AMD EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J

Overview

EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J from Xilinx is a production-ready evaluation kit centered on the Zynq® UltraScale+™ MPSoC (XCZU7EV-2FFVC1156), integrating ARM Cortex-A53/A9 processing subsystems with programmable logic, DDR4 memory, HDMI I/O, Gigabit Ethernet, and USB 3.0 for embedded vision and reconfigurable acceleration development.

For engineers reviewing the EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J datasheet, pinout, applications, or equivalent options, this kit delivers out-of-box SDSoC™ support with OpenCV, live sensor interfaces, and pre-verified BIST for rapid validation of heterogeneous compute architectures in machine learning inference and real-time video processing.

Technical Context

The EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J implements a full Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC reference platform with dual-core ARM Cortex-A53 and dual-core Cortex-R5 processors, plus programmable logic fabric configured for XCZU7EV-2FFVC1156. It supports DDR4 SODIMM (4GB), quad-SPI flash boot, and PCIe Gen2 x4 root port operation.

Hardware features include HDMI 2.0 transmitter/receiver, MIPI CSI-2 camera interface, 1G/2.5G Ethernet PHY, USB 3.0 Type-C host/device, and FMC+ LPC connector for expansion. The board ships with preloaded BIST firmware enabling autonomous verification of clocking, PL GPIO, DIP switches, pushbuttons, BRAM, PL-DDR4, EEPROM, and I²C peripherals.

Key Specifications

Availability

EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for embedded vision prototyping, AI accelerator evaluation, and reconfigurable video processing development requiring stable component supply, long-term toolchain compatibility, and production-intent hardware validation.

Supply support for EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Xilinx, now part of AMD, is a semiconductor company specializing in adaptive computing platforms, including FPGAs, MPSoCs, and ACAPs for high-performance, low-latency, and power-efficient system design.

The ZCU104 Evaluation Kit belongs to Xilinx's reVISION™ platform family, designed specifically to accelerate development of responsive and reconfigurable vision systems using heterogeneous compute (ARM + PL) with integrated OpenCV and machine learning frameworks.

FAQ

What is the primary target application for the EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J?

The EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J is purpose-built for evaluating and developing reconfigurable vision applications using the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC. It enables rapid prototyping of machine learning inference pipelines, real-time video analytics, and heterogeneous compute workloads leveraging both ARM processor subsystems and programmable logic. The EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J includes HDMI, MIPI CSI-2, and SDSoC toolflow support to validate end-to-end vision processing chains without custom hardware bring-up.

Does the EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J include a license for SDSoC development tools?

Yes, the EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J includes a node-locked and device-locked SDSoC™ development environment license voucher valid for the XCZU7EV device onboard. This voucher must be redeemed at www.xilinx.com/getlicense within one year of purchase and generates a permanent license file tied to the user's Xilinx entitlement account. The EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J does not ship with preinstalled software binaries - users install Vivado ML and Vitis after license activation.

What boot modes are supported by the EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J?

The EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J supports QSPI32 boot mode by default, configured via DIP switch SW6 (MODE[3:0] = 0100). Other supported modes include JTAG, SD card, and USB boot, selectable through hardware configuration pins and software settings in the FSBL. Boot mode selection requires physical switch changes before power-on; the EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J does not support runtime boot mode switching without reset.

Can the EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J be used for production deployment?

No, the EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J is an evaluation and development kit intended for design exploration, algorithm validation, and proof-of-concept implementation. While it uses the same XCZU7EV-2FFVC1156 device found in production modules, its PCB layout, thermal design, power delivery, and mechanical form factor are not qualified for volume deployment. For production use, Xilinx recommends migration to certified carrier boards or custom designs based on the MPSoC silicon validated with the EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J reference flow.

How is the built-in self-test (BIST) initiated and verified on the EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J?

The BIST on the EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J starts automatically after power-on when SW6 is set to QSPI32 mode. Status is indicated by PL GPIO LEDs: solid green indicates test pass, off indicates failure, and blinking indicates pending user input (e.g., DIP switch toggling or pushbutton presses). The EK-U1-ZCU104-G-J BIST validates clock distribution, BRAM, PL-DDR4, I²C, EEPROM, and peripheral interfaces without host PC interaction - all diagnostics execute autonomously on the MPSoC.