FPGAs are getting larger and larger, as evidenced by Xilinx's Virtex-5 devices,
which are produced on a 65-nm process.
Designers want faster runtimes for their
FPGA tools as well as other features that
let them reach timing closure more rapidly.
Version 9.1i of Xilinx's Integrated Software Environment (ISE) offers those runtime improvements, along with what the
company calls "SmartCompile technology," which offers a further runtime boost.
In addition, SmartCompile allows exact
preservation of unchanged logic while
revised logic is incrementally recompiled.
Overall runtimes for complex designs are
reduced in ISE 9.1i by up to 2.5 times. But
SmartCompile adds features such as
SmartPreview, which permits pause-andresume functionality in the place-androute process to help identify timing-critical design regions.
Another feature, SmartGuide, works
closely with synthesis tools to ensure the
use of consistent, repeatable names when
resynthesizing small logic changes. As a
result, reimplementation runtimes average
from two times to four times faster.
A third new feature under the SmartCompile umbrella is Partitions, which enables
users to freeze the implementation of
specified blocks within a design. These
blocks are preserved down to the routing
level. Yet another 2.5-times average runtime boost is garnered from Partitions
when reimplementing portions of a design.
ISE 9.1i is available now. Prices start at
$2495. A full-featured, 60-day evaluation
version is available for free. All versions
support Windows 2000 and XP, Linux Red
Hat Enterprise 3.0 and 4.0, and Solaris 2.8 and 2.9.
Xilinx Inc.
www.xilinx.com
