Insight Develops the First Virtex-II Pro LC Development Kit Priced Under $200

Insight Memec today announced the immediate availability of the Xilinx® Virtex-II Pro™ LC development kit designed by Memec Design for FPGA system engineers. Available globally and priced under $200 (USD), the kit is an entry-level development platform for designing and verifying applications based on the Xilinx Virtex-II Pro FPGA family. It enables designers to implement simple embedded processor systems based on the easy to use UltraController™, the advanced PowerPC™, or the soft core MicroBlaze™. Stop by the Memec booth at the Embedded Systems Conference March 29-April 1in San Francisco, CA for a demonstration of the kit. Experts will be on hand to answer questions.

"With the recently released PowerPC-based UltraController, Xilinx has provided a cost effective microcontroller that allows any FPGA designer to add high performance processing to their application circuit," said Jim Beneke, director of technical marketing, Memec.

The kit bundles the Virtex-II Pro LC hardware platform, power supply and reference designs. Xilinx ISE software, embedded development kit, and a JTAG cable are also required and available as kit options. The features on the board, including the Memec Design P160 expansion slot, allow complete PowerPC systems to be architected.

"The UltraController allows designers to transform embedded processor systems with minimal impact to FPGA logic," explained Charles Tralka, director of product marketing, Advanced Products Division, Xilinx. "With the technological advances of Xilinx and the design capabilities of Memec Design, Insight Memec has created a great kit at an incomparable price."

Insight Memec is hosting a hands-on workshop beginning March 16 that will enable FPGA designers to master the design of the UltraController. The workshop is free with the purchase of the Virtex-II Pro LC development kit.

Price and Availability
Insight Memec's Virtex-II Pro LC development kit is available now for $195. For complete information about the kit visit www.insight.na.memec.com/xilinxkits or call 1-888-488-4133 (ext. 268) in North America, and 1-858-314-8190 outside North America. For workshop locations and information visit www.insight.na.memec.com/uc_workshop.

About Xilinx Virtex-II Pro Platform FPGAs
Based on their industry-leading capacity, performance, and cost-effectiveness, Xilinx Virtex FPGAs are the number one choice of designers worldwide. The Xilinx Virtex-II Pro and Virtex-II Pro X are the world's first and only FPGAs to offer integrated PowerPC embedded technology (including single and multiple PowerPC 405 processor cores) and integrated serial transceivers (up to 3.125 Gbps in Virtex-II Pro and up to 10.3125 in Virtex-II Pro X).

About The Memec Group
Memec, through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading global semiconductor distributor focused on creating demand for its suppliers' proprietary products at original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Memec's three core demand creation selling organizations Insight, Unique, and Impact each use a specialized team of field application engineers who are equipped with superior product knowledge to help design their suppliers' proprietary semiconductors into new OEM products. The company utilizes a multidivisional sales approach within each of these subsidiaries to create and fulfill demand for a finite number of non-competing supplier partners. Additionally, each of these selling organizations has the ability to tap into Memec Design's programmable logic engineering services, ASIC design, and FPGA and IP core development to provide OEM customer's outsourced design and engineering services. For OEM customers who outsource the manufacturing of their products to third party contract electronics manufacturers (CEMs), Memec United will provide supply chain management solutions and product fulfillment services. Another Memec subsidiary is Memec Express, which utilizes outbound/inbound telemarketing. All the Memec companies share common services including warehousing, logistics, IT, HR, and finance.
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