XC2S50-5FGG256AMS verses XC2S200-5FGG256AMS

[daveyk]

Hello there,

I ordered (2)  XC2S50-5FGG256AMS FPGAs (for repairs).  These came from China (EBAY before I realized Digikey still had stock - duh).

What I received was  XC2S200-5FGG256AMS.

The XC2S200 has more gates and memory than the XC2S50 does.  I DO NOT PROGRAM THESE THINGS, I am only service.  I have to send the board to mini-micro-stencile in California to have the part changed.  You figure with shipping both ways, I have about $200 in expenses.

I assume the XC2S200 will not just work if I were to have those placed on a board that had  a XC2S50-5FGG256AMS?  The code is loaded during a firmware update process though a controlling PowerPC module.  I assume the FPGA does not just ignore the parts of it that are not used?  I am fairly certain they both have the same number of balls (256).

I started a return process, which they will probably tell me to keep them as they send the correct ones.

In the meantime, for a LOT more money, I will order the last two of the correct that Digikey has.

Dave

[xvr]

I assume the XC2S200 will not just work if I were to have those placed on a board that had  a XC2S50-5FGG256AMS?  The code is loaded during a firmware update process though a controlling PowerPC module.  I assume the FPGA does not just ignore the parts of it that are not used?

You right - it will not work.

I am fairly certain they both have the same number of balls (256).

It will not help. In theory it is possible to regenerate FPGA image file for XC2S200 part and load it, but no guaranty that it will work out. First of all image file will be larger than for XC2S20. And the second concern - there is no guaranty that pinout of XC2S20 and XC2S200 is compatible (even in the same package). Newer version of Xilinx/AMD FPGA has compatible pinouts through same series, but I'm not sure that Spartan 2 had