RHS Research LLC
FPGA Boards
AMD
PicoEVB is an affordable, open source, development board which can be used to evaluate and prototype PCI Express designs using a Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA on Windows or Linux hosts. The boards are designed around the Artix 7 (XC7A50T).
While the main intent of PicoEVB is PCIe design prototyping, it can be used as an integrated part of your laptop (or desktop) computer. Use a board as an encryption co-processor for security, or as a hardware-level encoder/decoder for speedy workflows. It’s your FPGA, design what you like.
Feature | PicoEVB |
---|---|
FPGA | Xilinx Artix XC7A50T |
Form Factor | M.2 (NGFF) 2230, keyed for A and E slots |
Dimensions | 22 x 30 x 3.8 mm |
Host Interface | PCIe x1 gen 2 |
Host Tools | Vivado 2016, 2017 |
MGT Loopback | Yes |
Built-in JTAG | Yes |
External Interface | 4 digital channels OR 1 analog (differential) and 2 digital, OR 2 analog (differential) |
User-controllable LEDs | 3 |
The board schematics in their final form (PDFs) will be published under a permissive license. In additon, major software components are open source:
Files are being published in the project GitHub repository.
Current FPGA development boards are large. Almost all development kits require a desktop PC, or are designed to sit on a lab bench. NanoEVB aims to change this — the entire development kit fits inside a laptop! In addition, the JTAG cable is built-in, no external cables needed- just plug it into a PCIe slot and go.
Furthermore, to explore PCIe designs, currently you need to spend over $1,000. NanoEVB and PicoEVB have PCIe connectivity to the host computer, and as such, you can design PCIe-based solutions and explore Xilinx’s IP for PCIe solutions without spending a grand and without taking up a ton of space.
If you want a spare six-pin I/O cable, you can order them pre-crimped directly from Digi-Key:
Digi-Key Part Number | Manufacturer | Manufacturer Part Number | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WM15693-ND | Molex | 0797581010 | Pico-EZmate pre-crimped leads |
WM4343-ND | Molex | 0781725006 | Pico-EZmate rectangular connector housing (6x) |
Produced by RHS Research LLC in Syracuse, NY.
Sold and shipped by Crowd Supply.
The PicoEVB fits in an M.2 2230 key A or E, which is common in newer laptops. Can also fit into a full-length mPCIe slot with an adapter.
RHS Research LLC is a small company located in upstate NY, focused on bringing low-cost FGPA development kits to makers and hobbyists.
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