Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are the backbone of digital technology. They provide the flexibility, performance, and cost-effectiveness required for a wide range of applications. However, the complexity of creating FPGA designs has limited their usage to only a few experts in the field. But that has been changing with the introduction of the Spartan-7 series of FPGAs. This groundbreaking technology is making it easier for new designers to jump into the world of FPGA technology.

The Spartan-7 Advantage

Spartan-7 comes with great built-in features. It is the first FPGA in its class with a one-transistor-thin oxide (1T-1C) memory cell structure. This feature makes it ideal for high-performance and low-power applications. Additionally, it has a low power consumption of around 95 milliwatts (mW). It is essential for applications that require long battery life or have a low power budget.

The Spartan-7 series also offers a wide range of interfaces, such as PCI Express (PCIe), Gigabit Ethernet (GbE), and Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes). These interfaces make it easier for designers to interface their FPGA with different components, such as sensors, System-on-a-Chip (SoCs), and other FPGA devices.

Key Features

The Spartan-7 is packed with features that make it a versatile and powerful FPGA. Some of the key features include:

High-Performance Processing

The Spartan-7 offers exceptional digital signal processing (DSP) performance, capable of delivering up to 1.6 TeraMACs (trillion multiply-accumulate operations per second) of processing power. With this level of performance, the Spartan-7 is capable of handling even the most demanding processing tasks, such as real-time video and audio processing, wireless communication, and high-performance computing.

In addition to its impressive DSP performance, the Spartan-7 boasts up to 2.2 million logic cells, enabling it to handle complex processing tasks easily. This large number of logic cells provides ample space for designing complex circuits and implementing custom processing algorithms.

Low Power Consumption

It is designed to be energy-efficient, consuming up to 50% less power than other FPGAs in its class. This low power consumption is achieved through a combination of advanced manufacturing processes and innovative power management features.

One of the advantages of Spartan-7’s advanced manufacturing process is the use of a 28nm process technology. This process technology uses less power than previous generations, resulting in a significant reduction in power consumption without sacrificing performance.

The Spartan-7 features advanced power management features such as dynamic power gating, clock gating, and voltage scaling. These features allow the FPGA to dynamically adjust power consumption based on workload, resulting in energy savings while maintaining high performance.

High-Speed Connectivity

It supports a range of high-speed connectivity options, including PCIe Gen2, Gigabit Ethernet, and USB 2.0. This makes the Spartan-7 ideal for applications that require fast data transfer rates and low latency.

The PCIe Gen2 interface is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard that enables devices to transfer data at speeds of up to 5 gigabytes per second (GB/s). This makes it an excellent choice for applications such as high-speed data acquisition, image and video processing, and network processing, where large amounts of data need to be transferred quickly and efficiently.

Gigabit Ethernet, on the other hand, is a standard for transmitting data packets over a network at a rate of one billion bits per second (1 Gbit/s). With its low latency and high bandwidth capabilities, Gigabit Ethernet is commonly used in applications such as industrial automation, surveillance systems, and medical equipment.

The Spartan-7’s USB 2.0 interface provides a high-speed connection between the device and a computer or other USB-enabled device. With a data transfer rate of up to 480 megabits per second (Mbps), USB 2.0 is ideal for applications such as multimedia streaming, data backup, and printing.

Applications

The Spartan-7 is well-suited for a range of applications, including:

Data Center Acceleration

The Spartan-7 can accelerate key data center workloads, including encryption, compression, and database acceleration. Its high performance and low power consumption make it ideal for data center applications that require high-speed connectivity and energy efficiency.

It can accelerate key data center workloads such as encryption, compression, and database acceleration. With its high processing power and advanced hardware acceleration capabilities, the Spartan-7 can significantly enhance the performance of these types of workloads, enabling data centers to operate more efficiently and effectively.

The Spartan-7’s high performance and low power consumption make it ideal for data center applications requiring high-speed connectivity and energy efficiency. Its advanced features and capabilities, combined with its low power consumption, make it a perfect solution for networking, storage, and cloud computing applications.

Industrial Automation

The Spartan-7 can control and monitor a range of industrial processes, including robotics, motion control, and vision processing. Its high performance and low power consumption make it ideal for industrial applications that require fast processing, low latency, and energy efficiency.

In robotic applications, the Spartan-7 can manage and control the precise movements of robotic arms and grippers. This ability is particularly important in manufacturing processes requiring high precision and accuracy. The Spartan-7’s high performance allows it to handle complex robotic movements, while its low power consumption ensures that the system remains energy efficient and cost-effective.

Similarly, in motion control applications, the Spartan-7 can manage and control the movements of motors, conveyor belts, and other mechanical devices. The FPGA’s low latency and fast processing capabilities enable it to handle high-speed motion control applications effectively, ensuring that the devices move smoothly and accurately.

In vision processing applications, the Spartan-7 can analyze and interpret data from cameras and sensors. For instance, in quality control applications, the FPGA can identify and reject defective products based on visual inspections. The Spartan-7’s high processing power and low power consumption enable it to perform complex image analysis and processing tasks quickly and efficiently.

Scientific Research

The Spartan-7 is ideal for scientific research applications, including high-performance computing, digital signal processing, and machine learning. Its high performance makes it ideal for applications that require fast processing and high-speed connectivity.

High-performance computing (HPC) is used in scientific research. HPC requires large amounts of processing power to perform complex simulations, modeling, and data analysis. The Spartan-7’s high performance and low power consumption make it well-suited for HPC applications, where speed and efficiency are critical.

