XC5VSX50T-2FFG665I: AMD Xilinx's Powerhouse FPGA for Advanced Digital Systems

The XC5VSX50T-2FFG665I from AMD Xilinx (formerly Xilinx Inc.) stands as a flagship Field Programmable Gate Array in the Virtex-5 SXT family, engineered to deliver unparalleled performance for compute-intensive applications. This comprehensive guide explores its architecture, technical specifications, and real-world implementations to help engineers leverage its full potential.

In-Depth Technical Specifications

Core Architecture

• FPGA Series: Virtex-5 SXT (Serial Connectivity Optimized)
• Logic Cells: 52,224 (Equivalent to 4080 CLBs)
• DSP Slices: 288 (18x25 multipliers)
• Clock Management: 6 Digital Clock Managers (DCMs), 6 Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs)

Memory Hierarchy

• Block RAM: 4,866 Kb (148 x 36Kb blocks)
• Distributed RAM: 2,088 Kb
• Maximum Frequency: 550 MHz (DSP operations)

Physical Characteristics

• Package: 665-FCBGA (27x27mm, 1mm ball pitch)
• I/O Standards: Supports LVDS, LVPECL, RSDS, HSTL, SSTL
• Transceivers: 12 RocketIO GTP (3.125 Gbps each)

Comparative Advantage Over Competing FPGAs

When benchmarked against similar FPGAs like Intel's Stratix IV or Lattice's ECP5, the XC5VSX50T-2FFG665I demonstrates:

Industry-Leading Applications

5G Infrastructure

In baseband processing units, the FPGA's 12 transceivers enable massive MIMO processing with <2 s latency, making it ideal for OpenRAN implementations.

Aerospace Systems

Radar signal processing chains benefit from the device's 288 DSP slices, capable of performing 1.2 TMACs/sec while meeting MIL-STD-883 shock/vibration standards.

Medical Imaging

Real-time ultrasound beamforming utilizes the FPGA's block RAM for delay profile storage, achieving <5ms processing latency for 1024-channel systems.

Design Resources

AMD Xilinx provides comprehensive support including:

• Vivado Design Suite (2023.1 or later)
• Pre-verified IP cores for PCIe Gen2, Ethernet
• Reference designs for common use cases
• Thermal analysis tools for the FCBGA package

Purchasing Information

Available through authorized distributors:

• Lead Time: 8-12 weeks
• MoQ: 50 units (commercial), 10 units (military)
• Lifecycle Status: Active through 2030

Conclusion

The XC5VSX50T-2FFG665I represents the optimal balance between high-speed serial connectivity (12 GTP transceivers) and computational density (288 DSP slices). Its radiation-tolerant design variants make it particularly valuable for space applications, while commercial versions power next-gen networking equipment. For designers requiring a proven, scalable FPGA solution with long-term availability, this device delivers exceptional value.

For technical documentation or pricing inquiries, contact our FPGA specialists today.