The XEM8305-AU15P is an FPGA development board based on the AMD Artix™ UltraScale+™ FPGA. In addition to support for the Opal Kelly FrontPanel® SDK and SuperSpeed USB 3.0, the module includes high-efficiency power supplies for single-input power, 1 GiB DDR4, clock oscillator, and three mezzanine expansion connectors for access to fabric and transceiver I/O.

Designed for prototypes, proof-of-concept, and production, the XEM8305 is a great way to take advantage of the balance of price, performance, and power efficiency of the Artix UltraScale+ architecture. Reduce time to market, focus on your team’s core competency, and simplify your supply chain. Higher volume production is supported by our Step Pricing program.

AMD Artix UltraScale+ (AU15P-2FFVB676E), -1FFVB676E optional
1-GiByte DDR4 (16-bit wide data interface)
16-MiB system flash
32-MiB QSPI FPGA flash
Small form-factor -- 83 x 53mm (3.27 x 2.09")
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface for configuration and data transfer
USB Type-C Connector
Measured performance over 350 MiB/s
Self-powered by single DC supply (5 to 15 VDC)
124 FPGA fabric I/O
12 GTH (up to 16.375 Gb/s) transceiver lanes
PCIe Gen 4 Interface (-2E speed grade)
JTAG access via expansion connectors
FrontPanel SDK •• Complete Application Programmer's Interface (API) in C, C++, C#, Ruby, Python, and Java

XEM8305 FAQ - Opal Kelly

FAQ

Q: What FPGA is used in the Opal Kelly XEM8305 module?

The XEM8305 features the AMD Artix UltraScale+ (XCAU20P-2FFVB676E) FPGA. It provides 239k logic cells and 768 DSP slices, offering a high-performance, low-power solution in a compact 50mm x 70mm form factor for OEM deployment and prototyping.

Q: What is the maximum data transfer rate of the XEM8305?

The XEM8305 supports SuperSpeed USB 3.0 with measured real-world data transfer performance exceeding 350 MiB/s using the FrontPanel SDK. This high-bandwidth interface ensures efficient communication for demanding data-streaming applications.

Q: How much memory is available on the XEM8305?

The platform includes 2 GiByte DDR4 SDRAM with a 32-bit wide data interface for high-speed buffering. Non-volatile memory includes 16 MiB SPI System Flash for device settings and 32 MiB QSPI FPGA Flash which supports gateware boot.

Q: What expansion and high-speed serial ports are available?

The XEM8305 is equipped with two SYZYGY Standard ports for versatile peripheral expansion. For high-speed serial connectivity, it features four GTH transceivers capable of reaching up to 12.5 Gb/s each.

Q: What are the power and thermal requirements for the XEM8305?

The board requires a single DC input between 4.5 V and 5.5 V. It features an integrated heatsink for thermal management, and on-board sensors monitor voltage, current, and temperature in real-time to ensure system reliability.

Q: How is the XEM8305 utilized in Test & Measurement and Hardware Validation?

Engineers use the XEM8305 for automated device testing and protocol validation in compact environments. Its small size and high-speed I/O allow it to be integrated into dense test fixtures, while the FrontPanel SDK enables real-time signal analysis against standards like PCIe and MIPI.

Q: Can the XEM8305 be used for Edge AI and Machine Learning applications?

Yes, the platform is highly optimized for edge and endpoint machine learning / AI. By leveraging the 768 DSP slices of the Artix UltraScale+ FPGA, developers can implement deterministic AI inference for vision-guided robotics and real-time anomaly detection at the edge.

Q: How do Opal Kelly modules support Industrial and Machine Vision?

The XEM8305 serves as a high-performance interface for 3D vision systems, IR imaging, and industrial cameras. Its 32-bit wide DDR4 interface and high-speed transceivers allow for sophisticated feature detection and automated visual inspection in compact smart factory hardware.

Q: Why do Academic and Research institutions choose Opal Kelly modules?

Research institutions worldwide choose Opal Kelly modules for stable, 'off-the-shelf' USB-to-FPGA connectivity. This allows researchers to focus on core breakthroughs in Software-Defined Radio (SDR) and scientific instrumentation rather than spending high-value resources on building the foundational PC interconnect.

XEM8305 Technical Specifications

What FPGA is used in the Opal Kelly XEM8305 module?

