Double SoC prototyping performance with S2C's VP1902-based S8-100| SemiWiki

As AI, HPC, and networking applications demand ever-higher compute and bandwidth, SoC complexity continues to grow. Traditional 50M ASIC equivalent gate FPGA prototyping systems have become less effective for full-chip verification at scale. Addressing this challenge, S2C introduced the Prodigy S8-100 Logic system, powered by AMD's Versal™ Premium VP1902, offering 2× performance and enhanced deployment efficiency for ultra-large SoC designs.

S8-100 vs. LX2 Benchmark

S2C ran a head-to-head benchmark using the Openpiton 192Core project—a highly complex, multi-core SoC design. This comparison evaluated the performance of the VP1902-based S8-100Q against the previous generation LX2 platform across key prototyping metrics:

Despite equivalent logic capacity, the S8-100Q achieved 2× higher operating frequency, reduced cascading complexity, and minimized design constraints—leading to faster bring-up and more efficient debug cycles.

Test Conditions:

• S2C PlayerPro-CT 2024.2 via fully automated, timing-aware partitioning

• Xilinx Vivado 2024.2 for synthesis and implementation

• Global optimization techniques enabled, including TDM-awareness, clock domain balancing, and resource co-optimization

Performance Advantages

1. Architecture Enhancement

• Delivers ~2× logic density

• 2×2 die layout reduces longest possible signal path from 3 to 2 hops—improving timing closure

2. Streamlined Partitioning & Cascading

• Higher per-FPGA capacity reduces chip-to-chip interconnects

• Fewer SLR crossings minimize congestion and simplify routing

3. Low-Latency Interconnect Fabric

• I/O latency is reduced by 36% of that in UltraScale+ systems

Smarter Prototyping with Integrated Toolchains

The S8-100 isn't just powerful—it's intelligently automated. S2C's PlayerPro-CT toolchain tightly integrates with the hardware, offering:

• One-click flow from RTL to bitstream

• Optional manual refinement for advanced tuning

• Timing and Architecture-aware optimizations

The combination of the S8-100 and new PlayerPro-CT features dramatically cuts setup time, boosts resource efficiency, and accelerates project time-to-market.

Field-Tested and Deployment-Ready

The S8-100 has been deployed in advanced-node SoC programs across AI acceleration, edge computing, and data center. Its proven performance, scalable architecture, and reduced engineering overhead make it a trusted choice for complex SoC projects.

With 2× logic density, simplified interconnects, and a tightly integrated toolchain, the S8-100 delivers a major leap forward in FPGA-based prototyping—empowering engineering teams to confidently prototype, validate, and iterate faster than ever before.

For more information, please visit: www.s2cinc.com.