Intel Expands FPGA Lineup, Unveiling New Products for All Six Platforms

Intel’s Programmable Solutions Group (PSG) is expanding its FPGA product lineup with the launch of six new programmable platforms designed for different customer needs and workloads. The latest offerings include a sub-family of Agilex 5-series FPGAs, as well as the all-new Agilex 3 series and Agilex.

The standout addition is the Intel Agilex 3 FPGA series, which offers power and cost-optimized FPGAs in compact form factors. The Agilex 3 B-series FPGAs, in particular, boast higher I/O density in compact sizes compared to Intel Max 10 FPGAs. These FPGAs are optimized for board and system management, making them ideal for server platform management applications.

On the other end of the Agilex 3 spectrum are the C-series FPGAs, engineered to provide additional capabilities suitable for a wide range of complex programmable logic devices (CPLD) and FPGA applications across various industries. Intel plans to make the Agilex 3-series FPGAs available soon, although an exact release date has not been disclosed.

Another notable addition is the Intel Agilex 5 FPGA E-series, based on the 2nd Generation Hyperflex FPGA architecture. These FPGAs are specifically tailored for embedded edge applications, offering high performance efficiency. Manufactured using Intel’s in-house Intel 7 manufacturing technology, these parts deliver 1.6 times higher performance per watt compared to competing FPGAs built on a 16 nm-class process technology. Additionally, this FPGA series integrates an AI tensor block, previously exclusive to Intel’s premium programmable parts, making it a suitable solution for edge AI tasks. Sampling of Agilex 5 E-series parts with design software is expected to begin in Q1 2024, with a cloud-based system simulator becoming available later that year.

Intel has also started shipping its Intel Agilex 7 FPGAs with the R-Tile chiplet. These FPGAs feature a PCIe 5.0 interface with the CXL protocol, enabling the rapid deployment of programmable accelerators for tasks that can benefit from higher bandwidth and lower latencies.

In addition to the FPGA announcements, Intel shared that the first commercial product based on its F2000X infrastructure processing unit platform is now shipping. The Napatech F2070X IPU, powered by the Agilex AGFC023 FPGA and an Intel Xeon D SoC, offers two 100 GbE ports.

Lastly, Intel introduced the Nios V/c compact microcontroller, a soft-core IP based on the RISC-V architecture. This microcontroller can be programmed using Intel’s Quartus Prime Pro software.

Overall, Intel’s latest additions to its FPGA product range showcase the company’s commitment to delivering versatile and high-performance solutions for various applications and industries.

Background Information

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About Intel: Intel Corporation, a global technology leader, is renowned for its semiconductor innovations that power computing and communication devices worldwide. As a pioneer in microprocessor technology, Intel has left an indelible mark on the evolution of computing with its processors that drive everything from PCs to data centers and beyond. With a history of groundbreaking advancements, Intel's relentless pursuit of innovation continues to shape the digital landscape, offering solutions that empower businesses and individuals to achieve new levels of productivity and connectivity.

  

Technology Explained

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Agilex: Agilex is a technology that is used in the computer industry to help streamline the development process. It is based on the Agile methodology, which is a set of principles that focus on delivering high-quality software quickly and efficiently. Agilex helps to break down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces, allowing developers to work on each piece independently. This helps to reduce the time it takes to develop a product, as well as improve the quality of the final product. Additionally, Agilex helps to reduce the risk of errors and bugs, as well as improve communication between developers and stakeholders. By using Agilex, companies can create better products faster and with fewer resources.

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chiplet: Chiplets are a new type of technology that is revolutionizing the computer industry. They are small, modular components that can be used to build powerful computing systems. Chiplets are designed to be used in combination with other components, such as processors, memory, and storage, to create a complete system. This allows for more efficient and cost-effective production of computers, as well as more powerful and versatile systems. Chiplets can be used to create powerful gaming PCs, high-end workstations, and even supercomputers. They are also being used in the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. Chiplets are an exciting new technology that is changing the way we build and use computers.

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FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are a type of technology used in the computer industry. They are integrated circuits that can be programmed to perform specific tasks. FPGAs are used in a variety of applications, including digital signal processing, networking, and embedded systems. They are also used in the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. FPGAs are advantageous because they can be reprogrammed to perform different tasks, allowing for greater flexibility and faster development times. Additionally, FPGAs are more energy efficient than traditional processors, making them ideal for applications that require low power consumption.

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PCIe: PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for connecting components such as graphics cards, sound cards, and network cards to a motherboard. It is the most widely used interface in the computer industry today, and is used in both desktop and laptop computers. PCIe is capable of providing up to 16 times the bandwidth of the older PCI standard, allowing for faster data transfer speeds and improved performance. It is also used in a variety of other applications, such as storage, networking, and communications. PCIe is an essential component of modern computing, and its applications are only expected to grow in the future.

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SoC: A System-on-Chip (SoC) is a highly integrated semiconductor device that encapsulates various electronic components, including processors, memory, input/output interfaces, and often specialized hardware components, all on a single chip. SoCs are designed to provide a complete computing system or subsystem within a single chip package, offering enhanced performance, power efficiency, and compactness. They are commonly used in a wide range of devices, from smartphones and tablets to embedded systems and IoT devices, streamlining hardware complexity and facilitating efficient integration of multiple functions onto a single chip.

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Xeon: The Intel Xeon processor is a powerful and reliable processor used in many computer systems. It is a multi-core processor that is designed to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. It is used in servers, workstations, and high-end desktop computers. It is also used in many embedded systems, such as routers and switches. The Xeon processor is known for its high performance and scalability, making it a popular choice for many computer applications. It is also used in many cloud computing applications, as it is capable of handling large amounts of data and providing high levels of performance. The Xeon processor is also used in many scientific and engineering applications, as it is capable of handling complex calculations and simulations.