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Achronix Speedster7t FPGA vs. Achronix Speedster22i HDT FPGA
Achronix Speedster7t FPGA vs. Achronix Speedster22i HDT FPGA
This article compares two popular FPGA families from Achronix Semiconductor –
the Speedster7t and the newer Speedster22i HD. We will explore the architecture,
capabilities, and applications of these FPGAs to understand how they differ and
which works best for your requirements.
The Speedster7t family was the first generation of FPGAs built on the innovative 2D
network-on-chip fabric by Achronix. Key highlights:
The Speedster22i HD is the latest generation from Achronix built using the advanced
7nm process node. It pushes the performance and density envelope further. Key
features:
The Speedster22i HDT leverages the 7nm node to significantly boost logic capacity,
bandwidth, AI performance and DSP capabilities for cutting-edge applications. The
higher power envelope allows leveraging the density and speeds.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Key Differences
Based on the above comparison, we can summarize the main differences between the
two FPGAs:
Density – The Speedster22i HDT offers 3X higher logic capacity and 8X more
embedded memory compared to the Speedster7t.
Performance – The 7nm Speedster22i provides over 30X higher AI
performance with up to 128 INT8 AIE cores vs just 16 cores in Speedster7t.
Memory – Speedster22i has 8GB of cutting-edge GDDR6 memory compared
to 2GB in previous generation.
Interfaces – Speedster22i doubles the number of 32Gb/s SerDes lanes and
triples the 400GbE transceiver count.
Bandwidth – With over 3X more DSP slices and higher memory bandwidth,
Speedster22i enables much higher overall system bandwidth.
Power – The Speedster22i lacks power efficiency with up to 300W envelope,
4X more than the Speedster7t.
Cost – Being a newer high-end 7nm product, the Speedster22i lineup carries a
higher cost over the older 16nm Speedster7t.
Based on their capabilities, here are some ideal use cases for the FPGAs:
Conclusion
On the other hand, the Speedster7t still powers a wide range of mainstream
applications with its proven architecture. For systems with tighter power budgets or
lower compute needs, the Speedster7t likely represents the cost-optimized option.
Understanding these key differences allows selecting the right Achronix Speedster
FPGA for your specific application and performance requirements.
The Speedster7t uses a 16nm FinFET process while the Speedster22i leverages a
more advanced 7nm FinFET node to provide a significant density and performance
boost.
The Speedster22i HD has almost 10X more embedded RAM at 576Mb vs 68Mb in
Speedster7t. It also offers 8GB of cutting-edge GDDR6 external memory compared to
just 2GB GDDR6 in the previous FPGA.
Both FPGAs contain dedicated AI Engines (AIE) for accelerating neural network
inferencing workloads. The Speedster22i integrates up to 128 INT8 AIE cores
delivering up to 1 PetaMACs of AI performance – over 30X more than the
Speedster7t.
How many high-speed SerDes lanes are available in each of the FPGAs?
The Speedster7t offers between 16-36 lanes of 32Gbps SerDes while the Speedster22i
doubles this number to 64 lanes of 32Gbps SerDes. This provides much higher
aggregate bandwidth.
The Speedster7t typically consumes less than 75W making it suitable for mainstream
and low power applications. In comparison, the Speedster22i can consume up to
300W to deliver maximum performance, so it is targeted at data center and HPC type
workloads.
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https://www.raypcb.com/achronix-speedster7t-fpga-and-achronix-speedster22i-hdt-fpga/