Another application of the Spartan-7 is digital signal processing (DSP). DSP is used in a variety of scientific research applications, including audio and image processing, communication systems, and control systems. The Spartan-7’s high processing power and low latency make it an ideal choice for DSP applications that require real-time signal processing.

Design Resources

Xilinx, now acquired by AMD, provides a wide range of design resources, including development boards, reference designs, and software tools, to help developers and engineers take advantage of the Spartan-7's features and capabilities.

Development Boards

Xilinx offers several development boards that are designed to work with the Spartan-7 FPGA. These development boards provide an easy way for developers to get started with the Spartan-7 and quickly prototype custom designs. Some popular development boards for the Spartan-7 include the Arty S7, the Basys 3, and the Nexys 4 DDR.

One of the development boards for the Spartan-7 is the Arty S7. This board features an Artix-7             FPGA and is designed to be a cost-effective and user-friendly platform for designers who want to experiment with and develop custom FPGA designs. It has a range of onboard peripherals, including DDR3 memory, USB, Ethernet, and more.

Another board is the Basys 3, which also features the Spartan-7 FPGA. The Basys 3 is designed to be an accessible and affordable platform for students and hobbyists who are new to FPGA design. It has a range of onboard peripherals, including switches, buttons, LEDs, and seven-segment displays, making it a great tool for learning and experimenting with FPGA design.

Finally, the Nexys 4 DDR is another development board for the Spartan-7. It features DDR memory, ethernet, and a range of other peripherals, making it ideal for applications that require high-speed data transfer and processing capabilities. Its small form factor and onboard peripherals make it a great choice for a range of applications, from robotics to digital signal processing.

Reference Designs

Xilinx provides a range of reference designs for the Spartan-7 that demonstrate how to use various features and capabilities of the FPGA. These reference designs provide a starting point for developers and engineers to build their custom solutions. Some popular reference designs for the Spartan-7 include PCIe Gen2, Ethernet, and DDR3. These reference designs are pre-built solutions that demonstrate how to use various features and capabilities of the FPGA. They provide a starting point for developers and engineers to build their custom solutions, as well as an opportunity to learn from existing designs.

Xilinx’s reference designs for the Spartan-7 cover a range of applications and use cases, from high-speed data transfer to digital signal processing. One of the most popular reference designs for the Spartan-7 is the PCIe Gen2 reference design. This design demonstrates how to implement a high-speed PCIe interface using the Spartan-7 FPGA. It provides a comprehensive starting point for developers looking to build custom PCIe solutions for their applications.

Another reference design is the Ethernet reference design, which demonstrates how to implement a high-speed Ethernet interface using the Spartan-7. This reference design is useful for applications that require high-speed data transfer and network connectivity, such as network switches and routers.

The DDR3 reference design is another popular reference design for the Spartan-7. It demonstrates how to interface with DDR3 memory using the Spartan-7, which is important for applications that require high-speed memory access, such as digital signal processing and high-performance computing.

Software Tools

Xilinx provides several software tools to help developers and engineers design and implement custom solutions using the Spartan-7. The AMD Vivado Design Suite is a comprehensive software package that includes all the tools necessary to design, simulate, and implement custom solutions using the Spartan-7. Additionally, Xilinx provides a range of IP cores that can be used to accelerate the development process and reduce time-to-market.

One of the key benefits of the Vivado Design Suite is its ability to optimize the performance of the Spartan-7 FPGA. The software can automatically generate optimal placement and routing solutions, allowing designers to achieve maximum performance and efficiency with minimal effort. The Vivado Design Suite also supports a wide range of programming languages, including VHDL, Verilog, and SystemVerilog, making it easy for designers to work in their preferred language.

The Vivado Design Suite, Xilinx provides a range of IP cores that can be used to accelerate the development process and reduce time-to-market. These IP cores are pre-built blocks of code that implement specific functions, such as image processing, audio processing, or data encryption. By using these pre-built IP cores, designers can save time and effort by leveraging pre-existing code rather than starting from scratch. This can significantly reduce development time and improve time-to-market for custom solutions.

Why Spartan-7 FPGAs Are a Game-Changer for Custom Embedded Designs

The Spartan-7 FPGA series delivers an exceptional balance of high performance, low power consumption, and robust connectivity, making it a reliable choice for modern embedded and industrial applications. Whether you're accelerating data center tasks, automating industrial processes, or advancing scientific instrumentation, Spartan-7 FPGAs offer the flexibility and power required to meet demanding design requirements.

Thanks to their optimized architecture, these FPGAs are easily customized for specific use cases. Engineers benefit from high-speed interfaces, energy-efficient operation, and a compact footprint, enabling seamless integration into a wide variety of systems. Backed by Xilinx’s comprehensive suite of development tools, reference designs, and reusable IP cores, development teams can rapidly build and iterate on FPGA-based solutions with minimal friction.

Additionally, the Spartan-7 platform includes a powerful integrated development environment (IDE) designed to streamline the design process. With pre-verified IP blocks, layout templates, and access to a library of proven design flows, you can reduce development timelines from months to just days, without compromising performance or reliability.

Need help sourcing Spartan-7 FPGAs or other hard-to-find components?

Microchip USA is a trusted electronic component distributor with deep industry knowledge and a strong track record in solving sourcing challenges. We specialize in hard-to-find and obsolete components, leveraging our global network of OEM and CM partners to locate even the most elusive parts.

In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable supply chain landscape, we understand how critical it is to get the right components at the right time. Whether you're navigating shortages or planning ahead, our experienced team is here to support your needs with efficiency and care. Contact us to keep your projects moving forward with confidence!