FPGAs, SoCs and other flexible, configurable and reprogrammable compute engines are redefining embedded computing architectures. While prevalent in Data Centers, ASIC Emulation, and High-Performance Computing, FPGAs are the beating electronic hearts of many emerging Transportation, Medical Imaging, Process Automation and Industrial Vision embedded computing applications. In many FPGA-based designs, the choice of a connector solution can be a crucial element in your system design. The … [Read more...]
A Student’s Perspective – Technical Marketing
As an undergraduate EE major, I have noticed many of my fellow students focus purely on the technical side of engineering. However, my goal is to understand how business principles influence engineering decisions. My role as a Technical Marketing Engineering (TME) Co-op at Samtec allows me to do just that. Technical Marketing provides an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge in various areas of engineering. One day I am learning about fiber optics. On another, I am learning about stamping … [Read more...]
Gen-Z Enables Heterogeneous Computing Networks
Digitization! Everyday, more of our daily life - work, play, sleep, food, entertainment and more - seems to have an online component. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the digitization trend - "Zoom me!" However, digitization has been ongoing for decades. A foundation of daily digitization goes back to Moore's law. CPUs are denser and faster than ever before. Computing networks based on x86 system architectures live on in laptops, workstations, servers and any number of embedded … [Read more...]
Samtec and Achronix Technologists Detail 112 Gbps PAM4 FPGA Implementation
Readers of the Samtec blog know we are always talking about next-gen speed. Current channels rates are running at 56 Gbps PAM4. However, system designers are starting to look at 112 Gbps PAM4 data rates. Intuition would say that bleeding edge data rates like 112 Gbps PAM4 only occur in the data center. Why might that not be the case? FPGA vendors are releasing any number of new solutions featuring 112 Gbps PAM4 transceivers. FPGAs reside in a number of applications like 5G, AI/ML, … [Read more...]
New Intel FPGA Platform Features Samtec Interconnect
Transceivers. SerDes. XCVRs. Tx/Rx. Yada, Yada, Yada. FPGA designers want more of them. FPGA designers want them to be faster. Thankfully, the leading FPGA suppliers are answering the call. The Samtec blog features many solutions from Xilinx, but what about Intel? What options are they promoting? Intel® Agilex™ FPGA and SoCs Intel recently released their latest FPGA/SoC platform called Intel® Agilex™. This family leverages Intel's 10nm process technology and advanced architectures. … [Read more...]
Samtec and REFLEX CES Demo New FPGA/FireFly™ Platforms
"Another blog about FPGA Development Kits? Again? Come on Samtec! Put something else up on the blog!" Umm . . . not today. Sorry! That quote may, or may not, be a comment Samtec bloggers have heard before. In any case, readers of the Samtec blog know FPGAs are a constant topic, Why? FPGA-based solutions combine flexibility and high-speed performance in small form factors. They are found in any number of unique applications. In both cases, these are common traits of … [Read more...]
New FPGA Development Platforms Feature Samtec High-Speed Solutions
FPGA system designers have no shortage of FPGA options for their next-gen end market solution. Xilinx continues to expand their UltraScale+ families. Intel PSG/Altera will ramp Arria 10 and Stratix 10 solutions well in to 2018. New FPGA products require a new generation of FPGA development platforms. Thankfully, both the Xilinx and Intel PSG/Altera design partner ecosystems thrive at launching just what the market needs. Several new platforms feature key Samtec interconnect options that … [Read more...]
Samtec Releases New Kits and Boards Videos
From concept and prototype to development and production, Samtec-designed Kits and Boards featuring high-speed interconnect solutions simplify design and reduce time to market for hobbyists, tinkerers, start-ups and OEMs alike. Several features include: Component KitsDevelopment KitsFMC/FMC+ CardsProduction Cards and Modules Kits and Boards KCU105 & VCU118 Live Demos In cooperation with Xilinx, Samtec has released three new live demos featuring several FMC+ interconnect solutions … [Read more...]
Come Fly With Me
Traveling to a far-away destination usually involves a choice: do I drive or do I fly? Driving entails a slower pace and traffic while flying allows a direct connection to your final destination for around the same price. This simple analogy illustrates choices electronics designers face in getting data from point A to point B. Technology advancement drives added functionality in many of today’s popular applications. OEMs are responding by adding computing and processing power via advanced … [Read more...]
BBC R+D Leverages FMC for Audio Codec Replacement
Our friends at Xilinx recently blogged about how the BBC R+D department replaced a 32-year old small rack-mount audio codec with low-cost off-the-shelf solutions customized to fit the BBC's needs. According to Justin Mitchell, principal engineer at BBC R+D, this project occurred since the original audio codec could no longer be supported due to component aging and a lack of parts. The heart of the new system is the Xilinx Zynq SoC found on the low-cost ZedBoard development kit available from … [Read more...]