{"id":28932,"date":"2022-03-09T16:26:56","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T00:26:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/?p=28932"},"modified":"2023-02-07T17:08:14","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T01:08:14","slug":"what-is-zynq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/what-is-zynq\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Zynq?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is Zynq?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to electronics, developers can take several different approaches to accomplish their goals. Two approaches that developers must carefully consider to construct a computer or other electronic system is whether to use:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditional, motherboard-based PC architecture<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An integrated circuit known as a \u201csystem on a chip,\u201d or SoC<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While a motherboard-based PC architecture separates components based on function and connects them all via a circuit board, an SoC combines most, if not all, components of a computer in a single chip. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and can be used to accomplish the same goal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xilinx.com\/products\/silicon-devices\/soc\/zynq-7000.html\">Zynq, a special type of SoC developed by Xilinx<\/a> (an All Programmable System-on-Chip or APSoC), developers have an enormous number of new pathways and immense flexibility to accomplish their goals with both ease and speed. This article will review what exactly Zynq is and the benefits it can provide to developers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Definition of Zynq<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zynq is an APSoC \u2013 meaning that in addition to integrating most, if not all, components of a computer into a single chip, developers can also take advantage of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/what-is-an-fpga\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FPGA, or field-programmable gate array<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, technology present within it. Typically, FPGAs are standalone components that are used to prototype custom system chips, or design the hardware that will later be developed into application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Therefore the \u201csystem\u201d in APSoC as it relates to Zynq, refers to the system of dual dedicated processors (Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 Processors) and the FPGA technology. With access to both processor and FPGA functions, developers can leverage the best of both worlds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-28933\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Zynq-1.jpg\" alt=\"What is Zynq?\" width=\"401\" height=\"261\" data-wp-pid=\"28933\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Why Should I Use Zynq?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditional solutions typically utilize FPGA, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sigenics.com\/blog\/what-is-an-asic\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ASIC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ASSP (application-specific standard product), or any combination of these devices to achieve the desired function. While these technologies are capable, there are numerous drawbacks associated with them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, ASICs can offer suitable performance and power at a decent price but are less than ideal because of the lack of flexibility provided to the designer once the system is completed \u2013 which can lead to a longer time to market. Additionally, an ASIC lacks any sort of scalability \u2013 meaning for each new project, new ASICs must be developed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, ASSPs are less risky than ASICs and can have a faster time to market. But because it is a standard product, it lacks any flexibility in design. For that reason, developers often opt to use a 2-chip solution consisting of an FPGA coupled with an ASIC or ASSP to achieve a balanced trade-off. Using two chips, however, creates a whole new list of challenges for developers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zynq is unique in that it provides a solution for each of the challenges described above and effectively does so in a single chip \u2013 the first of its kind. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It allows programmers of FPGA hardware access to the same resources software programmers usually have (i.e. programming languages like Python, operating systems, drivers, etc.).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software programmers can use Zynq to modify and extend the functionality of their programs onto their hardware without the need to redesign the architecture of their programs. That same hardware design can be used repeatedly due to Zynq\u2019s FPGA capability to extend the peripheral functions of the dual ARM A9 processors. Developers simply need to modify what must be different in each iteration of their design.