Renesas VERSALDEMO1Z

Overview

VERSALDEMO1Z from Renesas Electronics is a power reference demonstration board co-developed with Xilinx to deliver full, validated power rails for Xilinx Versal ACAP devices-including adaptable engines, AI engines, scalar engines, and external DDR memory-using ISL68225, ISL99360, ISL91211A, ISL85009, ISL8026, and ISL80505 ICs.

For engineers reviewing the VERSALDEMO1Z datasheet, VERSALDEMO1Z pinout, VERSALDEMO1Z application, or VERSALDEMO1Z equivalent, this board serves as both a turnkey reference design for rapid Versal ACAP power system integration and an evaluation platform for PMBus-configurable, multi-rail transient testing under real-world load conditions.

Technical Context

The VERSALDEMO1Z implements a complete 12V-input, six-rail power architecture: VCCINT (0.78V/165A) via 6-phase ISL68225 + ISL99360; MGTAVCC (0.88V/3.08A), MGTAVAUX (1.5V/0.29A), and MGTAVTT (1.2V/4.81A) via ISL91211A PMIC; VCCAUX (1.5V/3.9A) and VCCO_PMIO (1V–3.3V/4.24A) via dual ISL8026 regulators; plus ISL85009 and ISL80505 for auxiliary supplies.

All rails support PMBus v1.3 configuration and telemetry, including real-time IOUT reporting (<2% error), VR_HOT# fault signaling, and programmable startup sequencing. The board integrates active load circuitry enabling up to 130A pulsed transient testing on VCCINT with user-controllable slew rate via JP143.

Key Specifications

Availability

VERSALDEMO1Z is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for Xilinx Versal ACAP development, FPGA-based AI accelerator prototyping, and high-performance embedded compute systems requiring stable component supply and production-ready power architecture validation.

Supply support for VERSALDEMO1Z 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

Renesas Electronics Corporation is a global semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in Japan, specializing in microcontrollers, analog and power management ICs, and SoC solutions for automotive, industrial, and datacenter applications.

The VERSALDEMO1Z belongs to Renesas' Core Power Solutions product line, designed specifically to accelerate adoption of Xilinx Versal ACAP by delivering fully characterized, PMBus-enabled, multi-rail reference designs that reduce time-to-power and eliminate custom power stage validation risk.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the VERSALDEMO1Z demonstration board?

The VERSALDEMO1Z is a Renesas-designed power reference board co-developed with Xilinx to provide fully validated, PMBus-configurable power delivery for Xilinx Versal ACAP devices. It delivers six critical rails-including VCCINT (0.78V/165A), MGTAVCC, MGTAVAUX, MGTAVTT, VCCAUX, and VCCO_PMIO-using Renesas' ISL68225, ISL99360, ISL91211A, and ISL8026 ICs. The VERSALDEMO1Z enables rapid power architecture validation and transient testing without custom design effort.

Which Xilinx Versal ACAP use cases does the VERSALDEMO1Z support?

The VERSALDEMO1Z supports Xilinx Versal ACAP User Case 1 and User Case 3, covering full power delivery for adaptable engines, AI engines, and scalar engines-including core logic, memory interfaces (DDR), and high-speed transceivers (MGT). Its six-rail architecture matches Versal's documented power requirements, with VCCINT supplying the processor core and MGT rails powering transceiver banks. The VERSALDEMO1Z is explicitly validated for these configurations per Renesas User's Manual R16UZ0006EU0100.

Can the output voltages and sequencing of the VERSALDEMO1Z be reconfigured?

Yes, all six output rails on the VERSALDEMO1Z can be reconfigured using Renesas PowerNavigator™ software via the onboard PMBus interface (address 0x63). Default settings-including VCCINT at 0.78V, MGTAVCC at 0.88V, and VCCAUX at 1.5V-are listed in Table I of the manual, but each rail's voltage, switching frequency, soft-start time, and power-good timing can be adjusted. The VERSALDEMO1Z also supports OTP programming of the ISL91211A PMIC for permanent configuration storage.

Does the VERSALDEMO1Z include hardware for load transient testing?

Yes, the VERSALDEMO1Z integrates a dedicated active load circuit for VCCINT transient testing, capable of delivering pulsed currents up to 130A. A signal generator input at JP143 controls load magnitude (1V ≈ 100A), while JP142 enables/disables the circuit. This allows engineers to evaluate loop stability, ripple suppression, and recovery behavior under realistic dynamic loads-critical for Versal ACAP core power validation. The VERSALDEMO1Z documentation confirms test waveforms at 1kHz, 5kHz, and 10kHz repetition rates.

What thermal and efficiency performance is verified for the VERSALDEMO1Z?

The VERSALDEMO1Z has verified thermal and efficiency performance across all rails: VCCINT achieves <±5mV ripple at 165A full load and >90% peak efficiency at 600kHz; ISL91211A and ISL8026 regulators maintain ≤120°C junction temperature after 15 minutes at full load; and IOUT telemetry accuracy is confirmed at <2% error across the full load range. These results are documented in Sections 3.3–3.7 of the Renesas User's Manual R16UZ0006EU0100, with test waveforms and thermal images provided.