ML505/6/7 and XUPV5 FAQ


Below are several frequently asked questions about the ML505/6/7 and XUPV5 boards. Click on the question to jump to the answer. If you have a question about the ML505/6/7 or XUPV5 boards, please contact us at the email address given at the end of this page.

 

What is the speed grade of Virtex-5 on my ML505/ML506/ML507/XUPV5 board?

All the ML505/6/7 and XUPV5 boards use a Virtex-5 of speed grade -1.

 

What are the differences between the ML50x boards?

The ML505 has been made in four variations that use the same printed-circuit-board (PCB) but a different version Virtex-5. The table below lists the different boards and the Virtex-5 it is loaded with:

Board

Virtex-5 Version

Package

Speed Grade

ML505

XC5VLX50T

FFG1136

-1C

ML506

XC5VSX50T

FFG1136

-1C

ML507

XC5VFX70T

FFG1136

-1C

XUPV5

XC5VLX110T

FFG1136

-1C

For more information, please refer to the ML505/ML506/ML507 Evaluation Platform User Guide.

 

What is the XUPV5 (ML509) board?

The XUPV5 board is a version of the ML505 offered by the Xilinx University Program (XUP). It uses the same printed-circuit-board (PCB) as the ML505 but a Virtex-5 XC5VLX110T rather than the XC5VLX50T. It is also known as the ML509 board because it is labeled so. The board is popular because it can be purchased from Digilent for only US$750.

Why cant I find the XUPV5 (or ML509) board in the Base System Builder (BSB)?

The XUPV5 was only recently released. It should eventually be added to future versions of the EDK. Until then, you can instead select the ML505 board in the BSB and then use “Project->Project Options” to change the Virtex-5 version to the correct one for the XUPV5 board. You may also have to change your constraints file (.ucf) if you use it to specify the FPGA or if you are instantiating RocketIO GTPs. See next question.

 

I have a design for an ML50x board (eg. ML505) that I want to migrate to a different ML50x board (eg. ML509). What do I have to change?

Firstly use “Project->Project Options” to change the Virtex-5 version to the correct one for the board you are migrating to. You may also have to change your constraints file (.ucf) if you use it to specify the FPGA or if you are instantiating RocketIO GTPs. The GTP placement names for one version of Virtex-5 do not necessarily refer to the same GTPs on another Virtex-5. For this reason, you might have to change your .ucf file to specify the correct GTPs that you want to use. Use the table below to ensure that you are using the correct placement names for the board that you are using.

ML505

ML506

ML507

XUPV5

XC5VLX50T

XC5VSX50T

XC5VFX70T

XC5VLX110T

SFP/SMA (BANK116)

GTP_DUAL X0Y4

GTP_DUAL X0Y4

GTX_DUAL X0Y5

GTP_DUAL X0Y5

SGMII (BANK112)

GTP_DUAL X0Y3

GTP_DUAL X0Y3

GTX_DUAL X0Y4

GTP_DUAL X0Y4

SATA (BANK114)

GTP_DUAL X0Y2

GTP_DUAL X0Y2

GTX_DUAL X0Y3

GTP_DUAL X0Y3

PCIe (BANK118)

GTP_DUAL X0Y1

GTP_DUAL X0Y1

GTX_DUAL X0Y2

GTP_DUAL X0Y2

 

The banks and their corresponding placement names can be found in the RocketIO User Guides. Refer to “Package Placement Information” in Chapter 4 of the appropriate RocketIO User Guide for your board:

 

The Virtex-5 on my ML50x board gets very hot when in use. What should I do about it?

The Virtex-5 FPGA is a very powerful device that will naturally generate heat when in operation. Several Xilinx application notes suggest using a heatsink/fan with the ML505 board to reduce the overheating problem.

A suitable heatsink/fan can be purchased from Radian Heatsinks. A full list of compatible heatsinks can be found at the link below:

http://www.radianheatsinks.com/docs/virtex-chart.pdf

Other suitable and cost effective heatsinks can be purchased from Digilent. See the list of them in the “Related Products” section of the XUPV5 page.

 

How can I buy an ML50x board and how much does it cost?

  1. The ML505/ML506/ML507 can be purchased from Xilinx for the price of US$1,195.
  2. As an option for universities, the Xilinx University Program offers a version of the board known as the XUPV5 (or ML509). It can be purchased from Digilent for US$750.