solderic.com Zynq 7000 offers a balanced integration of ARM Cortex-A9 processors with FPGA fabric, ideal for mid-range embedded applications requiring real-time processing and moderate logic resources. For your high-performance needs, the Zynq UltraScale+ provides a more advanced ARM Cortex-A53/A72-based processing system coupled with ultra-dense FPGA cells and enhanced connectivity options. Explore the rest of the article to understand which platform suits your project best.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Zynq-7000 | Zynq UltraScale+ |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | 28nm ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core | 16nm ARM Cortex-A53 quad-core + Cortex-R5 dual-core |
| Process Node | 28nm | 16nm FinFET |
| Processor Cores | Dual ARM Cortex-A9 (up to 866 MHz) | Quad ARM Cortex-A53 + Dual Cortex-R5 (up to 1.5 GHz) |
| FPGA Fabric | Artix-7 based | UltraScale+ FPGA fabric |
| Memory Interface | DDR3/DDR2 support | DDR4/LPDDR4/DDR3 support |
| GPU | None | Embedded Mali-400 MP2 |
| Security Features | Basic security features | Advanced TrustZone, secure boot, hardware root of trust |
| Integrated Peripherals | Basic peripherals | Rich peripherals including PCIe Gen3, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Use Cases | Embedded systems, lower complexity applications | High-performance embedded, automotive, aerospace, AI |
| Power Efficiency | Moderate | High power efficiency with 16nm FinFET |
Introduction to Zynq 7000 and Zynq UltraScale+
Zynq 7000 integrates a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor with programmable FPGA fabric, offering a versatile platform for embedded systems requiring moderate processing power and flexible hardware customization. Zynq UltraScale+ advances this architecture with quad-core ARM Cortex-A53, dual-core Cortex-R5 real-time processors, and enhanced FPGA logic, delivering higher performance, improved energy efficiency, and advanced security features for complex, high-throughput applications. Your choice between these platforms hinges on the computational requirements and scalability needed for your embedded design projects.
Architecture Comparison: Processing System and Programmable Logic
The Zynq-7000 series integrates a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processing system with a 28nm programmable logic fabric, offering a balance of performance and power efficiency suitable for mid-range embedded applications. In contrast, the Zynq UltraScale+ family features a more advanced heterogeneous processing system, including quad-core ARM Cortex-A53, dual-core Cortex-R5 real-time processors, and Mali-400 MP2 GPU, coupled with 16nm FinFET+ programmable logic for significantly enhanced computational throughput and lower latency. This architectural evolution in UltraScale+ enables greater parallelism and scalability in programmable logic, supporting complex, high-bandwidth, and real-time processing functions beyond the capabilities of the original Zynq-7000 framework.
Performance Benchmarks: Speed and Throughput
The Zynq UltraScale+ outperforms the Zynq-7000 in speed and throughput, leveraging advanced ARM Cortex-A53 cores running up to 1.5 GHz compared to the Zynq-7000's Cortex-A9 cores at 1 GHz. With enhanced FPGA fabric and increased DSP slices, the UltraScale+ delivers significantly higher data processing rates and parallelism, making it ideal for high-performance applications. Your choice of the UltraScale+ will provide improved benchmark results in complex signal processing and data-intensive tasks.
Power Consumption and Efficiency
The Zynq UltraScale+ offers significantly improved power efficiency compared to the Zynq 7000, leveraging advanced 16nm FinFET technology versus the older 28nm process of the Zynq 7000, resulting in lower power consumption for equivalent workloads. Your designs benefit from the UltraScale+ platform's dynamic power management and optimized architecture, which deliver higher performance-per-watt in embedded systems and heterogeneous computing applications. Efficient power scaling in UltraScale+ enables longer battery life and reduced thermal management requirements compared to the Zynq 7000 series.
Integrated Features and Peripherals
Zynq 7000 SoC integrates dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processors with FPGA fabric, offering essential peripherals like USB, Ethernet, and CAN for versatile embedded applications. Zynq UltraScale+ enhances this with quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processors, real-time Cortex-R5 cores, and advanced peripherals including PCIe Gen3, 10Gb Ethernet, and Graphics Processing Units for high-performance requirements. Your choice depends on the need for advanced processing power and richer peripheral sets to support complex, high-throughput designs.
Memory Interfaces and Bandwidth
Zynq 7000 devices support DDR3, DDR2, and LPDDR2 memory interfaces with bandwidths typically up to 12.8 GB/s, suitable for moderate data throughput applications. Zynq UltraScale+ features advanced memory interfaces including DDR4, LPDDR4, and HBM2, achieving significantly higher bandwidths exceeding 25 GB/s to enable data-intensive and high-performance computing tasks. The UltraScale+ architecture incorporates multiple memory controllers and faster PHYs, enhancing parallel memory access and increasing overall system efficiency compared to the Zynq 7000 family.
Development Tools and Ecosystem Support
Zynq 7000 and Zynq UltraScale+ both benefit from Xilinx's Vivado Design Suite, but UltraScale+ supports more advanced features like enhanced partial reconfiguration and improved HLS capabilities, enabling higher design flexibility and efficiency. The UltraScale+ ecosystem offers broader compatibility with cutting-edge IP cores, development boards, and third-party tools, providing extensive resources for complex applications. Your development experience improves with UltraScale+ due to its robust support for AI frameworks and advanced debugging tools available in the latest Xilinx SDK environment.
Cost Analysis and Market Availability
Zynq 7000 series typically offers a lower cost entry point compared to the Zynq UltraScale+, making it more accessible for budget-conscious projects and small-scale production runs. The Zynq UltraScale+ provides advanced features and higher performance, but at a premium price, which can impact your project budget and total cost of ownership. Market availability for both varies, with the Zynq 7000 being widely available due to its longer time in the market, while the UltraScale+ may face supply constraints driven by higher demand in cutting-edge applications.
Target Applications for Zynq 7000 vs UltraScale+
Zynq 7000 series targets applications requiring balanced processing and programmable logic, ideal for industrial automation, automotive systems, and consumer electronics with moderate performance needs. Zynq UltraScale+ focuses on high-end applications like advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), 5G wireless infrastructure, and aerospace, offering enhanced processing power, integrated GPUs, and AI acceleration. Your choice depends on application complexity and performance requirements, with UltraScale+ suited for next-generation, compute-intensive tasks.
Future-Proofing and Scalability Considerations
Zynq UltraScale+ offers enhanced future-proofing and scalability compared to Zynq 7000, featuring advanced 16nm FinFET process technology that delivers higher performance and improved power efficiency. The UltraScale+ architecture supports a wider range of programmable logic resources and integrated processing system capabilities, enabling easier upgrades and adaptability to evolving application requirements. Its enhanced I/O flexibility and advanced memory interfaces ensure better support for next-generation workloads, making it a superior choice for scalable and long-term embedded system designs.
zynq 7000 vs zynq ultrascale+ Infographic
