AMD to supply Spartan 6 FPGAs to 2030 at least

The programmable ICs were introduced originally in 2009.

“Spartan 6 devices, with high IO-to-logic ratios in small form-factor packaging, continue to be well suited for customers in industrial, medical, vision and automotive markets as well as other markets, like communications, where simple bridging is required,” according to the company. “Customers in these segments require extended product longevity, typically requiring product lifecycles of 15 years, with many products supported much longer.”

What it actually announced was: “support for Spartan 6 FPGAs is being extended through at least 2030. All speed and temperature grades are included.”

Support?

“When we refer to ‘support’ in this context, we’re basically talking about availability – it’s a lifecycle extension of Spartan 6,” the company told Electronics Weekly. “The reason we use the term support is because there are customers who still use Spartan 6 for various applications, are happy with the product, and don’t want to be forced to change their designs. So we’re ensuring product availability until 2030, at least.” 

AMD is responding to recent supply chain issues, aiming to increase customer confidence in its Xilinx ranges with formal supply commitments.

Late last year it committed to supply its Xilinx 7 series FPGAs and SoCs to at least 2035, including all speed and temperature grades of: Spartan-7, Artix-7, Kintex-7, Virtex-7 and Zynq-7000.