NOVEMBER 5, 2008--Manufacturers of virtually every small-to-medium volume PCI Express-based system -- such as broadcast or audio production equipment, industrial control systems, medical imaging, video capture/acquisition, and video surveillance -- wish to implement their own logic design in a PCI Express-based system in order to create competitive, value-added differentiation. In addition to creating their own secret sauce, OEMs designing PCI Express systems usually prefer single-chip solutions, built-in PHY/SERDES support, an easy-to-learn/use device feature set, flexible topology, small footprint packaging, low power, the capability to upgrade features, and the ability, with minimal penalty, to migrate to new versions of the PCI Express specifications as they evolve. Also, because their applications tend to be cost-sensitive, these manufacturers also are seeking relief from the price premium of traditional SERDES-based FPGAs. In other words, PCI Express designers want the best capabilities of both ASSPs and FPGAs combined in one device.
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