AMD EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G

Overview

Ek-Z7-ZC702-CES-G from Xilinx is an evaluation kit built around the XC7Z020-1CLG484CES Zynq-7000 Extensible Processing Platform device, integrating a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor with 28nm programmable logic. It delivers ASIC-like performance and power efficiency while enabling hardware/software co-design for embedded vision, industrial control, and prototyping of heterogeneous SoC applications.

For engineers reviewing the EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G datasheet, pinout, applications, or equivalent options, this kit provides pre-verified reference designs, full ISE Design Suite Embedded Edition licensing, HDMI video interface, Gigabit Ethernet PHY, USB-to-UART bridge, and FPGA Mezzanine Connector (FMC) support for rapid system validation and IP integration.

Technical Context

The EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G implements the Zynq-7000 EPP architecture with tightly coupled ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processors and Artix-7-class programmable logic. It supports dual-channel DDR3 SDRAM (1 GB), Quad SPI Flash (1 Gb), and configurable boot modes including SD card, JTAG, and QSPI.

Hardware interfaces include RGMII-based 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet, HDMI 1.3a video output, CAN 2.0B transceiver, USB 2.0 ULPI and USB-to-UART bridges, and two LPC FMC connectors enabling high-bandwidth expansion with third-party mezzanine cards.

Key Specifications

Availability

EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for embedded vision prototyping, industrial automation controller development, and heterogeneous SoC validation requiring stable component supply, long-term toolchain compatibility, and production-ready reference design reuse.

Supply support for EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G 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, Inc. is a semiconductor company specializing in programmable logic devices, acquired by AMD in 2022. It pioneered the FPGA and SoC-FPGA categories with scalable architectures for high-performance, low-power embedded systems.

The EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G belongs to Xilinx's Zynq-7000 Extensible Processing Platform product line, designed to unify software programmability of ARM processors with hardware flexibility of FPGA logic for real-time signal processing, control, and adaptive computing applications.

FAQ

What is the primary target application for the EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G?

The EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G is primarily targeted at early-stage development and validation of Zynq-7000-based heterogeneous systems. It enables rapid prototyping of applications such as motor control with real-time feedback loops, embedded vision pipelines using programmable logic acceleration, and secure industrial gateways leveraging ARM software stacks and FPGA-based crypto offload - all supported by the included XC7Z020-1CLG484CES device and pre-verified reference designs.

Does the EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G include software tools and licenses?

Yes, the EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G includes a full-seat license for the ISE Design Suite Embedded Edition, enabling synthesis, implementation, and debugging of both ARM software and FPGA logic. It also ships with step-by-step getting-started guides, hardware user documentation, reference design source files, schematics, PCB layout data, and demonstration projects - all accessible via the included USB flash drive and SD card.

What memory resources are available on the EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G board?

The EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G board integrates 1 GB of DDR3 SDRAM operating at 533 MHz with a 16-bit data bus, directly interfaced to the XC7Z020-1CLG484CES processing system. It also includes 1 Gb Quad SPI Flash for storing configuration bitstreams and First Stage Boot Loaders (FSBL), plus an 8 GB Class 4 SD card for hosting Linux distributions, application binaries, and user data.

Can the EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G support high-speed I/O expansion?

Yes, the EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G supports high-speed I/O expansion via two Low-Pin-Count (LPC) FPGA Mezzanine Connectors (FMC1 and FMC2), each offering up to 68 user-defined differential pairs and supporting standards-compliant daughter cards. These connectors enable bandwidth-intensive applications such as ADC/DAC interfacing, high-resolution imaging sensors, and custom protocol engines without requiring PCB redesign.

Is the EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G compatible with modern Xilinx development tools?

The EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G was originally validated with ISE Design Suite 14.7 and supports Vivado Design Suite through migration paths documented in Xilinx UG877 and AR# 57022. While newer Zynq UltraScale+ kits use Vivado natively, the EK-Z7-ZC702-CES-G remains fully functional with legacy toolchains and continues to be supported for maintenance, re-spins, and legacy system updates involving the XC7Z020-1CLG484CES device.