Virtex5

Virtex-5 is a family of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) manufactured by Xilinx. Built on a 65-nanometer silicon process, the Virtex-5 devices offer higher logic density, improved performance, and lower power consumption compared with earlier generations. The family is designed to support a range of applications that require flexible logic, high-speed data handling, and configurable I/O.

Architecturally, Virtex-5 devices use six-input look-up tables (LUTs) organized into configurable logic blocks and slices, complemented by block RAM, distributed RAM, and DSP resources for signal processing tasks. They also include high-speed serial transceivers capable of multi-gigabit data rates, enabling applications in communications and data transfer. Many devices in the family provide hardened IP blocks and support for connectivity peripherals, including PCIe endpoints in certain variants.

Variants within the Virtex-5 family include subfamilies such as LX, FX, and LXT, which differ in terms of logic density, transceiver capabilities, and I/O options. The LX line emphasizes logic resources, the LXT line adds enhanced high-speed transceivers, and the FX line targets mixed-signal and connectivity-focused designs.

Development and deployment: Xilinx supplied design tools such as the ISE Design Suite to support Virtex-5 design entry, synthesis, simulation, and bitstream generation. These devices have been used in telecommunications equipment, video processing, scientific instrumentation, aerospace and defense, and industrial automation, among other fields.

Lifecycle: The Virtex-5 family was later succeeded by newer generations (notably Virtex-6 and Virtex-7) offering further improvements in performance and power efficiency. Some Virtex-5 devices remain in operation in various systems, even as production coverage shifted to newer families.