Learning the ropes when it comes to working with a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) isn’t always the best way to learn for beginners. From issue bordering on trying to get a hang of the configuration process to making prototypes, beginners tend to be put off after a while.
That is the reason for having development boards. With a development board, you will find it easier to learn how to configure a circuit board. The Xilinx Artix A7 is a classic development board designed for beginners in the FPGA industry.
Read this blog post to the end to find out what the development board has to offer.
What is the Xilinx Artix A7?
It is a ready-to-use development board designed for use with configuring Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) in the Xilinx Artix-7 family.
Adaptable Configuration: What You Need to Know
A Field Programmable Gate Array (FGPA) is configurable in the first place because it is flexible. The keyword here is “flexible” and that’s what the Xilinx Artix A7 offers.
The flexibility is derived from the integration of the duo of multiple Pmod ports and Arduino headers. The two combine to help you drive both flexibility and versatility out of the same package.
The versatility of the Xilinx Artix A7 is also bolstered with its use of an On-Chip Analog-to-Digital Converter (XADC).
Instant Development
Working with an FPGA development board can help you cut down on the time spent on “figuring things out.” But not all FPGA development boards offer you the tools needed to get that done faster.
The Xilinx Artix A7 is an exception, as it includes the Xilinx Vivado Design Suite. It is a software suite designed to help digital designers with optimizing the FPGAs for a wide range of embedded applications.
To back this up, the Xilinx Artix A7 also includes the Xilinx Software Development Kit, a free WebPACK Version and Vitis Core Development Kit. All these combine to deliver the instantaneous configuration of Xilinx Artix A7 FPGAs.
Reference Designs Serve as a Guide
Still unsure of how to use the Xilinx Artix A7 development board? Worry no more. You can take a look at some of the reference designs and demos that came with the board.
Those should inspire you and point you to the right direction on how to get started quickly with configuring the Xilinx Artix A7.
Improved Board Performance
The performance of the Xilinx Artix A7 FPGAs is assured, thanks to the provision of the highest-performance-per-watt fabric.
As a comparison, the Xilinx Artix A7 development board boasts of a wide range of advanced tools to beat the duo of Arty Z7 and Arty S7.
The improved performance includes the use of several peripherals to create a wide range of embedded applications, DSP processing, higher transceiver line rates and AMS integration.
Conclusion
The Xilinx Artix A7 development board is your go-to for faster, more interoperable and a wide range of embedded applications’ FPGA designs. The use of the MicroBlaze processor and combining it with the Xilinx Vivado Design Suite can help you make the first prototype in the shortest time possible.
