AMD XC3S1500-4FGG456C

Overview

XC3S1500-4FGG456C from AMD (formerly Xilinx) is a Spartan-3 FPGA with 1,474,560 system gates, 112 I/O pins, and configured in a 456-pin Fine-Pitch Ball Grid Array (FBGA) package. It operates at -4 speed grade (tPD = 4.5 ns), supports SelectIO™ standards up to 622 Mbps, and targets high-volume embedded control and interface bridging applications.

For engineers reviewing the XC3S1500-4FGG456C datasheet, pinout, applications, or equivalent options, key selection criteria include I/O count, logic cell density, speed grade timing closure, and compatibility with Xilinx ISE design tools and Spartan-3 migration paths.

Technical Context

The XC3S1500-4FGG456C implements a hierarchical FPGA architecture with configurable logic blocks (CLBs), distributed RAM, block RAM (48 × 18 Kb), and dedicated multipliers. It supports LVCMOS, LVTTL, PCI, HSTL, and SSTL I/O standards with programmable drive strength and slew rate control.

Configuration is performed via Master Serial mode using an external PROM or through JTAG boundary-scan. The device includes Digital Clock Managers (DCMs) for clock synthesis, phase shifting, and duty cycle correction - supporting input frequencies from 12 MHz to 240 MHz and output jitter < ±150 ps.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

XC3S1500-4FGG456C is housed in a 456-ball Fine-Pitch BGA (FBGA) package with 1.0 mm ball pitch, 23 × 23 array, and thermal pad exposed on underside for enhanced heat dissipation. Pin assignment follows Xilinx Spartan-3 pinout conventions with dedicated configuration, clock, and JTAG signals.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar FPGA-based interface and control applications.

Compared with XC3S1000-4FGG456C and XC3S2000-4FGG456C, the XC3S1500-4FGG456C offers balanced logic capacity and I/O count for mid-scale embedded control - avoiding overdesign while retaining margin for future feature expansion.

Availability

XC3S1500-4FGG456C is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial motion control, video interface bridging, and communications backplane interface applications requiring stable component supply and long-term design-in support.

Supply support for XC3S1500-4FGG456C 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

AMD acquired Xilinx in 2022 and maintains the Spartan family as part of its adaptive computing portfolio for cost-sensitive, high-volume embedded systems.

The Spartan-3 family was designed for mainstream applications demanding predictable performance, low power, and fast time-to-market - especially where ASIC economics are prohibitive and CPLD density insufficient.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency supported by the DCMs in XC3S1500-4FGG456C?

The XC3S1500-4FGG456C integrates eight Digital Clock Managers (DCMs) supporting input frequencies from 12 MHz to 240 MHz. Each DCM can generate output frequencies up to 320 MHz with jitter less than ±150 ps, enabling precise clock domain crossing and high-speed interface timing in designs using XC3S1500-4FGG456C.

Does XC3S1500-4FGG456C support JTAG boundary-scan for in-circuit testing?

Yes, XC3S1500-4FGG456C fully complies with IEEE 1149.1 and includes dedicated TCK, TMS, TDI, and TDO pins. These enable full boundary-scan testing, configuration via JTAG, and real-time debugging of logic implemented in XC3S1500-4FGG456C without requiring external test fixtures.

What I/O standards are supported by XC3S1500-4FGG456C?

XC3S1500-4FGG456C supports LVCMOS, LVTTL, PCI, HSTL Class I/II, and SSTL Class II standards across its 112 user I/O pins. Each pin is individually configurable for voltage level, drive strength, and slew rate - allowing mixed-standard interfaces within a single XC3S1500-4FGG456C design.

Is XC3S1500-4FGG456C compatible with Xilinx ISE Design Suite?

Yes, XC3S1500-4FGG456C is fully supported in Xilinx ISE 14.7 and earlier versions. Synthesis, place-and-route, bitstream generation, and timing analysis for XC3S1500-4FGG456C are validated in ISE - no third-party toolchain is required for production deployment.

What is the configuration method for XC3S1500-4FGG456C?

XC3S1500-4FGG456C supports Master Serial (via PROM), Slave Serial, JTAG, and Boundary Scan configuration modes. The default method uses CCLK and DIN pins with an external XCFxx PROM; JTAG is used for development and field updates. All methods load configuration into XC3S1500-4FGG456C's volatile SRAM fabric.