Xilinx has teamed with ARM in a collaboration which will see Cortex processor IP embedded in the firms' FPGAs for the first time.
Xilinx is adopting ARM Cortex processor using specially developed versions of the ARM cell libraries and embedded memories.
It will be Xilinx' first implementation of the ARM processor in its FPGAs.
Rivals Altera and Actel already offer ARM soft core processors in their FPGAs.
And Actel has had a Cortex-M3 licence for more than a year, but has yet to introduce a product.
Xilinx also offers a hard macro version of the Power processor on its FPGAs, but the ARM Cortex processor will offer a new level of low power performance.
One result of the collaboration will be a version of the ARM AMBA on-chip interconnect system optimised for FPGA architectures.
The two companies are working with third party IP providers and EDA vendors including Cadence, CAST, Denali, Mentor Graphics, Northwest Logic, Omiino, Sarance, Synopsys and Xylon to support the new version of the AMBA specification.
"This new interconnect simplify and extend the capabilities of next generation programmable platforms using the world's leading 32-bit processor IP," said Xilinx.
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