The XEM8305 features the AMD Artix UltraScale+ (XCAU20P-2FFVB676E) FPGA. It provides 239k logic cells and 768 DSP slices, offering a high-performance, low-power solution in a compact 50mm x 70mm form factor for OEM deployment and prototyping.

What is the maximum data transfer rate of the XEM8305?

The XEM8305 supports SuperSpeed USB 3.0 with measured real-world data transfer performance exceeding 350 MiB/s using the FrontPanel SDK. This high-bandwidth interface ensures efficient communication for demanding data-streaming applications.

How much memory is available on the XEM8305?

The platform includes 2 GiByte DDR4 SDRAM with a 32-bit wide data interface for high-speed buffering. Non-volatile memory includes 16 MiB SPI System Flash and 32 MiB QSPI FPGA Flash supporting gateware boot.

What expansion and high-speed serial ports are available?

The XEM8305 is equipped with two SYZYGY Standard ports for versatile peripheral expansion. For high-speed serial connectivity, it features four GTH transceivers capable of reaching up to 12.5 Gb/s each.

What are the power and thermal requirements for the XEM8305?

The board requires a single DC input between 4.5 V and 5.5 V. It features an integrated heatsink for thermal management, and on-board sensors monitor voltage, current, and temperature in real-time.

Industry Use Cases & Applications

How is the XEM8305 utilized in Test & Measurement and Hardware Validation?

Engineers use the XEM8305 for automated device testing and protocol validation in compact environments. Its high-speed I/O allows integration into dense test fixtures, while the FrontPanel SDK enables real-time signal analysis against standards like PCIe and MIPI.

What role do Opal Kelly modules play in Aerospace and Defense systems?

In Aerospace and Defense, the XEM8305 is frequently deployed for RADAR system testing, satellite communications, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation. The Artix UltraScale+ FPGA provides parallel processing power for Electronic Warfare (EW) systems where space is at a premium.

Can the XEM8305 be used for Edge AI and Machine Learning applications?

Yes, the platform is highly optimized for edge and endpoint machine learning / AI. By leveraging 768 DSP slices, developers can implement deterministic AI inference for vision-guided robotics and real-time anomaly detection.

How do Opal Kelly modules support Industrial and Machine Vision?

The XEM8305 serves as a high-performance interface for 3D vision systems, IR imaging, and industrial cameras, processing sophisticated feature detection in compact smart factory hardware.

Why do Academic and Research institutions choose Opal Kelly modules?

Research institutions worldwide choose Opal Kelly for stable, off-the-shelf USB-to-FPGA connectivity, focusing on core breakthroughs in SDR and instrumentation rather than foundational PC interconnects.

FrontPanel® SDK Capabilities

What is the FrontPanel SDK and how does it benefit FPGA developers?

The FrontPanel SDK is a powerful trio of firmware, software, and gateware providing a multi-platform API and lightweight HDL IP blocks to manage complex USB 3.0 communication automatically.

Which programming languages and operating systems are supported?

The SDK supports Windows, Linux, and macOS. Supported languages include C, C++, C#, Ruby, Python, and Java, with additional integration for MATLAB and LabVIEW.

What communication endpoints are available in the FrontPanel framework?

FrontPanel utilizes four primary endpoint types:

Wires: Periodic status and control signals.
Triggers: Asynchronous event signals for handshaking.
Pipes: High-speed synchronous bulk data transfers.
Registers: Addressable read/write access to internal logic.

How does FrontPanel support custom GUI development for hardware control?

Developers can use the FrontPanel Application to create tailored virtual control panels using industry-standard XML descriptions, or FrontPanel 6 for browser-based JavaScript apps.

Development Workflow

What is the typical development workflow for the XEM8305?

Workflow includes: 1. HDL Design in AMD Vivado with FrontPanel HDL IP blocks. 2. Software Integration using the FrontPanel SDK to define the data path. 3. Deployment via the FrontPanel Application or standalone production executables.

How do I debug logic on the XEM8305?

The platform includes an integrated JTAG-to-USB port. This allows engineers to use the AMD Vivado Hardware Manager for real-time on-chip debugging and logic analysis (ILA).

Product Lifecycle & Management

How does Opal Kelly manage the lifecycle of its products?

Opal Kelly products are strictly lifecycle managed with Production, Limited Production, and End-of-Life status updates provided to ensure advanced notice of component availability.

What is the history and status of the XEM8305?

Released on October 25, 2021, the XEM8305 is currently in Production and designed for direct integration into commercial and industrial products.