SANTA CLARA, Calif.–May 15, 2006–Magma® Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:LAVA), a provider of semiconductor design software, today announced that Blast FPGA(TM), Magma’s industry-leading synthesis tool for programmable logic, is continuing its push into the FPGA synthesis market by providing support for the new 65-nanometer (nm) Virtex(TM)-5 FPGA family introduced separately today by Xilinx, Inc. Early access software is available now from Magma and Xilinx with general availability in June 2006.
FPGA suppliers are always the first IC manufacturers to ramp up production using leading-edge processes. Making Blast FPGA available to designers helps improve area and performance of deep sub-micron designs at 65-nm and below with its proprietary device-modeling-based optimization capabilities. Blast FPGA delivers highly optimized and intelligent implementation options enabling designers to realize the significant performance gains offered by Virtex-5 LX devices without manual user interventions or multiple design iterations. This approach not only creates a starting point for placement optimization, but also accelerates timing closure.
“Our collaboration with Magma benefits our customers by enabling them to optimize for higher performance and better area utilization with our leading-edge Virtex-5 LX devices to meet the specific requirements of their system designs,” said Sandeep Vij, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at Xilinx. “Magma’s Blast FPGA offers a compelling blend of increased automation and advanced technology. This combination maximizes productivity and ensures that designers can quickly, confidently reach design closure, in keeping with the trend toward adoption of FPGAs at the heart of the system.”
“The Virtex-5 family of domain-optimized platforms is yet another testimony to Xilinx’ leadership in providing integrated and high performance solutions to the programmable community. With its innovative LUT scheme, feature-rich programmable fabric and leading-edge process technology, Virtex-5 FPGAs offer unrivaled system integration platforms for network infrastructure applications,” said Kam Kittrell, general manager of the Design Implementation Business Unit at Magma. “We are excited to offer optimized support by working closely with Xilinx during the launch of the first 65-nm FPGA products.”
About Blast FPGA
Blast FPGA interfaces with FPGA implementation tools such as the Xilinx ISE(TM) design suite and supports vendor-specific design constraints, netlists and IP or library blocks. By building its unique work flow on top of the FPGA physical design framework, Blast FPGA provides a fast, simple and fully automated synthesis solution to meet aggressive timing goals with minimal effort. High-level technology-independent optimizations and area minimization allow customers to reduce area utilization and fit designs into smaller FPGA devices.
About Magma
Magma’s software for integrated circuit (IC) design is recognized as embodying the best in semiconductor technology. The world’s top chip companies use Magma’s EDA software to design and verify complex, high-performance ICs for communications, computing, consumer electronics and networking applications, while at the same time reducing design time and costs. Magma provides software for IC implementation, analysis, physical verification, characterization and programmable logic design, and the company’s integrated RTL-to-GDSII design flow offers “The Fastest Path from RTL to Silicon”(TM). Magma is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. with offices around the world. Magma’s stock trades on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol LAVA. Visit Magma Design Automation on the Web at www.magma-da.com.
Magma is a registered trademark and Blast FPGA and “The Fastest Path from RTL to Silicon” are trademarks, of Magma Design Automation Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
