Opal Kelly launches Spartan-6 FPGA module with external PCI express

PORTLAND, USA: Opal Kelly, a leading producer of powerful FPGA modules that provide essential device-to-computer interconnect, has announced a new product family of compact FPGA integration modules using external PCI Express.

The first module in the family, the XEM6110, is based on the Xilinx Spartan-6 and delivers five times faster transfer rates compared to USB and much lower latency. Responding to requests from design engineers, researchers and teachers, the new XEM6110 leverages Opal Kelly’s industry-leading FrontPanel software and API. The result is a dramatically faster time-to-market for high-speed, low-latency applications.

The Opal Kelly XEM6110 is a compact (75mm x 50mm) FPGA module, featuring a Xilinx Spartan-6, 1 Gb (64M x 16 bit) DDR2 SDRAM, high-efficiency switching power supplies, two high-density 0.8-mm expansion connectors, and a low-jitter 100-MHz oscillator.

The external PCI Express interface enables fast configuration downloads without requiring a PC reboot and PC-FPGA communication. Sharing a common footprint with the XEM3010 and XEM3050, most designs can be migrated to the new XEM6110 without a PCB change.

“We asked Opal Kelly for a faster interface for their FPGA modules - we make extensive use of multiple XEM3010's in our designs but find USB 2.0 bandwidth is holding us back. Opal Kelly delivered the PCI Express XEM6110 - virtually a drop-in to our existing designs, with significantly improved data transfer rates,” said Mike Phaneuf, president of Fibics Inc.

“Opal Kelly’s FPGA modules are the heart of many of our designs for solving real-world commercial problems. Not only will the PCI Express interface dramatically increase transfer rates, but the use of Opal Kelly’s FrontPanel API continues to reduce the time and effort required to interface to our systems. We are excited about leveraging this new module to improve our time-to-market for the delivery of key next-generation products."

The XEM6110 Starter Kit, including XEM6110, PCI1001 (host interface board), BRK6110 (breakout board), power supply, and cable, will be available December 1 from the Opal Kelly online store for $995.