“Intelligent edge.”
That is a new term for many. Basically it refers to the the increased computational capabilities at the edge of the communications networks. Typically, heavy compute loads are executed in data centers or on supercomputers. As the “intelligent edge” ramps up performance, those calculations are enabled by embedded devices using multicore CPUs, FPGAs, SoCs, and the like.
Intelliegent edge and embedded computing applications combine faster speeds with lower power densities. Additional integration and functionality like AI/ML, advanced image processing, increased security and connectivity enable next-gen solutions in a number of mid-range applications.
Extending the innovations of Intel® Agilex™ devices in embedded computing, the new Intel® Agilex™ 5 FPGA and SoC E-series offers high performance, lower power, smaller form factors, and lower logic densities for mid-range FPGA applications. The E-series features the industry’s first Enhanced DSP with AI Tensor Block, which delivers high-efficiency AI and DSP functionality.
Other key featrures of the Intel Agilex 5 E-series include:
- Manufactured on Intel 7 technology
- Logic Density 50kLE – 656kLE
- Dual Arm Cortex-A55 and Cortex-A76 cores
- 2nd generation Intel® Hyperflex™ FPGA Architecture
- 28 Gbps high-speed transceivers
- PCIe 4.0 and 25 GbE Hard IP
- DDR4/5 and LPDDR4/5 Hard Memory Controllers
- GPIO from 1.05 – 3.3V
New Intel Agilex 5 E-series SoC Development Kit
Samtec, Arrow Electronics, and several additional partners are developing an easy-to-use evaluation and devlopment platform for the Intel Agilex 5 E-series SoC. This new, full-featured development kit will enable embedded engineers to evaluate the features of the Intel Agilex 5 E-series SoC while shortening design cycles and time to market.
Key features of the new Arrrow FPGA DevKit with Agilex 5 E-series include:
- A5E 043B – 434 kLE (ES: A5E 065B – 656kLE) / BBGA 1596 (32×32)
- SoC: Dual Core A55 + Dual Core A76
- LPDDR4: 2x 8Gbit x32 / 1Gbit SPI Flash / MicroSD card
- HDMI / USB 3.x / 2x 1GBit Ethernet / EEPROM / PCIe 4.0 x4 edge connector
- FMC+ connector (8x TX/RX @17 Gbps) / 2x SFP+ connector for 10 Gbps
- CRUVI LS/HS for additional adapter & interface boards
- Power supply: 12V adapter
- Size: ~18x18cm²
- Arrow USB Programmer2 (debug, programming)
The new development kit will include several popular I/O expansion busses like VITA 57.4 FMC+ and CRUVI low-speed and high-speed interfaces. Various FMC+ or CRUVI mezzanine cards can be connected to the new development kit, allowing for rapid prototyping of almost any customer end market product.
Arrow will provide software and Linux support via the Arrow USB Programmer2 for debugging and programming. Modified and custom versions will also be available upon request.
VITA 57.4 FMC+ Interface
VITA 57.4 FMC+ provided an update to VITA 57.1 FMC. Fully released in July 2018, VITA 57.4 FMC+ was designed to expand upon the already popular FMC standard while avoiding the hassle of implementation into existing systems.
FMC+ provides improved performance, faster data rates, and additional I/O, while utilizing the same footprint as FMC. Along with backwards compatibility with legacy FMC systems, FMC+ proves to be a stress-free improvement for any FPGA developer already using FMC. A new FMC+ HSPC connector offers 560 pins in a 14×40 array, 24 MGTs, and supports high-performance 28 Gbps FPGA transceivers.
Standard VITA 57.4 FMC+ HSPC Connectors from Samtec include:
- ASP-184329-01 – Carrier Side Connector
- ASP-184330-01 – 10mm stack height Peripheral Side Connector
- ASP-188588-01 – 8.5mm stack height Peripheral Side Connector
CRUVI Interface
While VITA 57.4 FMC+ can handle many FPGA/SoC I/O expansion needs, not all applications require the support of 32 Gbps transceivers. Some expansion cards just need GPIO and power. That is one of the reasons our friends at Trenz Electronic an their partners created a new FPGA expansion bus called CRUVI.
The purpise of CRUVI is to create an open ecosystem of functional FPGA I/O modules. The main focus is on support for new and emerging FPGA and SoC devices. CRUVI offers both low-speed and high-speed variants. Fortunately, both verison use Samtec interconnect.
Standard CRUVI Connectors from Samtec include:
- SS4-30-3.50-L-D-K – CRUVI High-Speed/XCVR Carrier Side Connector
- ST4-30-1.50-L-D-P – CRUVI High-Speed/XCVR Peripheral Side Connector
- CLT-106-02-F-D-A-K – CRUVI Low-speed Carrier Side Connector
- TMMH-106-04-F-DV-A-M – CRUVI Low-speed Peripheral Side Connector
For More Information
Stay tuned to the Samtec blog for more information on this exciitng new SoC from Arrow. Interested engineers can pre-register for the new kit on the Arrrow FPGA DevKit with Agilex 5 E-series landing page.
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