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, electronic components that can offer higher performance and a higher level of integration into a single end-user device while retaining affordability and\/or reducing power requirements are frequently expected by seemingly every industry that uses electronic systems. More customers desire flexible and scalable systems that can implement their needs in a timely fashion to beat their competitors to market. This is where Zynq shines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-20938\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Screen-Shot-2017-06-09-at-8.35.16-PM-600x418.png\" alt=\"Zynq in an Arty Z7\" width=\"600\" height=\"418\" data-wp-pid=\"20938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Screen-Shot-2017-06-09-at-8.35.16-PM-600x418.png 600w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Screen-Shot-2017-06-09-at-8.35.16-PM.png 616w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Advantages of Zynq<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Programmable Systems Integration &#8211; <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zynq represents a breakthrough in SoC-level integration. It is a combination of the capabilities and power characteristics of an ASIC, the flexibility of an FPGA, and the ease of programming associated with microprocessors, all within a single device. Since Zynq is a fully integrated system, it is both more reliable and more secure than a 2-chip solution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Heightened System Performance &#8211; <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another advantage of using Zynq is its improved system performance. Of course, the dual-core ARM A9 processors \u2013 which can run up to 1 GHz \u2013 offer a high level of performance. However, what sets Zynq apart from other solutions is the integration of the bandwidth between both the programmable logic and the processing system. This bandwidth is several orders of magnitude larger than what could be achieved with a 2-chip solution. This allows developers to create accelerators that can offload processing-intensive tasks with up to 10x higher performance for certain functions.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost and Power Reduction &#8211; <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zynq can integrate the features of multiple components into a single chip while achieving the same desired function. This can lead to significant cost savings \u2013 up to 40%. The flexibility of Zynq allows users to use a single chip for multiple products \u2013 leading to more cost reduction if chips are bought in bulk. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Power consumption is also greatly lowered because computing processes and data are no longer being sent from component to component, but rather those processes are all happening internally within Zynq. <\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><strong>Expedited Time-to-Market &#8211; <\/strong><\/strong>Zynq offers developers a huge advantage when it comes to productivity. The flexibility of programmable logic allows developers to tailor devices to customers\u2019 specific needs without having to complete the lengthy and costly process of developing an ASIC. Should specifications change, developers can easily modify the device \u2013 both before product release and over the life of the product. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zynq\u2019s scalability allows developers to create a single design and, consequently, use that same design for different projects with different specifications \u2013 all with ease. Its comprehensive ecosystem of tools (operating systems, I\/O, etc.) allows end-users to get started immediately on their projects.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-28581\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/GenesysZU-5EV-top-1000.png\" alt=\"Genesys ZU 5EV\" width=\"600\" height=\"605\" data-wp-pid=\"28581\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Go Beyond the Silicon with Digilent<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zynq is an innovative and groundbreaking solution in computing that combines many components found in electronics into a single chip. Some of its advantages are significant cost and power savings, improved productivity and usability, and a faster time to market. Digilent offers seven different products using Zynq chips \u2013 each with different form factors and specifications \u2013 to ensure developers can get what they need, at the right price.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class='watch-action'><div class='watch-position align-left'><div class='action-like'><a class='lbg-style6 like-28932 jlk' data-task='like' data-post_id='28932' data-nonce='ee750c7abc' rel='nofollow'><img src='https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/wti-like-post-pro\/images\/pixel.gif' title='Like' \/><span class='lc-28932 lc'>+3<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class='action-unlike'><a class='unlbg-style6 unlike-28932 jlk' data-task='unlike' data-post_id='28932' data-nonce='ee750c7abc' rel='nofollow'><img src='https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/wti-like-post-pro\/images\/pixel.gif' title='Unlike' \/><span class='unlc-28932 unlc'>0<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div> <div class='status-28932 status align-left'><\/div><\/div><div class='wti-clear'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is Zynq? When it comes to electronics, developers can take several different approaches to accomplish their goals. Two approaches that developers must carefully consider to construct a computer or &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":28933,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,1563],"tags":[4362,1662,4348],"ppma_author":[4502],"class_list":["post-28932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fpga","category-guide","tag-arty-z7","tag-fpga","tag-zynq"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Zynq-1.jpg","authors":[{"term_id":4502,"user_id":50,"is_guest":0,"slug":"davidh","display_name":"David Horn","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/44030532fc8d2bc9aa1d05f87c27d6f9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","user_url":"","last_name":"Horn","last_name_2":"","first_name":"David","first_name_2":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28932"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29615,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28932\/revisions\/29615"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28932"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=28932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}