The cost and the functions of the board are two of the common factors to consider when buying an FPGA development board. However, the choice of a board upon which to build a prototype of your design goes beyond this.
This article highlights some of the important factors you want to consider before purchasing a Virtex 7 development board.
Run a Background Check on the Supplier
Who is the supplier of the Virtex 7 development board you want to buy? A lot of factors must be considered here, including the supplier’s reputation and the number of years in the business.
Here are some of the factors you want to check:
1. Quoted Price
How much is the supplier willing to accept per Virtex 7 development board? A good rule of thumb is to compare the prices or quotations from different suppliers. You may be lucky to find a supplier with a lower price for the board.
2. Check the Reviews
It is typical of suppliers to have a review section on each of the development boards sold. Check this section to find out what the previous buyers have to say about the supplier and the board itself.
For independent and fact-based reviews, consider running a background check on the supplier via independent sites like Trustpilot.
Power Delivery Mode
What is the supported mode of delivering power to the Virtex 7 development board? Some of the common formats are the Flex Power Designer Tool and the PowerCompass Multi-Load Configurator and iSim.
Expansion Options
Typically, FPGA development boards can extend into larger systems. However, there may be a limit to the expansions, especially when only a limited number of components are in use.
Find out the expansion options of the board, with particular attention on the Input and Output (I/O) ports.
How Much Does the Virtex 7 Development Board Cost?
The cost of an FPGA development board can be affordable or expensive depending on the functions and the targeted applications.
However, it is more common for the board to be affordable or low-cost, because beginners and students are the primary users.
That may not be feasible if you are looking to work with the Virtex 7 development board. It is one of the high-end FPGA development boards you can find out there.
Consider comparing the prices across the sites of different suppliers to see if you can get a better deal.
Supported Components
What type of components does the Virtex 7 development board support? The board typically supports basic components of hardware, IP and design tools.
Lead Time
The lead time is the amount of time it takes to configure and get the Virtex 7 development board ready for use.
You should expect the lead time to be up to 23 weeks at the barest minimum.
Conclusion
You need the Virtex 7 development board for three reasons – to master the circuit board design process, to learn how to make prototypes with the board and to become a better, experienced digital designer.
The set of design tools, IP and hardware components readily come in handy to set you off on the right path of circuit board design.
