Power Efficiency

Overview

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, and SoCs. 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 publically available for all families.

UltraScale+ FPGAs

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:

Hardware-based clock gating
Hardened BRAM cascading
DSP block efficiencies
Power-optimized transceivers

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) V_NOM	UltraScale (20nm) V_NOM	UltraScale+ (16nm) V_NOM	UltraScale+ (16nm) V_LOW
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

Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCs

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.

UltraScale FPGAs

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

Hardware-based clock gating
Hardened BRAM cascading
DSP block efficiencies
Power-optimized transceivers

	7 Series (28nm) V_NOM	UltraScale (20nm) V_NOM	UltraScale+ (16nm) V_NOM	UltraScale+ (16nm) V_LOW
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

7 Series FPGAs & Zynq-7000 Programmable SoCs

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:

Dynamic Function eXchange for static power savings
Multi-mode I/O control
Intelligent clock gating
Power binning and voltage scaling

View competitive benchmark summaries as well as detailed benchmark process.

Power Delivery Solutions

Optimized Power Delivery Solutions

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

Reference Designs

Below you will find a selection of reference designs developed together with some of our power management partners. Designs are grouped by product family, however, many of these reference designs can be easily modified and applied to other product families. Please contact our partners for additional information and guidance in relation to any designs shown below.

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	Contact ADI	AI Core, Prime	VC1902, VM1802
Maxim Integrated	MAXREFDES1238	AI Core, Prime	VC1902, VM1802
Monolithic Power Systems	EVREF105A	AI Core, Prime	VC1902, VM1802
Texas Instruments	Coming Soon	AI Core, Prime	VC1902, VM1802

Vendor	Reference Design	Target Device(s)	Analog Rails
Infineon	Xilinx ZCU111 Eval Board	ZU21DR -ZU29DR	LDOs
Monolithic Power Systems	EVREF0102A - RFSoC Analog Power Module Board	ZU21DR - ZU29DR	Switching Regulators -Modules
Intersil-Renesas	ISL8024DEMO2Z - RFSoC Analog Power Module Board	ZU21DR - ZU29DR	Switching Regulators - Discrete

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)
Intersil-Renesas	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	Target Device(s)
Intersil/Renesas	Xilinx VCU128 Eval Board	VU37P/VU19P¹
Monolithic Power Systems	Area optimized module based solution for Kintex UltraScale+	All KU+
ABB	Scalable module based solution for Virtex UltraScale+	VU37P
Cyntec	Scalable module based solution for Virtex UltraScale+	VU37P

¹VCU128 power solution can be scaled to meet the power requirements of VU19P.

Vendor	Reference Design	Target Device(s)
Infineon	Avnet Kintex UltraScale Development Board	KU040
Texas Instruments	Low Noise Power Supply for GTH & GTY Serial Transceivers	Kintex UltraScale
	Virtex UltraScale FPGA Power Solution (with Telemetry Option)	Virtex UltraScale
	Kintex UltraScale FPGA Power Solution (with Telemetry Option)	Kintex UltraScale
	Alpha Data, Radiation Hardened Power Solution (Third-Party Board)	XQRKU060
Linear Technology	Virtex UltraScale FPGA Multi 100G Optical Networ king Platform	VU095,VU125,VU160,VU190

Vendor	Reference Design	Target Device(s)
Dialog Semiconductor	Cost & Area optimized Zynq 7000S solution on Avnet’s MiniZed board	7Z007S
Dialog Semiconductor	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
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
Linear Technology	Zynq-7000 High Speed Networking Solution	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
Linear Technology	Artix-7 Basys 3 Eval Board	A35T
Renesas	ISL91211A-BIK-REFZ Reference Board	All Artix-7

Vendor	Reference Design	Target Device(s)
Monolithic Power Systems	Scalable, Cost and Area Optimized Spartan-7 Solutions	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.

Webinars and App Notes

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

Power Management Companies

Distribution Partner

Avnet

Featured Power Design

dialog board for Spartan-7 based power systems

Proven, Scalable and Highly Optimized PMIC based Solution with Built in Power Sequencing for Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC

Documentation

UltraScale+ Devices Yield 2-5X Performance/Watt Advantage

Proven Power Reduction with Xilinx UltraScale FPGAs

Power Reduction in UltraScale Architecture

Power Leadership at 28nm with Xilinx 7 Series FPGAs

Xilinx Power Estimator User Guide

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