiconductor | Scalable, Flexible Power Solutions, Cost and Footprint Optimized for Artix-7 | All Artix-7 |
Texas Instruments | Highly Scalable, Integrated Power Supply Reference Design for Artix-7 FPGAs | All Artix-7 |
Analog Devices, Inc | Artix-7 ARTY Development Board | A35T |
A35T |
||
Renesas | ISL91211A-BIK-REFZ Reference Board | All Artix-7 |
Vendor | Reference Design | Target Device(s) |
---|---|---|
Monolithic Power Systems | Discrete Artix-7 Reference Design | XC7A12T - XC7A200T |
Modular Artix-7 Reference Design | XC7A12T - XC7A200T |
Vendor | Reference Design | Target Device(s) |
---|---|---|
Monolithic Power Systems | Scalable, Cost and Area Optimized Spartan-7 Solutions | S6 - S100 |
Discrete Power Solution with Integrated Sequencing | S6 - S100 | |
Dialog Semiconductor | Scalable, Flexible Power Solutions, Cost and Footprint Optimized for Spartan-7 | S6 - S100 |
Texas Instruments | Highly Scalable, Integrated Power Supply Reference Design for Spartan-7 FPGAs | All Spartan-7 |
Renesas | ISL91211BIK-REF2Z Reference Board | All Spartan-7 |
Note: All solutions are the responsibility of the specific power vendor. Please check with the appropriate power vendor for additional information, e.g., availability.
Type | Vendor | Description | Target Devices |
---|---|---|---|
Webinar | Infineon | DC/DC PMIC for Xilinx FPGAs/SoCs for 10W to 50W Applications w/ Avnet | Zynq UltraScale+, Zynq-7000, Kintex UltraScale |
Monolithic Power Systems | Designing on the World's Only Single Chip Adaptable Radio Platform with MPS Power Solutions | Zynq Ultrascale+ RFSoC | |
Texas Instruments | How to rapidly design the power supply rails of Xilinx FPGAs & SoCs | Spartan-7, Artix-7 & Zynq-7000 | |
App Note | On Semiconductor | Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC Automotive power solutions to ASIL-C | Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC |
Monolithic Power Systems | MPS Power Modules Offer A Compact and Ultra-Low Noise Solution for Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC | Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC |
|
Dialog Semiconductor | Functionally Safe Automotive Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC Using Dialog PMICs | Zynq Ultrascale+ MPSoC |
Understating the thermal design limits of an application varies greatly between application types and end markets, a lower power design at a high ambient can experience the same thermal challenges as a high power design at a much lower ambient and so understanding what the limits of a system are is critical for both a successful product and a cost effective product, as overdesign a thermal solution incurs extra cost and complexity to a design.
To this end Xilinx provides DELPHI thermal models for all of current devices, these support both Siemens Flotherm and Ansys IcePak.
*Versal ACAP Models (Coming Soon)
Thermal simulation is a critical step in board design and as indicated in the board methodology process chart, the results of the initial estimation should be used for the thermal solution validation.
Not all customers have access to either the thermal simulation tools or the resources to run a thermal simulation, through the Xilinx Alliance program you can access partners that have Thermal design capability.
An important part of device selection is selecting the right package for a successful thermal design. Xilinx devices are available is many package types to cater for different customers requirements, however from a thermal standpoint the Lidless packaging offers the best thermal performance, Xilinx devices are offered in the following packages:
Bare Die – Package Designator (SB/VB)
Lidded - (SF/VF)
Lidless Package (VS/LS)
Lidless Overhang Package (VI)
Xilinx provides best-in-class tools to estimate pre-implementation power consumption, optimize for lowest power at every design stage, and provide extensive analysis for user-guided optimization. Below are a variety of power-related and Xilinx industry-leading hardware and software-based tools for designers to get started today.