Product category:
Communications ICs (Wired)
News Release from: PLX Technology Europe | Subject: PCI 9656 I/O accelerator
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 10 October 2003
Accelerator chip simplifies I/O
expansion module
Rapid-Technology has developed its new PMC I/O expansion module using the PLX PCI 9656 I/O accelerator chip.
Rapid-Technology has developed its new PMC I/O expansion module using the PLX PCI 9656 I/O accelerator chip Rapid-Technology selected the PCI 9656 for its 64bit, 66MHz operation, ease-of-design, flexible features and extensive design support through PLX development tools
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 20 Aug 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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"There were clear advantages to designing with the PLX device versus a FPGA PCI IP core in our application", said Brian Bell, President of Rapid-Technology.
"Our products are intended to be configured by the end user to perform a function or algorithm they code for the FPGA.
Forcing our customers to license a PCI IP core from another vendor would be a sales barrier for my company.
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Many customers do not want to deal with the up-front cost and licensing logistics associated with an IP core, and we do not want the added support complexity that would be associated with an IP core".
"With the PCI 9656, our customers can tailor the module's flexible functionality to specific applications and take advantage of the PCI 9656's user-friendly interface".
"In the communications-design space, there are distinct times and places for FPGAs and for high-performance PCI controllers such as the PCI 9656", said Larry Chisvin, Vice President of Marketing at PLX.
"It's a tribute to Rapid-Technology's commitment to its customer base that it recognised the importance of selecting the most appropriate interconnect solution for this design".
The PCI 9656 simplified the PMC expansion module upgrade on a number of levels.
Because designers will be customising the PMC module, they need the ability to quickly and easily recompile the FPGA source code, which the PCI 9656 allows them to do.
The chip also enables in-system reconfiguration of the FPGA, which wouldn't otherwise be possible since an FPGA is not functional during configuration.
Furthermore, the PLX 9656's user-friendly local bus makes the design process dramatically easier when compared to developing local-side logic that is inherently required with most PCI IP cores.
The Rapid-Technology PMC expansion module is a high-performance computing subsystem and I/O expansion board for embedded applications in a PMC form factor.
Applications for the module include telecomms, data processing, compute-intensive DSP coprocessing, machine control and I/O interfacing for processor host boards.
The PCI v2.2-compliant module supports 64bit/66MHz down to 32bit/33MHz master/target PCI interfacing and comes with the active and physical layer components for system-on-a-programmable-chip design.
The PCI 9656 is the most-advanced member of PLX's 64bit PCI I/O accelerator family, satisfying system designs' demands for maximum PCI bandwidth without incurring the expense or effort of implementing 64bit peripherals on the local bus.
The industry's first bus-mastering silicon to enable 64bit, 66MHz PCI operation in adapters and embedded hosts that incorporate Motorola PowerQUICC processors or generic 32bit, 66MHz local bus designs, the PCI 9656 includes many significant functional enhancements that provide unmatched power, versatility, and time-to-market advantages to I/O-intensive communications, networking, imaging, and storage systems.
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