The Virtex-E Extended Memory (Virtex-EM) family of FPGAs is an extension of the highly successful Virtex-E family architecture. The Virtex-EM family (devices shown in Table 1) includes all of the features of Virtex-E, plus additional block RAM, useful for applications such as network switches and high-performance video graphic systems.

Xilinx developed the Virtex-EM product family to enable customers to design systems requiring high memory bandwidth, such as 160 Gb/s network switches. Unlike traditional ASIC devices, this family also supports fast time-to-market delivery, because the development engineering is already completed. Just complete the design and program the device. There is no NRE, no silicon production cycles, and no additional delays for design re-work. In addition, designers can update the design over a network at any time, providing product upgrades or updates to customers even sooner.

The Virtex-EM family is the result of more than fifteen years of FPGA design experience. Xilinx has a history of supporting customer applications by providing the highest level of logic, RAM, and features available in the industry. The Virtex-EM family, first FPGAs to deploy copper interconnect, offers the performance and high memory bandwidth for advanced system integration without the initial investment, long development cycles, and inventory risk expected in traditional ASIC development.