Some differences existing between the Virtex 7 board and evaluation board. Although they share some similarities, the differences far outweigh that.
This article exposes some of the differences that exist between the Virtex 7 development board and the evaluation board.
The Different Uses
The uses or applications of the two boards form the first difference between them. The Virtex 7 board is primarily used to make designs and prototypes of circuit boards. It is only after these prototypes are made and confirmed to be working excellently that the final product will be pushed into the market.
On the other hand, the Virtex 7 evaluation board is used to test or evaluate the components. This is important because one of the reasons why an FPGA device fails to perform excellently is because of the malfunctioning components.
Therefore, using the Virtex 7 evaluation board or kit helps you to run a series of tests on these components to be sure of their working condition before delegating them for use in making larger devices.
Multifunctioning Capacity
The capability of the boards to function in different ways is another difference. On the one hand, the Virtex 7 board can serve a wide range of purposes. For example, it can be used as a processor, Microcontroller (MCU) or sensor, all thanks to the semiconductor.
On the other hand, the Virtex 7 evaluation board is majorly used for testing the components. It may only support published schematic, Bill of Materials (BOM) and Gerber files. These three (3) are used to facilitate the hardware design of the targeted FPGA device.
Configuration Options
The Virtex 7 board also hosts a wide range of additional components, ranging from onboard power supply, memory, Input and Output (I/O) connectors and graphical displays.
Combining those additional components helps to provide multiple configuration options that simplify the fine-tuning of the devices.
On the other hand, the Virtex 7 evaluation board can also include demonstration software packages. These packages are designed to help you “demonstrate” or make a series of demo testing of the components.
Cost
The price range of the Virtex 7 board and the evaluation board also differs. Depending on the targeted applications, onsite components and additional features, the boards can be costly.
For emphasis, the Virtex 7 evaluation board has a price range up to $5,000.
Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between the Virtex 7 board and the Virtex 7 evaluation board relies heavily on the use cases/applications, your expertise and the cost.
If you are looking to make prototypes of FPGA devices, the Virtex 7 board is the one to go for. However, if you want to test the FPGA components before use, choose the Virtex 7 evaluation board.
The primary similarity between the Virtex 7 board and the evaluation board is that they are both fixed designs or boards. Thus, you need to put in a lot of effort to configure the boards and make them work as you wanted.
Are you unsure of which to choose between the two, based on your current project? Contact EBICS for professional guidance.
